Bodyrock/The Daily HIIT recently made a 30-day real-time challenge of 12 minute daily workouts. I volunteered to write about each day as a way to stay accountable. This long post is a summary of my results, a link to the entire challenge, and all of my articles related to the challenge. My articles detail the workout, but also any modifications I did. Since I did most of the workouts during my lunch break, I had to convert many exercises to bodyweight-only, or dumbbell-only. If you are a beginner or don't have the equipment they promote, check out my articles for substitution ideas. If you are looking for equipment, you can find it here.
Welcome to my collection of healthy recipes & ideas to get you moving. I post original or made-over recipes (only the delicious ones), & occasionally a homemade workout. Thanks for visiting!
Showing posts with label Move. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Move. Show all posts
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Daily HIIT/Bodyrock.tv Catching Fire 30 Day Challenge: The Entire Challenge & My Results
Sunday, May 27, 2012
REP-BASED WORKOUTS
I've been posting workouts on my pregnancy website. If you are looking for a workout, check them out! Even if you aren't pregnant, they are challenging. You can make them more challenging by adding more weight, more rounds, skipping rope, &/or convert the rep-based routines to a HIIT style workouts. You can find the workouts here.
Monday, April 30, 2012
4/29/2012 300 REP BALANCE WORKOUT

After a 2-mile walk, I did this 300 rep workout. You may have noticed that I like workouts that incorporate balance. I didn't time myself because I focused on perfect form rather than speed, but I think I completed 3 rounds in about 38 minutes. If you want a more intense workout, do more rounds, add jump rope, &/or move as quickly as you can with good form. Make sure to warm-up & cool-down!
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
4/28/2012 180 REP TOTAL BODY WORKOUT

After a 3-mile walk to the beach & back, I did this quick 180 rep workout. If you want a more intense workout, do more rounds, add jump rope, &/or move as quickly as you can with good form. I didn’t time myself, but I think I completed this in less than 15 minutes. Make sure to warm-up & cool-down!
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
4/25/2012 BALANCE BUILDING WORKOUT
After a short walk, I did this quick workout which can be done anywhere. I only did 2 rounds because I was in a hurry. If you want to increase the intensity, add more rounds, jump rope, or convert the workout to HIIT (example: set your timer for 10 sec rest/50 sec work for 16 rounds = 16 min workout). Make sure to warm-up & cool-down!
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
400 REP EQUIPMENT PARTY WORKOUT
Tonight I came up with a routine
that used all of my favorite workout equipment.
I kept the intensity low, but you can easily turn it into an inferno
workout. Add jump rope, complete the
workout as quickly as possible with excellent form, or change the format to
HIIT (18 rounds 10sec rest/50sec work =18min).
Make sure to warm up & cool-down!
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Monday, April 23, 2012
200 REP MINI WORKOUT
Here's a great equipment-free workout I did
during my lunch break that you can do anywhere.
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Sunday, April 22, 2012
400 REP WORKOUT, < 30 MIN
I've been
a bit fatigued the last few days, so tonight I made a up a rep-based workout
& took my time completing it. To make it more challenging, complete
the workout as quickly as you can with good form, add jump rope between
exercises, &/or make the squats & dead-lifts harder by adding a jump.
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Monday, April 9, 2012
20 MIN INTERVAL WORKOUT
April 5th workout:
16 min workout
4 min bonus
20 min total
|
Labels:
Bodyweight Only,
HIIT,
Move,
Workouts
Sunday, April 1, 2012
390 REP MAD ABOUT BALANCE WORKOUT
Here’s another at-home barefoot workout that I did tonight before Mad Men. I used equipment, but this can easily be an
equipment free workout. This is great
for balance!
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Monday, March 26, 2012
600 REP BAREFOOT WORKOUT
This is a 600 rep workout I did at home tonight, barefoot. I used equipment, but this can easily be done
equipment-free. I did 3 rounds of a
fixed number of reps, but you can convert it to an interval workout (set your
timer for 10/50 sec x 24 rounds for 24 min workout).
Labels:
HIIT,
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Thursday, March 22, 2012
EQUIPMENT FREE WORKOUT

Set your interval timer for 24 rounds of:
1o sec rest/30 sec work for a total of 16 min
OR
1o sec rest/50 sec work for a total of 24 min
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
LUNCHTIME WORKOUTS: A SOLUTION TO A HECTIC SCHEDULE
HOW AM
I SUPPOSED TO WORKOUT WHEN I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME?!
