Sunday 1 January 2012: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 31 December 2011: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Friday 30 December 2011: TRIPLE-UPs

TRIPLE UPs: PULL-UP, SIT-UP, PUSH-UP


Perform as many supersets of pull-ups, sit-ups, and push-ups as possible in twenty minutes.

A superset is done by performing one set of each exercise back to back to back with little or no rest in between. Choose a number of reps that is well below your max to prevent early burnout during the training session. The training effect today will come from the overall volume of exercise combined with short rest periods, not max effort sets. Rest between supersets as necessary.

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute assisted, partial, or jumping pull-ups, body rows, crunches, and knee push-ups as necessary.

Thursday 29 December 2011: SPRINT 8

SPRINT 8

Today's workout is based on a sprint protocol designed by Phil Campbell, author of Ready, Set GO! Synergy Fitness for Time-Crunched Adults.

The sprints are progressive. The first sprint begins at a jog and climaxes at 50% of maximum effort; the second sprint goes from 40% at the beginning to 60% at the climax; the third sprint goes from 50-70%; the fourth sprint from 60-80%; the fifth sprint from 70-90%; the sixth sprint reaches 95% of maximum effort; the seventh and eighth sprints are run at 95-100% effort.

If you are not accustomed to the type of sprint training we do around here, do not max out on the final three sprints - climax between 80-90% of maximum effort.

Advanced:

  • Run 5 minutes
  • Repeat eight times:
    Sprint 15 seconds
    Recover 1 minute
  • Run 5 minutes

Intermediate:

  • Run-walk 5 minutes
  • Repeat six-eight times:
    Sprint 15 seconds
    Recover 60-85 seconds
  • Run-walk 5 minutes

Basic:

  • Powerwalk 5 minutes
  • Repeat four-six times:
    Sprint 15 seconds
    Recover 85-120 seconds
  • Powerwalk 5 minutes

Monday 26 December 2011: 30/30 CALS CIRCUIT

30/30 CALISTHENICS CIRCUIT

Complete 5 rounds of the following circuit in twenty minutes.

30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

Advanced:
  • 30/30 Pull-ups
  • 30/30 Sit-ups
  • 30/30 Push-ups
  • 30/30 Squats

Intermediate:

  • 30/30 Partial, Assisted, or Jumping Pull-ups
  • 30/30 Sit-ups or Crunches
  • 30/30 Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
  • 30/30 Squats

Basic:

  • 30/30 Body Rows
  • 30/30 Crunches
  • 30/30 Knee Push-ups
  • 30/30 Half- Squats

Sunday 25 December 2011: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 24 December 2011: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Friday 23 December 2011: PULL, PU, CRAWL

PULLING, PUSHING, & CRAWLING

Complete as many rounds as possible in twenty minutes.

Advanced:

  • A set of Pull-ups
  • 30 seconds - Bear Crawl
  • A set of Push-ups
  • 30 seconds - Crab Crawl

Intermediate:

  • A set of Partial, Assisted, or Jumping Pull-ups
  • 20-30 seconds - Bear Crawl
  • A set of Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
  • 20-30 seconds - Crab Crawl

Basic:

  • A set of Body Rows
  • 15-20 seconds - Bear Crawl
  • A set of Knee Push-ups
  • 15-20 seconds - Crab Crawl

Thursday 22 December 2011: SPRINT PYRAMID

SPRINT PYRAMID
 
Today's workout may look complicated, but it really isn't. Run sprints of 10, 15, 20, 30, 20, 15, and 10 seconds with 1 minutes recovery in between (90 seconds on each side of the 30 second sprint).
  • 5 minutes - Run or Run-walk
  • 10 seconds – Sprint
  • 1 minute – Recovery
  • 15 seconds – Sprint
  • 1 minute – Recovery
  • 20 seconds – Sprint
  • 90 seconds – Recovery
  • 30 seconds – Sprint
  • 90 seconds – Recovery
  • 20 seconds – Sprint
  • 1 minute – Recovery
  • 15 seconds – Sprint
  • 1 minute – Recovery
  • 10 seconds – Sprint
  • 1 minute – Recovery
  • 5 minutes - Run or Run-walk

Wednesday 21 December 2011: DIPS + CHINS

The tried and true bodybuilder...

DIPS + CHIN-UPS SUPERSETS


Perform sets of Dips and Chin-ups back to back for twenty minutes. Rest between supersets as necessary (e.g. set of dips, set of chins, rest, repeat).


Options for performing dips include parallel bars, positioning the hands on the backs of two chairs, or using the corner of a countertop.

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute chair dips, push-ups, or knee push-ups as necessary.

Tuesday 20 December 2011: CONDITIONING

CONDITIONING INTERVALS

Today's workout uses 30/30 intervals (30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest, repeat for time allotted).

Advanced:

Intermediate:

Basic:

Monday 19 December 2011: 5 X 4

5 x 4 MINUTE ROUNDS

Complete five rounds of the following circuit in twenty minutes.

