Skipping rest between exercises saves time and boosts your strength in a unique way compared to the traditional weight room rotation! Today’s workout focuses on supersets, which means stacking two or more exercises that challenge the same muscles group in a row with no break in between. I’m sharing a few strength moves for your shoulders and triceps, but this concept can be used for any muscle group! And more good news: skipping rest between sets, like you do with this method, helps to keep your heart rate up (which burns more calories).
You’ll need a pair of light or medium-weight dumbbells and a bench, chair or step to complete this routine.
Do you like to take rest breaks during weight training or transition directly from exercise to exercise?
You know what they say about lying down on the job…well today, you have my complete permission to do just that! These three strength and flexibility moves let you lie on your stomach and don’t require any equipment. So there’s really no reason not to hop down on the floor right now and try them! (Eek, sorry for the double negative English majors. :) At least used the lay/lie correctly?)
Completing exercises in this prone position is a unique way to strengthen your lower back, and as we know, a weak lower back can seriously hamper your quality of life. The final move in this video is a great addition to a stretching routine, warm-up or cooldown, since it opens up the hip and back muscles in a dynamic way. It’s such a good one that I often spied my university track team doing it during their daily workouts at the rec center back in the day!
So tell me: If you could do your whole workout seated or lying down, would you? Or do you prefer giving your feet the run around?
Today’s workout is like patting your head and rubbing your tummy—the opposite sides of your body move in different ways during each of the three exercises to challenge your brain and your muscles at the same time. Who doesn’t love to mix it up?
You’ll need a little open space, a medium-weight pair of dumbbells and a stability ball (you can also substitute in a bench or even the floor) for these biceps, back and chest moves. And perhaps a little extra concentration!
Do you have any tricks for keeping your head in the game during a workout?
A few years ago, it would be hard to get me into the yoga studio. I was one of those people who hadn’t given the zen workout a fair shake and thought it was too boring. But as I’ve gotten older (and wiser ;) ) I’ve realized how relaxing and restorative yoga can be. Just weeks ago, I attended my first hot power yoga class, and on Thursday I’m celebrating National Yoga Month with a free session at Exhale (they’re calling it NamasDAY—get it?).
I have to admit though, I’m still not the best at turning my brain off and just letting it
“flow.” That’s why, on many days, I fuse the practice with strength for some yoga with benefits. Join me for three such moves today, which all begin with the basic downward dog pose! You’ll challenge your core, shoulders, legs and balance without even realizing you’re working.
Are you a yoga fan? Why or why not?
I adore a good lunge. They’re just challenging enough and target your major muscle groups while moving so your heart gets a workout too. Experts agree: One noted in a FITNESS Magazine article named the lunge as one of the top nine most effective toners since it hits your leg and butt muscles at the same time.
You don’t need any fancy equipment for this super-strengthening exercise (so it’s ideal if you’re gym-less and stuck in your house all weekend, thanks to a certain fierce female we shall leave unnamed)! But to try these variations, grab a pair of medium-weight dumbbells and a stability ball.
If you were homebound this past weekend, how did you stay fit? Besides a few lunges, I tried a couple new workout DVDs and relieved my cabin fever a bit with a trip to the treadmill in my apartment building gym.
Can someone please explain how it’s almost September already? It feels like summer just started. Or is it just me?
Like the calendar days, weeks and months; minutes can fly by too. All of a sudden it’s 9 p.m. and you haven’t had a second to think about working out, let alone make a trip to the gym! That’s why a time-efficient workout is crucial. If exercise doesn’t fit in your schedule, there’s no way it’s going to happen! That’s why I’m sharing three double duty moves today so you can challenge your balance, your strength and your heart in a short timespan. You’ll need a pair of light and medium-weight dumbbells.
For some additional multipurpose exercises, click here.
What is your favorite workout for when you’re crunched for time?
Do you remember all the hubbub about Pippa Middleton’s behind after the royal wedding? The much talked about body part currently has nearly a quarter million “likes” on Facebook and has become one of the most requested “butt models” in recent months, plastic surgeons say. But I think that anyone can have an awesome bum, especially if they include consistent cardio and some targeted toners in their exercise regimen.
Pippa loves Pilates, but there’s more than one way to sculpt a tight tush. Grab a resistance band and a step bench and join me for today’s workout! It includes three lower body exercises—two of which will also get your heart pumping for a bit of a cardio challenge too. Try them as a circuit, repeating each exercise again once or twice more, after you get comfortable.
It’s great to use fit celebrities and friends as motivation, but I know you have a feature that you wouldn’t trade with anyone else! What is that trait?
Whether it’s Carpal Tunnel-like symptoms from too much texting or a leftover ache from a sports injury, wrist soreness can be a real…well, pain! Especially during exercises that require your wrists to bear a good amount of body weight, like the plank or push-up.
So for today’s workout, I have three moves that utilize dumbbells to keep your wrists in a more neutral position. Perform these with a pair of square dumbbells (these are nice ones that I’ve tried!) for a stable environment. It’s like a multipurpose Perfect Push-Up, since you can use them for all of your strength moves after you drop and give me 10 :)
What piece workout equipment has been your smartest investment?
Besides a certain wizard, this summer’s box office has been ruled by superheroes. Case in point: This Friday’s release of Captain America!
I’ve been inspired by all of this heroic action and have translated it for today’s workout—we’re talking supermans. It’s a “super” move to strengthen your lower back and entire core, and you don’t need any weights! Simply find an open space and a mat if your floor is hard and get ready to fly away :)