Does this look familiar? This post is lightly modified from a section of another post on my site (Bodyrock.tv Beginner Guide).
Do you have any tips or suggestions to help others make fitness part of a maxed-out schedule? What works for you? Please share in the comments below!
Does this look familiar? This post is lightly modified from a section of another post on my site (Bodyrock.tv Beginner Guide).
Do you have any tips or suggestions to help others make fitness part of a maxed-out schedule? What works for you? Please share in the comments below!
When the subject of working out comes
up, there are certain phrases repeated so often that it’s like a script is
being read each time. One of these
scripts includes the words, “I don’t have enough time to workout.” I get it.
I’m busy, & I don’t even have kids.
Between work, cooking, cleaning, commuting 2 hours a day, studying, socializing,
being a good wife/new mother/daughter/friend & trying to keep up with my favorite
shows (Dexter!), it can be a challenge to carve out an hour a day to move.
Labels:
Live Better,
Move,
Workouts
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
BODYWEIGHT WORKOUT FROM MELISSA POWER
Melissa Power has some great workouts! This one is only 24 minutes, & is equipment free. Take it on vacation with you, to the gym, or to the park! I thought this was a perfect lunchtime workout. If you don't have an interval timer, do a certain number of reps for each move.
If you have a smart phone, you can download an interval timer
(from my Bodyrock Beginner Guide):
If you can’t afford to buy a Gymboss, there are free options! Do you have a smart phone? iTunes & Android markets each have great interval timer apps for free.
Labels:
Bodyweight Only,
HIIT,
Move,
Workouts
Sunday, February 26, 2012
AWESOME WORKOUT by BODYROCKER TEE
Tonight I did a rep-based workout made up by a Bodyrocker. It can be done using a dumbbell, kettleball, or weight-filled bag if you don't have a sandbag.
TEE'S 1000 REP WORKOUT
100 high knees with jump rope
25 pushups with 2 knee tucks
TEE'S 1000 REP WORKOUT
100 high knees with jump rope
25 pushups with 2 knee tucks
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Monday, February 20, 2012
INTERVAL WORKOUTS
When I don't have time to look for a workout online or I forget my workout log at home, I make up my own routine. Here are some interval workouts I've made up (I'm sorry that there aren't pictures or videos).
2/2012:
PARK WORKOUT
Equipment:
Mat & Timer
PART 1 & 3
10/30 x 6 rounds
= 4 min per Part
|
PART 1
|
PART 3
|
||
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
1-leg side hop + side kick, alternating
|
||||
side burpee + knee tuck
|
||||
Reptile + leg lift
(lift up for glutes)
|
||||
PART 2 & 4
3 min countdown, maximum reps of:
|
PART 2
|
PART 4
|
||
1 rep =
10 jump lunges à plank
2 push-ups Ã
rollover Ã
10 knee hugs à roll
over & power up
|
||||
REP CHALLENGE WORKOUTS
Sometimes I make up my own workouts. Here are some of them. I don't have videos or pictures to accompany these...sorry!
Get your workout gear here.
Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of this site regarding workouts posted on this site.
Pin It
Time
Challenge: Finish all exercises as fast as possible with good form. Do 2 rounds for time
|
TIME
|
1
|
2
|
TOTAL
|
|||
Jump Rope,
med intensity
|
100
jumps
|
Side Plank Twist w/3sec hold
|
20,
alt
|
||||
Forward-Backward Lunges
|
15/leg
|
Jump Rope,
high knees
|
100
jumps
|
||||
Jump Rope,
high knees
|
100
jumps
|
Sumo Squat with overhead press
|
15
|
||||
Push-ups
|
15
|
Jump Rope Jacks
Each jump apart = 1 jumps
|
50
jumps
|
||||
Jump Rope Jacks
Each jump apart = 1 jumps
|
50
jumps
|
Tricep
Dips + leg lift, alt
|
20
|
||||
9/14/2011:
I LOVE MY NEW FITBALL! WORKOUT
Equipment: Timer, fitball or medicine ball/dumbbell
This is a great at-home quiet workout that I did barefoot.
As a bonus, do 1 round. For a workout, do 3 rounds.
