Workout #5 Supersets-Last Time!

Staying with the Superset theme for this workout, I used the following exercises:

• Forward Lunge/Lat Pull Downs
• Bulgarian Split Squats/Push Ups
• Dumbbell Push Press/Cable Rows
• Tabata-Mt. Climbers
• Cardio-Level 12, 60/60 on stairclimber

I am doing morning and evening yoga - and some walking on the off-days.  I haven't developed my spring training for off-days yet so they are not officially structured.

Workout #4 Supersets

For the second week of workouts, I am using the other two from Men's Health (originally a 4-day workout but I modified it for my own purposes) plus my a timed set for the Spartacus Workout.  On Monday, I did the following workout (supersets, 3 sets, progression 10-8-6, increasing weights each set) + 1 finisher and then cardio intervals.

• Squat/Dumbbell Bent Row
• Deadlift/Barbell Push Press
• Inclined Push-Ups/Pull-Ups (gravitron)

Tabata: Plank Splits followed by 60/45 intervals at level 12 for 10 rounds.  I have been struggling with my weight of late and will be food journaling over the next weeks to figure out the issue before it gets out of hand.

Hybrid Workout for the Next Few Weeks

As mentioned in my podcast, the amount of information about fitness and workouts specifically is enormous so I try to stay with just a couple of sources.  Even then, it is overwhelming.  So, to keep from getting behind the the collection of information, I will start doing "hybrid" workouts--a combination of 2 or more structured workouts--to maintain my interest.  With that in mind, the following workout is a combination of 1) Lose the Last 10 pounds (Men's Health) workout, 2) Spartacus Workout (again, Men's Health), 3) Finishers/Tabata (Dos Remedios, Ballantyne, Cosgrove), and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). 

Workout A (was done on Monday)
Standard 3 sets, repetitions decreasing 10-8-6 with increasing weight.  Finish each superset before going to the next one:

• Dumbbell Split Squat/Forward Lunge
• Barbell Romanian Dead Lift/Dumbbell Push Press
• Push Up-Plank Walk Up/Chin Up (assisted)
• Finisher - Step Up Tabata Style (20 seconds of work/10 seconds of rest for 8 rounds)
• Cardio-Stair climber, Level 12 60 seconds rest/60 seconds work for 9 rounds

I worked on pushing heavier weight and it makes a big difference on the workout.  I have become a little complacent with pushing myself on the weights.  The Tabata routines or timed sets are helpful in doing this but if I don't make the right weight choice, it can be a wasted workout for muscle growth. 

By the way, if anyone is checking out my blog, you don't have to have the same kind of workout I do to get results.  It depends on your fitness level.  I have be working out my whole life so it would make sense that I would be doing more advanced routines.  If you have just started, doing any physical activity at least 30 minutes a day is great!  Walking is the easiest and most convenient activity--don't worry about the weights or anything else, just get more active.  You will advance quickly and be able to do other things that may be of interest to you later.

High Intensity Interval Training

I told you in a previous post that I was doing my final intervals incorrectly.  They are supposed to be 60/60 work to rest, not 60/30 work to rest.  So, I don't think I was getting enough recovery time (especially with the pyramids at the end of the strength training sessions).  So, I have changed back to 60/60.  However, I try to keep my cardiovascular sessions short and intense.  Unfortunately, the high intensity interval training I am doing means I should be working up to 12 rounds of 60/60, meaning at least 25 minutes, meaning I may have to change my finishers or strength workout as I get past 15 minutes (which means in another week).  Luckily, that is when I will be changing programs again.  Another modification I will need to make next week is changing the alternating bench press to something that is more rehabilitative in nature.  My left shoulder cannot lift much more than 20 lbs and with a limited range of motion.  I realize this is a long-term issue and will need to continue to modify these moves--so, more rotator cuff exercises or specific exercises for pre-operative surgery.  Another item I noticed while doing burpees (or squat thrusts), my arms are really short and inhibit the movement.  So, I will either at a step (to allow for more room) or I will do a frog squat to shorten the leg of my bent knees.  It changes the emphasis but allows me to do the motion without injury to my hands.  One good thing is that fitness professionals are starting to realize certain movements do need to be modified so a larger group of folks can use them--turkish get up is a great example--and when I return to a kettlebell workout, you will see a number of variations on this particular movement.

Finishers: Pyramids

In addition to the Men's Health Workout (see below), I complete the strength segment of my workout with a "finisher".  This particular finisher is called the pyramid and I take 2 different exercises and alternate between the two starting with a number (say 10) and then progressing down to -0-.  I chose jump squats and burpees.  I start with 10 jump squats then 10 burpees, 9 jump squats then 9 burpees, etc.  No rest in between.  Each workout I increase the repetitions by 1 until I reach 15.  This is followed by my normal cardio interval session.  I found out I was doing these incorrectly and was probably over training a bit--I will discuss that in my next post.

This Week's Workout:

Supersets; 3 sets for each pair
Pair 1:  Hang Squat 6-8/Alternating DB Bench Press 8-10
Pair 2:  Squats 8-10/Pull Ups 8-10 (on gravitron)
Pair 3:  DB Romanian Dead Lift 8-10/Curl to Press 8-10
Pair 4:  Cable Wood Chop (on knees) 8-10/SB Crunch with Plate 8-10

I typically start with a lighter weight and higher repetition range (10) and progress lower repetitions and increase the weight so by the end of the 3rd workout I am doing my highest weight at the lowest repetition (6 or 8). 

Short Interval Workout-Finishers

I only did "finishers" after each body weight workout rather than do my typical interval set.  I use a GymBoss timer to this and did it for only 6 minutes:

20 seconds of work/10 seconds of rest for 3 rounds:

• Squat
• Squat Thrusts
• Mountain Climber
• Speed Skip