Category: Fitness Flex

30 min HIIT & Core Workout

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Crunched fore time? Need to workout at home? Don’t have much equipment to work with? Don’t know what to do? Don’t make those excuses! Use this quick and effective cardio and core workout- and do it anywhere!

 

The workout includes 2 portions of tabata + core (and a push up finisher!)
For the tabatas:

Each tabata includes 4 exercises to be done in intervals of 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. If you do tabata right you will NEED those 10 seconds of rest, so workout hard! Each tabata (set of 4 exercises) is to be done 4 times and then take a 90 second rest before beginning your next tabata!

For the core:

Each exercise is to be done twice- just twice!

For the push up finisher:

Choose any form of push up and do reps until failure. But be sure to keep good form! Proper form > extra reps 😉 I challenge you to choose push ups that you haven’t historically been good at- get stronger today!

*note: as with any exercise program, make sure you consult a doctor before beginning. All exercises seen here can be done with modifications- if you need some please ask me! You can find me on instagram at commit_fit_carly and ask away there!

And please for my sanity make sure you know how to keep proper form!

Follow this link to get your sweat on!

 

Mobility For Enhanced Fitness

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Improving your activity level is great, being active and feeling your body transform and get strong is a great feeling right? But do you ever have those days, or weeks, where your body feels stuck. Your muscles and joints are tight and you feel prone to exercise induced injury, or maybe even get injured? Have you ever stopped to look at how you let yourself recover?

Recovery is the most important aspect of fitness, because without it you will not be able to improved. You either will get injured and be out of the gym, or you will have inhibited range of motion, restricting your chances of improving your lifts.

Exercise trends have hiit and new level of intensity (see what I did there?) and with those levels, your body- your muscles and joints- are placed under higher stressed. And with this higher stress comes a greater demand for recovery. But why?

When you workout you might think that your body is growing and enhancing in those hours in the gym. What actually happens though is that your muscles are physically being broken down from all the stress placed on them. That is how muscles grow- they must be broken apart to be able to repair themselves to a greater level.

Beyond taking rest days so your muscles aren’t placed under stress, there are many other ways to give your muscles some R&R.

One of those ways being myofascial release, more commonly known as foam rolling.

What is Myofascial Release?

The word myofascial means muscle tissue and the connective tissue in and around the fascia (the fibrous tissue that surrounds your muscle). Myofascial pain comes from an injury to the muscle tissue, or from repetitive strain (in this case lifting). This ‘pain’ is from bundled up muscle fibers that are trying to restore back to their resting length.

When you foam roll, you might not realize that you have this ‘Myofascial Pain’ until you sit on your foam roller. During Myofascial Release, the foam roller is doing just that- releasing the Myofascial Pain. The roller is threading out the bundled up muscle fibers the same way a rolling pin rolls out a chunked up block of cookie dough.

Saying foam roller is related to pain is not to scare you away. Think of it as your muscles being as bundled up as a messy pile of string held in your fists. The foam roller will thread it out one fiber at a time until they have returned to their optimal resting position, which then puts them in good place to go through static stretching- getting the most bang for your buck here 😉

Foam rolling hurts so good.

It might hurt, but it is doing so much good. So how do you do it?

I use 2 different mechanisms for my Myofascial Release- a foam roller and a Lacrosse ball. Below are a FEW examples of how to use each, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.

mobility

Foam rollers and Lacross balls are cheap, and the money you put into buying them is a lot better than the money you would spend at the ER because you have an overuse injury. On top of that, your muscles will be at their preferred resting length to recover completely so you can use them to their full ability in the next workout 🙂

Happy rolling!

Fitness in 2017. What to Look Out For

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New Year’s Resolution, long term habit, livelihood, etc. If fitness is in your 2017 plans, you might want to check out the predicted trends.