This is a great at-home quiet workout that I did barefoot.As a bonus, do 1 round. For a workout, do 3 rounds.
Reps
|
Exercise
|
Time
|
300
|
Ball pulse squeezes (Lie on back, knees bent with
ball between knees. Squeeze knees
together & squeeze glutes, lifting butt off the ground.
|
|
50
|
Reverse plank knee tucks, hands on ball
|
|
20
|
1-arm on ball push-up alt (knees)
|
|
20/leg
|
1-leg squat with other foot lightly balanced on
ball
|
|
30
|
Ball pass (lie on back, pass ball from hands to
feet)
|
|
25 per leg
|
1-leg bridge leg lift on ball
|
|
10
|
1-arm on ball push-up alt (knees)
|
|
15
|
Ab Chopper with ball
|
Get your workout gear here.
Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of this site regarding workouts posted on this site.
Pin It
Labels:
Move,
Rep-Based Workout,
Workouts
Monday, January 2, 2012
FUN, INEXPENSIVE, & ACTIVE THINGS TO DO IN LA
LA/ SANTA MONICA
This trail is challenging, fun, very sunny, & has great views of
This trail is long, challenging, & once you reach higher spots along it, you can see 360 views of LA, Santa Monica/South Bay, San Fernando Valley , etc. Dogs are allowed, & you can mountain bike this trail.
BODYROCK.TV/The Daily HIIT BEGINNER'S GUIDE
Now that New Year’s
Day has passed, my guess is there will be many more new
Bodyrockers. Many beginners have the same
questions. I began to save my answers to common questions a
while ago; here is my collection.
I still spend about an hour working out, but it is more efficient & effective than my old routine. The workout is always different, so I don't get bored. I often workout on my hour-long lunch break; these workouts are perfect. I don't use my gym membership anymore, but these workouts can be done in a gym. I have most of the equipment used, but I accumulated it slowly. The equipment is not necessary, & there are always modifications you can do either at home, work, or the gym (more detail below).
1. INTERVALS
You work for a fixed period of time, with very short breaks. The breaks are just long enough to write how many reps you did for that round, & to move to the next exercise. Your goal is to move as quickly as you can with good form. Always keep good form rather than race through. Also, as you get tired and form suffers, switch to an easier variation & keep moving rather than just stop.
"10/30" means 10 seconds rest (when you write down your reps), 30 seconds work (pushing to your maximum). If there are 4 exercises & you're going to repeat them all 3 times (12 rounds total), rounds 1-4 (round 1*) you will complete 1 set of each exercise, one following the next, then rounds 5-8(round 2*) would repeat that, & rounds 9-12 (round 3*) repeat again. Many workouts follow this format. There is usually a workout breakdown posted with the video so that you know how to set your timer. See 1/10/2011 Cherry Cherry Boom Boom Workout for an example of this type of format in action (this should help you set up how to write down reps, too):
IS THIS REALLY ALL YOU DO?
DIP STATION: NO
Years ago, when I was a broke student with no
time, I walked or went up & down stairs on my lunch break. I
went back to that habit. I decided to work out in a park by work during
my 1 hour lunch break using an app on the iphone, Nike training Camp. I
was very skeptical that their 15min - 45 min routines (including warm up/cool
down) would be "enough." They were...but with about 6 routines
to choose from, I started to get bored. Around the same time, my friend
Tara told me about Bodyrock. I was hooked from the first workout.
Now I do them 6-7 times a week. 2-3 of those days are done at work
on my lunch break. Since starting, I have only done ONE workout like my
old ones. It was so boring that I stopped within 10 min & started a
BR one instead!
Some people ask me about working out at lunch & are turned off to it for many reasons.
1) Preparation time
2) Getting sweaty at work is icky
3) How can you have a good workout & eat in an hour?
Like most things, once you have a set routine, it's easy.
1) PREP TIME
At night I pack my workout clothes in a bag. In that bag are toiletries. I keep this at work: shoes, 2 sets of dumbbells, a yoga mat (in a bag), & a jump rope. Since I will not have time to go buy lunch, I must pack my lunch. I always have done this, so it's not any extra time. I usually pack breakfast/snacks/lunch as I make dinner. I pick my workouts ahead of time.
2) THE ICKY FACTOR
I carry toiletries, workout clothes, & a change of some clothes with me in my bag. I clean up within 7 min after my workout. No one has said to me, "You stink." I have asked... Also, I feel more alert & energized for the rest of the day!
There
is a summary of links in this post at the end of the page.
(I am not affiliated
with Bodyrock.tv or The Daily HIIT in anyway other than that I do the workouts, & I am not a
trainer. I am not liable or responsible if you injure yourself while
doing a workout anywhere. Consult your doctor before starting a new
exercise regimen. This post is all my opinion & is not endorsed
by anyone at Bodyrock.tv or The Daily HIIT.)
WHAT
IS BODYROCK.TV / The Daily HIIT, & WHO ARE BODYROCKERS?
You may have stumbled
across this page while checking out a recipe. Bodyrock.tv & the Daily HIIT are amazing
websites that provide free, short, intense workouts that can be done
at home with little or no equipment. The people who do these workouts
call themselves Bodyrockers. A friend told me about Bodyrock in February
of 2011, & I have been hooked since.
WHERE
DO I START?
The Daily HIIT posts new workouts almost daily, & is completely self contained. The videos show proper technique, give you a breakdown of the routine, & even have a timer built in in case you need it. The new site makes jumping into these workouts easy. Here is the "Getting Started" page from The Daily HIIT.
If that's intimidating to you or you want a more structured guide, there are beginner guides on Bodyrock.tv. In Jan 2012 they posted a visual quick start guide, which you can find here. Another post, “How to Start Working Out with Us At Home” is helpful. There are few posts about the equipment used, as well as homemade alternatives. Not all alternatives are listed in that post, especially because many alternatives have been posted within workout comment threads by Bodyrockers. I have a few of them linked later in this guide.
If that's intimidating to you or you want a more structured guide, there are beginner guides on Bodyrock.tv. In Jan 2012 they posted a visual quick start guide, which you can find here. Another post, “How to Start Working Out with Us At Home” is helpful. There are few posts about the equipment used, as well as homemade alternatives. Not all alternatives are listed in that post, especially because many alternatives have been posted within workout comment threads by Bodyrockers. I have a few of them linked later in this guide.
The
best way to start is to just do a workout. No matter how intimidating
a workout looks, it can always be made easier through modification.
If a new workout isn't posted, just pick one from the hundreds archived on the site. (Some
of the older workouts no longer have a main image associated with the post.
Those older workouts are still available.)
If
you like structure, a 30-day challenge began in Jan 2012. Here is a link to the first workout (Fit Test), & here is a link to the whole challenge. If you are overwhelmed by these
workouts, just pick another one from the archives! The Daily HIIT frequently posts new challenges as well.
HOW DO
THESE WORKOUTS WORK?
It may
seem unbelievable that these short workouts can be effective. The topic was
constantly discussed in the comments on Bodyrock.tv when it was the main site. Much of that conversation occurs on Facebook now. Take time to read through Bodyrockers'
posts (Bodyrockers section). Many people have similar stories regarding increased
fitness following these workouts rather than hour long cardio
sessions/weightlifting sessions. Personally, I am fitter than I was
before Bodyrocking, & I was a disciplined gym-rat before.
When
I started, I used to spend about 1-1 1/2 hours at the gym (not including warm
up/cool down), so I was skeptical about the short workouts being effective. I
don't know about everyone else, but this is what I do:
5-8 min
|
|
12-40 min
|
Workout
(whichever I choose for the day. I usually do just one....sometimes I'll
combine them but not often)
|
3-5 min
|
Bonus. I
usually add a "bonus" of about 3-5 min of extra things.
Lately, they've been doing this as part of the workout.
|
0-20 min
|
Cardio - either
the interval skipping I mentioned before, running, or walking if I'm super
wiped out from the workout. I don't always do extra cardio.
|
10-20 min
|
|
30-93min
|
Total
|
I still spend about an hour working out, but it is more efficient & effective than my old routine. The workout is always different, so I don't get bored. I often workout on my hour-long lunch break; these workouts are perfect. I don't use my gym membership anymore, but these workouts can be done in a gym. I have most of the equipment used, but I accumulated it slowly. The equipment is not necessary, & there are always modifications you can do either at home, work, or the gym (more detail below).