Advanced:

  • 30 seconds - Push-ups
  • 30 seconds - Crunches
  • 1 minute - Squats
  • 2 minutes - Jump Rope/Jumping Jacks/Squat Thrusts

Intermediate-Basic:

  • 15/15 - Push-ups (15 seconds work, 15 seconds rest)
  • 15/15 - Crunches (15 seconds work, 15 seconds rest)
  • 30/30 - Squats (30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest)
  • 2 minutes - Jump Rope/Jumping Jacks/Squat Thrusts

Sunday 18 December 2011: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 17 December 2011: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Friday 16 December 2011: STR-COND-POW CIRCUITS

STRENGTH, CONDITIONING & POWER CIRCUITS

Complete as many rounds as possible in twenty minutes. Rest as necessary between rounds.

  • A set of Push-ups
    (Intermediate and Basic substitute Knee Push-ups as necessary.)
  • 30 seconds - Power Skip
    (Skip like a girl but pump your arms and thrust your knees high. Focus on power.)
  • A set of Squats
    (Intermediate and Basic substitute Half-Squats as necessary.)
  • 30 seconds Bear Crawl (or crawl back to start)
    (Bend forward and crawl on your hands and feet. Keep your knees and body off the ground.)

Thursday 15 December 2011: SPEEDPLAY

SPEEDPLAY (Fartlek)

Perform intermittent sprints of varying lengths and intensities during brisk walking and easy running (or jogging) for twenty minutes.

Today's workout involves random combinations of fast walking, easy running, and sprinting. After several minutes (~5 minutes) of powerwalking and/or easy running, begin performing intermittent sprints. Vary the length and intensity of each sprint (E.g. Sprint for twenty seconds, jog for 90 seconds, sprint hard for ten seconds, walk/jog for two minutes, etc.).

If you are unable to recover sufficiently by jogging, reduce your pace to a walk. Go slower at first than you think is necessary. It is easy to overdo it on this workout. Vary your pace every one to three minutes throughout the twenty minutes training session.

Ideas to incorporate in your workout:

  • High intensity sprints of 8-15 seconds
  • Medium intensity sprints of 15-30 seconds
  • High/medium intensity running for 1-3 minutes
  • Sets of Jumping Jacks, Burpees, Mountain Climbers, or Jump Squats
  • Sets of Squats, Lunges, or Pushups
  • Bear Crawling or Crab Crawling

Wednesday 15 December 2011: DIPS + CHINS

The tried and true bodybuilder...

DIPS + CHIN-UPS SUPERSETS


Perform sets of Dips and Chin-ups back to back for twenty minutes. Rest between supersets as necessary (e.g. set of dips, set of chins, rest, repeat).


Options for performing dips include parallel bars, positioning the hands on the backs of two chairs, or using the corner of a countertop.

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute chair dips, push-ups, or knee push-ups as necessary.

Tuesday 13 December 2011: B-CIRCUITS

Today's workout was developed by Bryce Lane.

B-CIRCUITS

Complete as many circuits as possible in twenty minutes.

If you are not accustomed to plyometric training or are obese, perform the Basic WOD.

Advanced:

  • 12 Short Range Squat Jumps(Half-Squat Jumps: Squat until your elbows touch your knees and thighs are parallel to ground and then jump for height or distance)
  • 12 Full Range Squat Jumps(Deep Squat Jumps: Squat deep until your hands touch the ground and then jump for height or distance)
  • 20 High Tension Bodyweight Squats(Squat while maintaining conscious tension of the leg mucles)

Intermediate:

  • 6 Short Range Squat Jumps
  • 6 Full Range Squat Jumps
  • 10 High Tension Bodyweight Squats

Basic:

  • 5 Half-Squat Jumps
  • 10 Lunges (Each leg)
  • 10 Calf Raise and Flex

Are you tempted to cheat on the jump as your legs become tired? Try Traveling B-Circuits by jumping for distance instead of height. Try to cover the same total distance on each circuit as the workout progresses to ensure that you are pushing yourself adequately.

Monday 12 December 2011: 5BX

FIVE BASIC EXERCISES

This circuit can be performed virtually anywhere. It requires very little room to complete. When time crunched, try performing a single circuit (10 minutes) for a quick physical and mental boost.

Complete two of the following circuits in twenty minutes.

  • 2 minutes - Sun Salutations
  • 1 minute - Squats
  • 1 minute - Push-ups
  • 1 minute - Sit-ups or Leg Raises
  • 5 minutes - Jump Rope, Jumping Jacks, or Run in Place

Modifications for Intermediate and Basic trainees

  • Perform Half-Squats instead of Squats
  • Perform Knee Push-ups instead of Push-ups
  • Perform Crunches instead of Sit-ups
  • Perform Cardio Exercise 30/30 style (30 sec. work, 30 sec. rest)

Sunday 11 December 2011: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 10 December 2011: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Friday 9 December 2011: MAX PULLS

MAX SETS: PULL-UPS

Complete five max sets of pull-ups at five minute intervals. Perform sets at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes.