Using multiple sites, I cross checked and came up with the most common trends to see in 2017:

  1. Wearable technology
  2. Bodyweight training
  3. HIIT
  4. Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals
  5. Strength Training
  6. Group Training
  7. Exercise is Medicine
  8. Yoga
  9. Personal Training
  10. Exercise and Caloric Restriction for Weight Loss
  11. Recovery

The first 10 of these come straight from the American College of Sports Medicine, and were also found in all of my other sites, as everyone credits the ACSM for the “new trends” list each year. There were definitely more categories from multiple sites that could have been included, but that list would have been well, exhaustive.

I did, however, want to add #11- recovery, as I think this is a HUGE up and coming area to focus on- as it needs to be!

For a look at both the ACSM and ACE Fitness lists (ACE not included as it had many differing trends, but still credible) you can follow the links here:

http://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/news-releases/2016/10/26/top-fitness-trend-for-2017-is-wearable-technology

https://www.acefitness.org/blog/6158/health-and-fitness-trends-you-ll-see-in-2017

12 Days of Workouts, Day 12

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Warning: today’s workout is NOT 30 minutes like the rest, rather it is 55-60 minutes long IF you do it all. The trick is to see how far you can go 🙂

Day 12: Days 1-11 combined!

  • Squat reps to failure
  • Push up reps to failure
  • Elbow plank hold to failure

Rest 60 seconds

HIIT- upper body 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest

Round 1: 2X through

  • Jumping jacks
  • Push ups
  • Mountain climbers
  • Side plank hip dips –EACH!

Rest 30 seconds

Round 2: 2X through

  • High knees
  • Tricep dips
  • Plank jacks

Rest 30 seconds

HIIT- lower body 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest

Round 3: 2X through

  • Squats
  • Speed skaters
  • Line hops
  • Jump twist

Rest 30 seconds

Round 4: 2X through

  • Step forward lunges
  • Squat to leg abduction
  • Plank w/ glute lift

Full body HIIT- 20 seconds on, 10 second off

Round 5: 2X through

  • Inchworm to push up
  • Side step ups- right
  • Side step ups- left

Rest 30 seconds

Round 6: 2X through

  • Seat squats
  • Plank with leg lift
  • Box jumps or step ups

CORE- 20 seconds each, no rest in between

Round 7: 2X through

  • Birddog-R
  • Birddog-L
  • Side plank leg lift-R
  • Side plank leg lift-L
  • X-crunch
  • Butterfly crunch/sit up
  • Ab tuck up
  • Rope climb-R
  • Rope climb-L

Rest 60 seconds

EMOM: Every Minute On the Minute: 4 minutes (4 rounds)

  • 25 jumprope
  • 10 spiderman plank total
  • 5 sumo squats
  • Rest with remaining time

Rest 60 seconds

AMRAP 10 minutes:

  • 1 tuck jump
  • 2 wall walks
  • 3 inchworm to plank jack
  • 4 froggers
  • 5 burpees
  • 6 jump lunge each
  • 7 diamond push ups
  • 8 lateral hop squats
  • 9 mountain climber each
  • 10 shuffle touch total

Rest 60 seconds

AMRAP 5 minutes:

  • 30 total wacky jacks (15 each side)
  • Wall sit with 50 total front jabs (25 each hand)
  • Plank with 50 shoulder taps (25 each hand)
  • 25 lunge pulse each leg
  • Low push up hold to failure

 

12 Days of Workouts, Day 11

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Today is actually fairly… simple 😉 As most of these moves have been done in previous workouts, actually all we have done in previous workouts in some form

Full body 

HIIT- 45 seconds on, 20 seconds off: 3 rounds and done!

  • Power lunge
  • High knees
  • Sumo squat pulse
  • Side shuffle
  • Burpees
  • Inchworm to rolling side plank
  • Switch lunge
  • Freestyle!

What are you waiting for?! Get to work!

12 Days of Workouts, Day 10

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Get ready for some…. core & balance!