Here is something a Bodyrocker
wrote, which was posted on the site in March 2010:
I wanted to share something
with you that I thought you might like to hear. I bought myself one of those
BodyBugg things (you wear it on your arm and it counts calories) anyhow….I did
an experiment. One week I did my regular workouts at the gym, such as their
bootcamp class, aerobics, weight training and when I plugged my bodybugg into
my computer I averaged 6.4 calories burned per minute in those classes (and the
Bootcamp is an interval class). The next week I did your awesome Tabata style
workouts and guess what???? I averaged 11.4 calories per minute with your
workout, dripped with sweat, and held a longer afterburn too! So….that proved
to me in a more concrete way that your workouts are more effective at burning
calories…which explains to me why working out with you has been more effective
than what I was doing with my trainer, which I already knew but it’s nice to
have actual evidence as to why.
HOW
ARE THE WORKOUTS DONE?
The workouts are
constructed in 2 different ways, usually: Intervals, or Time Challenge. Sometimes, Sean does Pyramid/Ladder workouts.
1. INTERVALS
You work for a fixed period of time, with very short breaks. The breaks are just long enough to write how many reps you did for that round, & to move to the next exercise. Your goal is to move as quickly as you can with good form. Always keep good form rather than race through. Also, as you get tired and form suffers, switch to an easier variation & keep moving rather than just stop.
"10/30" means 10 seconds rest (when you write down your reps), 30 seconds work (pushing to your maximum). If there are 4 exercises & you're going to repeat them all 3 times (12 rounds total), rounds 1-4 (round 1*) you will complete 1 set of each exercise, one following the next, then rounds 5-8(round 2*) would repeat that, & rounds 9-12 (round 3*) repeat again. Many workouts follow this format. There is usually a workout breakdown posted with the video so that you know how to set your timer. See 1/10/2011 Cherry Cherry Boom Boom Workout for an example of this type of format in action (this should help you set up how to write down reps, too):
24 rounds, 24 min total
1. set timer for 10 sec/50 sec 24
rounds
2. hit start [beep after 10 sec] 3. mountain climber sprints [beep after 50 sec] stop & write reps [beep after 10 sec] 4. single leg raises [beep after 50 sec] stop & write reps [beep after 10 sec] 5. mountain climber sprints [beep after 50 sec] stop & write reps [beep after 10 sec] 6. sandbag squat + kick up [beep after 50 sec] stop & write reps [beep after 10 sec] 7. mountain climber sprints
[beep after 50 sec] stop &
write reps [beep after 10 sec]
8. tricep knee raises
[beep after 50 sec] stop &
write reps [beep after 10 sec]
Repeat steps 3-8 for the other 3
rounds.
|
I usually note any
substitutions/modifications I made as well as how much weight I used, if
applicable. This is so that I can try to beat my scores if I repeat a
workout. I also write the date I completed a workout, the date the
workout was posted, & its title so that I can find it easily later.
Occasionally the
format changes so that you finish all sets of 1 exercise before moving on to
the next one (Psychopath workout or Pumped Up Kicks are each a good example of
that). For workouts like these, rather than completing a set of each
move sequentially in a round, you will be finishing all sets of one exercise in
multiple rounds before moving to the next exercise.
Here's what my workout
log looked like for the Pumped Up Kicks Workout:
PUMPED UP KICKS WORKOUT 10/30
sec, 24 rounds, 16 min
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. TIME CHALLENGE
Another other way that
the workouts are constructed is as a "time challenge."
These workouts have a fixed number of reps, & your goal is
to complete them as quickly as possible, with good form. Form is
always more important than speed. For these, I write out each
exercise, the # reps, & a description or sketch if needed.
3.
PYRAMID/LADDER
These workouts are
very challenging. You will start with a certain number & complete
than number of reps for each exercise. For the next round, you will do
one less round of each rep, & continue in that fashion until you get to one
rep.
Example:
Exercise
|
Round 1
|
Round 2
|
Round 3
|
Round 4
|
Round 5
|
Round 6
|
Round 7
|
Round 8
|
Round 9
|
Round 10
|
Squats
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Pushups
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Lunges
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Hanging Knee Raises
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Side Jump Lunges
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Pike Press Jump Tuck
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
IT IS
IMPORTANT TO WARM UP & COOL DOWN!