These are max sets but not to muscle failure. Perform the maximum number of repetitions possible while maintaining good form, but stop short of actual muscle failure (you may go to failure on the last set if you prefer).

Advanced: Pull-ups and/or Chin-ups

Intermediate: Partial or Assisted Pull-ups or Body Rows

Basic: Body Rows

Wednesday 8 December 2011: SPRINT + JUMP

SPRINT + JUMP

Complete ten circuits of the following in twenty minutes.

Advanced:

  • Sprint: 15 seconds
  • Tuck Jumps: 5 seconds
    (Perform a squat jump but in midair bring your knees to your chest.)
  • Rest: 100 seconds

Intermediate:

  • Sprint: 15 seconds
  • Squat Jumps: 5 seconds
    (Squat until your thighs are parallel to the ground, then jump into the air. Land softly.)
  • Rest: 100 seconds

Basic:

  • Sprint: 10-15 seconds
  • Half-Squat: 10 seconds
    (Squat until your thighs are almost parallel to the ground.)
  • Rest: 95-100 seconds

Wednesday 7 December 2011: 3 POWER CALS

Physical Culture Classics

THREE POWERFUL CALISTHENICS

Repeat the following circuit for twenty minutes.

Advanced - Intermediate:

  • Dive Bomber or Hindu Push-ups
  • Reverse or Hindu Squats
  • Atlas Push-ups
    Atlas Push-ups: Place your hands in the seats of two chairs. With your body held straight, dip yourself between the chairs. This exercise is similar to a countertop push-up, but it stretches and utilizes more of the chest muscles.

Basic:

  • Yoga Push-ups
    Yoga Push-ups: Transition between Upward Facing Dog and Downward Facing Dog continously while keeping your arms straight (but not locked).
  • Countertop or Atlas Push-ups

Today's exercises can be found in many manuals on physical training. The above arrangement, however, was adapted from Pushing Yourself to Power by John E. Peterson. PYTP is a comprehensive collection of Dynamic Visualized Resistance and Dynamic Self Resistance exercises and includes many Isometric and Power Calisthenic exercises.

Tuesday 6 December 2011: ONE EXERCISE

ONE SIMPLE EXERCISE


Squat Thrusts

Do as many Squat Thrusts as possible in twenty minutes.

Suggestions:


  • A set at the top of every minute
  • 30/30 style (30 seconds work, 30 second rest)
  • Boxer Rounds (2-3 minutes work, 1 minute rest)
  • Descending sets (20, 19, 18, 17, 16, etc.)

Monday 5 December 2011: PFT

PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST

Advanced:

  • Max Pull-ups in 1 minute
  • Rest 1 minute
  • Max Sit-ups in 1 minute
  • Rest 1 minute
  • Max Push-ups in 1 minute
  • Rest 3 minutes
  • Run 12 minutes for distance

Intermediate:

  • Max Partial or Assisted Pull-ups or Body Rows
  • Rest 1 minute
  • Max Sit-ups or Crunches in 1 minute
  • Rest 1 minute
  • Max Push-ups in 1 minute
  • Rest 3 minutes
  • Run-walk 12 minutes for distance

Basic:

  • Max Body Rows in 1 minute
  • Rest 1 minute
  • Max Crunches in 1 minute
  • Rest 1 minute
  • Max Knee Push-ups in 1 minute
  • Rest 3 minutes
  • Powerwalk 12 minutes for distance

Sunday 4 December 2011: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 3 December 2011: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Friday 2 December 2011: JR + PU/SU

JUMP ROPE + PUSH-UPS/SIT-UPS

Jump/Skip rope in 30/30 intervals for twenty minutes performing quick sets of calisthenics during the rest intervals.

This is a challenging workout, but it is effective and very satisfying to complete. During the thirty seconds between sets of rope skipping you will complete a brief set of an additional exercise. Alternate sets of push-ups and sit-ups so that you perform ten sets of each during the twenty minutes.

You do not have long to perform each set. You also will need extra time to transition from skipping to pushing or crunching and back again. Plan to keep the sets small (e.g. 5-20 reps) and allow ~5 seconds for the first transition and 5-10 seconds for the transition back to the rope.

Start with sets of push-ups and sit-ups smaller than you think you can handle. This is a conditioning drill, not a strength workout.

This does not have to be done at an all-out sprint. Find a rhythm and work from one exercise to the other.

Advanced
Complete ten sets of:

  • 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
  • A set of Push-ups
  • 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
  • A set of Sit-ups

Intermediate - Basic
Complete ten sets of:

  • 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
  • A set of Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
  • 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
  • A set of Crunches

30/30 Interval = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest