05/22/13
workoutwed-torchthelegs

workout wednesday {legs edition}

Happy Wednesday all!  It’s been a rainy couple of days here.  I miss the sunshine!  I guess it’s only May so I can’t be too surprised about the rain here.

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I received my first bodycombat release on Monday.  I cannot wait to get trained in this in just a week and a half!  It looks so fun.

I just planned out my cycle class for today and now have a leg workout for all of you.  One thing I love to combine for legs is a strength exercise followed by a plyometric exercise.  Plyometrics build explosive power and not only strengthen the leg muscles (and abs, back and butt too!, they torch calories.  I hope you enjoy this one today!

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Let me know if you have questions about any of the exercises!  Hope you and your legs enjoy it. :)

What is one of YOUR favorite leg exercises?  Have you ever done bodycombat before?

Have a great day!

Heather

05/15/13
workoutwed-PLANK

workout wednesday {plank edition}

Happy workout Wednesday everyone! Hope your week is going well so far.  Today we’re talking core + I’ve got an awesome plank series workout to share.

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In order to strengthen your core, you don’t have to do hundreds of crunches.  In fact, you can do zero crunches and still get amazingly strong abs.  How you ask??  With planks!  They are my favorite core exercise.  I like them so much, I joined in on a plank tower after one of my classes a while back.  We know how to have fun. :)

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Recently I was looking through some progress pictures and thought it would be fun to show a change over the last few months.  Here is a picture from January (8 months post baby).

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And next is a picture from April (11 months post baby).

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I typically only spend at most 5 minutes out of each classes specifically working abs.  But whenever I have the choice, I do it with planks.  They obviously help define and strengthen!  That’s also why push ups are an awesome full body exercise- you’re in a plank (hello core work) during them!

I’d also like to note, while you can do as many planks, crunches or core exercises as you want, abs will stay hiding until diet is in check.  Abs really are made in the kitchen, so if you want to see a [2-4-6-8] pack, make sure your diet is where it needs to be – balanced with clean eats.

Whether your abs are hiding or showing, it is still always important to keep them strong.  Core strength supports your body, help protect your back, keeps you in good posture and helps you maintain good form during all other exercises.  So let’s work them for all of those reasons!

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If you are new to exercise just do this 5 minute plank series one time.  Take rest as you need it.  Once you are ready to move on, repeat another time.  And if that’s not enough, do it for a 3rd time!

And because I like sharing other workouts and exercises, here is one from Kristin at STUFT Mama – give her plank up and over exercise a try!

Screen Shot 2013-05-15 at 7.15.32 AMWant to see YOUR workout included in Workout Wednesday?  Next week we are covering legs, so be sure to email me your leg workout including the link to it (heather.englund@comcast.net).

How often do you work your core?  What is your favorite ab exercise?

Have a great Wednesday all!

Heather

05/8/13
WOW-HIIT

workout wednesday {HIIT edition}

Good morning!  Hope your day started out well.  It’s workout Wednesday with a focus on HIIT!

Why do high intensity interval training (HIIT)?  Why not?!  You can exercise for less time (compared to steady state), but get awesome calorie torching benefits.  Because you are having to push yourself really hard with short amounts of recovery, you burn more calories in less time.  You work in the anaerobic zone.  Anaerobic means without oxygen.  While you are breathing, you are working so hard that your body is having to pull energy from other parts of your body to keep it going.  That’s why it is an effective fat burner.

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Today I’m sharing one of my workouts I did on Monday.  As far as the exercises go and brain power needed, it’s simple – all you do is SPRINT.  However, it’s a tough cookie.  10 rounds of sprints, with equal work and recovery.  After 5 I was spent but forced myself to keep going until all rounds were done.  I felt annihilated, but at the same time great.  It’s fun to be pushed!  However, it didn’t help that I chose to do it at 2:30pm… on an 85 degree day… with the sun shining down… sometimes sprinting up a hill.  Phew, it was a doozy!

If you are new to exercise, you can just do 4-5 rounds as a place to start.

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Another one to try for an indoor non-sprint HIIT workout is this 15 minute workout from PurelyTwins.  You get even less recovery time and do some fun exercises while you’re at it.  Thanks girls!

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Do you do HIIT workouts?  What is your favorite one?  Links are welcome!

Workout Wednesday next week will focus on PLANK workouts… anything involving a plank – email me (heather.englund@comcast.net) your workout if you’d like me to share it!

Heather