Bodyrock has tabs in
the "workout" section for warm-up & cool-down. There
are a few of each to choose from if you don't have a routine you like already.
I'm sure you know this, but it's important to do both. When I
started, I had a little chart I put in my workout log so that I could remember
what stretches to do.
WARMUP ROUTINE: 27 rounds 15sec à 6:45
1. Shoulder Rolls
|
10. Jump in Place
|
19. Scissors
|
2. Arm scissors (hug)
|
11. Fwd-Backward Jump
|
20. Lunge hip stretch (L)
|
3. Arm Chops (like swimming)
|
12. Side to Side Jump
|
21. Floor hamstring stretch (L)
|
4. Wrist circles
|
13. Twist Jump
|
22. Lunge hip stretch (R)
|
5. Ankle rolls RT
|
14. Jacks
|
23. Floor hamstring stretch (R)
|
15. ½ jump squat
|
24. Upper body twist
|
|
7. Captain Hip open/close
|
16. Side to side leg lift
|
25. Fwd Bend Twist
|
8. March in Place
|
17. Reach across side lunge
|
26. Side to Side reach
|
9. Jog in Place
|
18. High kick to opp hand
|
27. Yoga fwd bend stretch
|
STRETCHING ROUTINE: 10-15 sec hold,
work to 20-30 sec. 10-15 min
1. Walk in place to cool down
|
10. Sit, 1 leg straight, other bent, forehead to knee,
flat back
|
2. Chin up/down on inhale/exhale
|
11. Frog: kneel, knees wide, feet side flat, go to
forearms, butt stays btw knees
|
3. Fwd Bend Twist on in/exhale
|
12. Sit, legs wide, walk out & back slowly,
knees stay pointed up
|
4. Arm across chest shoulder stretch
|
13. Cobra
|
5. Arm behind head triceps stretch
|
14. Down dog, after few breaths, bend knees
|
6. Arm behind back shoulder stretch
|
15. Cat stretch on all fours
|
7. Kneel, hand on mat, fingers to knees bicep
stretch
|
16. Sit, legs extended, touch toes
|
8. Kneel, clasp hands behind back, lift hand up
|
17. Lying Back stretch
|
9. Lunge hip stretch, chest up à hamstring
|
18. Pretzel stretch
|
IS THIS REALLY ALL YOU DO?
The workouts are very
challenging, & you control how intense your workout is. If you are
wiped out, then celebrate a great workout! If you feel up to doing more,
add something you enjoy. Some people do more than one workout, some run,
& many of us follow the workouts with jumping/skipping rope. If you
are new to it, try interval skipping in 10/20sec intervals (rest in the 10 sec,
work in the 20 sec) & jump however you want to. Work up to 20 min of
interval skipping. If you don’t like skipping rope, do whatever you
enjoy!
HOW
WILL I TRACK MY PROGRESS?
- Record
your reps for each workout you do. If you repeat a workout, you will
be able to compare to previous scores. The more detailed your entry,
the better. I note how much weight I use (if any), any modifications
I do, & if I switch from full to modified moves (ex, 20 squat jumps/10
squats or 10 full push ups/10 knee push ups)
- Do
the Fit Test posted on Bodyrock.tv
(or something else you like) when you begin & repeat
it occasionally.
- Measure your body fat with calipers. Here's a post with instructions on how to do it yourself. If you belong to a gym, someone there may be able to help you with this.
WHAT
IF I AM PREGNANT?
See this series of posts by a Bodyrocker (Kate Rita) who
was pregnant while Bodyrocking, & is a certified prenatal/postnatal
fitness specialist. She has her own website, which is linked on
the Bodyrock posts. Below are her posts featured on Bodyrock:
Following Kate-Rita’s
guidelines, I made my own pregnancy workouts when I was pregnant with my son. If you would
like to try them, visit my pregnancy blog.
DO I
REALLY NEED ALL THE EQUIPMENT?
Not most of it.
For most moves involving equipment, you can make substitutions/modifications. If you sub another exercise that works the same
muscles, you’ll do fine. If you DO want to buy equipment, you can find it here.
INTERVAL TIMER: YES!!
This is a must! If you can’t afford to buy a Gymboss, there are free options! Do you have a smart phone? iTunes & Android markets each have great interval timer apps for free.
iTunes:
1. Round Timer by transcendent systems is my favorite. This app is the most like the clip-on Gymboss we all love. The logo is a red alarm-looking bell.