10 exercises, 10 reps each, AMRAP 30 minutes

  1. X-plank
  2. Single leg v-up
  3. Plank step through
  4. ½ Turkish get up
  5. Panther crawl
  6. Squat thrusters
  7. Crab crunch
  8. Plank inchworm
  9. Flamingo
  10. Plank hold with leg lifts

Exercises:

A1,2,3 & C1,2,3: plank step through (showing both sides)

B1,2: panther crawl

D1,2: squat thrusters

E1,2,3: 1/2 turkish get up

F1,2: crab crunch

G1,2,3: plank inchworm

H1,2: flamingo

12-days_day-10

Exercise tips:

Plank step through- if your goal is to step the right foot through, your first action needs to be with your left foot. If you don’t bring the outside foot up and out, it does not leave a gap for your other leg to step through, and then the move will be awkward and incomplete

Panther crawl- is kind of hard to show in pictures, but basically you start in a plank position. You then move your right hand forward and your right leg as if you are crawling like an animal- as you move your knee needs to hover over the floor, don’t forget this!

Squat thrusters- starting in a plank position, you either step one or thrust both feet forward towards your hands and then look up as if you were at the bottom of a squat (because you are). Think of replacing your hands with your feet

1/2 turkish get up- make sure your right hand is in the air and your right knee is bent. The goal is to target that hand up towards the ceiling as you sit up. PLEASE use your outstretched left arm to help you get up- this is not cheating, it is doing it correctly!

Crab crunch- starting on all fours BUT facing the ceiling, you lift your right hand to left foot in a crunching motion and then switch

Plank inchworm- in a straight arm plank position, the only thing moving will be your arms moving forward. Think of inching your fingers/hands forward slowly and one-by-one

Flamingo- the best balance move of the day! balancing on one foot, bend over reaching towards your toes, and as you stand you bring your hands towards the ceiling and bring the leg that was balancing behind you (hovering) up with a bent knee

12 Days of Workouts, Day 9

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It’s December 20th, so today we will play off of that 😉

20 exercises, at 20 reps each. See how fast (with good form!) you can get through all 20 exercises!

Go through it once and you’re done, or work yourself harder and go through again!

Workout:

  1. Vertical or tuck jumps
  2. Push ups
  3. Narrow to wide squats
  4. Mountain climber switch
  5. Tricep dips
  6. Straight leg side sit up-R
  7. Straight leg side sit up-L
  8. Shoulder push ups
  9. Front kicks each
  10. Squat to leg abduction (count the squats, 20 squats, 10 abduction each leg)
  11. Elbow plank walk
  12. Plank jacks
  13. Childs pose push up
  14. Curtsy lunge-R
  15. Curtsy lunge-L
  16. Standing mountain climber each
  17. Speed skaters each
  18. Walking plank
  19. Rolling side plank each
  20. Burpees

Exercises: 

  • A1&2: Mountain climber switch
  • B1&2: straight leg side sit up
  • C1,2,3,&4: elbow plank walk
  • D1,2,3,&4: child’s pose push up
  • E1,2,3,&4: rolling side plank

12-days_day-9

Exercise tips:

  • The goal is to challenge yourself, so we are thinking speed here, but more importantly  we are thinking safety and good form!
  • Straight leg side sit up- feel free to use your outstretched arm (the one that is in contact with the ground) for assistance
  • Elbow plank walk- simply begin in an elbow plank, place right hand on the ground (picture C2), then place your left hand on the ground (picture C3), then return back to an elbow plank by placing your right elbow on the ground (picture C4)
  • Child’s pose push up- as you are pushing up from the bottom of the push up, you also aim to push backwards as if you were going to do a child’s pose. The catch your knees never touch the ground, so you hover the whole time and squeeze your abs!
  • Rolling side plank- simply go from straight arm plank, open to right side plank, back to middle plank, open to left side plank

12 Days of Workouts, Day 8

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Day 8:

Squat reps to failure

Push up reps to failure

Quick burpee reps to failure (burpee no push up)

then:

AMRAP 20 MINUTES

  • 50 total wacky jacks (25 each side)
  • Wall sit with 100 total front jabs (50 each hand)
  • Plank with 50 shoulder taps (25 each hand)
  • 25 lunge pulse each leg
  • Low push up hold to failure

Exercises:

  • Wacky jacks: look like a standing oblique crunch in fast time. You take your right knee up and out to the side at the same time you are bringing your right elbow down to meet the knee. You then hop and switch to the other side- it truly looks wacky
  • Wall sit with front jabs: hold a wall sit and pretend you are jabbing or hitting someone in front of you, do 100 of thouse
  • Plank shoulder taps- in a plank position, lift one hand at a time and tap the opposite shoulder- 25 each hand
  • Lunge pulse- hold yourself at the bottom of the lunge and pulse up and down 25 times each leg. These are the same concept at a squat pulse which has been done in previous days
  • Low push up hold to failure- hold the bottom of the push up and hold until you can’t anymore

img_3534img_3535img_3156

From left to right: wacky jacks pictures 1&2, low push up hold picture 3

 

12 Days of Workouts, Day 7

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Core

  • Round 1: 20 seconds each, 5 second transition /rest (6 minutes)
  • 45 second rest in between round 1 &2
  • Round 2: same moves, 30 seconds each, 10 second transition/rest (10 minutes)
  • 45 second rest in between round 2&3
  • Round 3: same moves: 40 seconds each, 15 second transition/rest (14 minutes)
  1. Mountain climber get up
  2. Plank jacks
  3. Birddog-R
  4. Birddog-L
  5. Side plank leg lift-R
  6. Side plank leg lift-L
  7. X-crunch
  8. Butterfly crunch/sit up
  9. Ab tuck up
  10. Rope climb-R
  11. Rope climb-L
  12. Elbow plank hold
  13. Side plank hold-R
  14. Side plank hold-L
  15. Straight arm plank hold

Exercises:

  • A1&2: Birddog
  • B1&2: side plank leg lift
  • C1,2,3&4: rope climbs
  • D1&2: ab tuck up
  • E1&2: X-crunch

12-days_day7

Exercise tips:

  • Mountain climber get up: do about 2-4 total mountain climbers, then hop both feet in to your hands, and stand up
  • Birddogs- make sure you are using opposite hand and opposite leg. This is great for both balance and ALL over core, meaning abs and low back. Stretch your hand and foot as far in each direction as you can
  • Side plank leg lift is a hard move- to modify, just hold a side plank 🙂
  • X-crunch- lay on your back with hands and feet extended out so your body makes a big X. Then crunch up opposite hand to opposite foot
  • Butterfly crunch- simply lay flat on your back, then pull your legs in so they are in butterfly position (sometimes also called pretzel) but with the bottoms of your feet touching, then just crunch your shoulder blades off the ground
  • Rope climb- actually use your leg as if it were a rope. Climbing up it with your hands, touch your leg in 3 different spots (each one higher than the last) and then return to starting position to repeat

12 Days of Workouts, Day 6

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Today’s workout will show you how you can use some at home furniture pieces to add to your workout 🙂

Lower body HIIT

30 seconds work, 10 seconds rest

  • Sumo squat
  • Inchworm
  • Side step ups- right
  • Side step ups- left

 

  • Narrow to wide squat
  • Plank with leg lift
  • Box jumps or step ups

 

  • Seat squats
  • Lateral hops on one foot- right
  • Lateral hops on one foot- left
  • Alternating step back lunges

 

  • Split squat- right
  • Split squat- left
  • Pulse squat

Exercises:

  • A1&2: side step ups
  • B1,2&3: step ups
  • C1&2: seat squats
  • D1&2: split squat

12-days_day6

P.S. sorry for the poor quality of these pictures, I worked with what I had 😉

Exercise tips:

  • For all lower body moves, make sure your knee stays behind your toes!
  • Seat squats- the goal is to lower yourself controlled, as soon as your butt touches the surface you explode up to standing by squeezing your glutes
  • Split squat- are a huge balance test! Beware 😉
  • Step ups are seen in B1,2,&3 but as noted in the workout, you can make these box jumps where you jump up onto the surface and jump or step down!
  • Pulse squat- when you hit the bottom of the squat, stay there, and pulse up and down for the whole 30 seconds. It feels like you are doing a squat hold, except your bottom is bouncing up and down slightly. Keep your pulses to 1-2 inches only!