2. Gymboss (logo is a black & white stick figure in a circle, who looks like he's running). The round timer app is super-easy to use, & Gymboss will let you build custom workouts. Their app isn't as easy as their timer but it's nice.
Android: I like these equally:
1."HIIT Interval Training" by Giorgi Regni (the logo has a runner's silhouette). Easy to use & you can save presets.
2. "A HIIT Interval Timer" by Pimpim Mobile (the logo looks like an analog clock). This one is also easy to use, but you can also make very specific workouts. If you wanted, you could make each round say "jump rope, squats, knee raises, etc." I love both.
This is a must! If you can’t afford to buy a Gymboss, there are free options! Do you have a smart phone? iTunes & Android markets each have great interval timer apps for free.
iTunes:
1. Round Timer by transcendent systems is my favorite. This app is the most like the clip-on Gymboss we all love. The logo is a red alarm-looking bell.
2. Gymboss (logo is a black & white stick figure in a circle, who looks like he's running). The round timer app is super-easy to use, & Gymboss will let you build custom workouts. Their app isn't as easy as their timer but it's nice.
Android: I like these equally:
1."HIIT Interval Training" by Giorgi Regni (the logo has a runner's silhouette). Easy to use & you can save presets.
2. "A HIIT Interval Timer" by Pimpim Mobile (the logo looks like an analog clock). This one is also easy to use, but you can also make very specific workouts. If you wanted, you could make each round say "jump rope, squats, knee raises, etc." I love both.
Here’s a link to a timer that you can use on your computer (updated 3/23/2012)
JUMP ROPE: YES/NO
JUMP ROPE: YES/NO
You
can run or jump in place without a jump rope, but it’s so much better with a
jump rope! The $5 they cost is money well spent. It is part of many
BR workouts. Jump roping used to be something I hated, but now I love
it. Time passes quickly with intervals, & my endurance has
improved. Make sure to wear well-cushioned shoes. If your ankles,
feet, or shins feel sore quickly, do what you can & work up to longer
sessions. You should improve with consistent practice.
EXERCISE MAT: YES
Find
something cushioned to use if you can’t afford a mat. On vacation this
year, I used 2 beach towels.
DIP STATION: NO
Bodyrockers have been
very creative when it comes to this piece of equipment. I used to sub
bent over rows for reverse pushups until I saw the broomstick chair
suggestion. For hanging leg raises, I either did lying leg lifts on the
ground or hung from a bar at the gym.
At Home
|
At a Gym
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a walker
homemade (see Fitness Tips on the site)
countertop corners for leg raises
under a table, hold onto the top for
reverse pushups
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roman chair
pull up bars
parallel bars
treadmill handles?
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This piece of equipment is similar enough to the dip station that I don't plan to
buy one. If you do not have the equalizer, see the suggested dip station substitutions.
UGIBALL/FITBALL: NO
A
soft fitball makes a workout more challenging, but isn’t a must. There
are plenty of easy substitutions:
Regular
medicine ball
Bosu
ball
Dumbbells
Kettleball
Basketball
Omit
& just use your own bodyweight
Dynamax
makes a soft fitball which isn’t cheap, but it is more affordable than
UGI. I bought my 8# “Accelerator” for about $91 after tax & shipping to California .
SANDBAG, T-bar, POWERBLOCKS, OR KETTLEBELLS: NO
At
either home or the gym, these are thing people have used:
kitty litter
duffel bag dumbbells
|
a child
kettleball
barbell
|
Filling
materials for homemade or bought:
Sand, rocks,
rice, salt. Salt is cheap & compact. I paid $6 for 25# at
smart & final. I split it into 6 baggies for easy weight
adjustment).
|
|
Here’s an example of a homemade sandbag made from
items you can find in your home.
Here's a homemade pink sandbag that looks exactly
like the one for sale. It requires sewing. The link will
take you to a tutorial.
|
|||
PULL UP BAR: NO
I don’t think it’s necessary,
but I also don’t do pull ups (old injury). These are easy to use at home
& quite versatile. Many of the hanging ab moves on the dip station
could be done with a pull up bar. See this old workout where Zuzana used a wall for pull ups
& hanging knee raises.
HOW DO YOU DO A NINJA JUMP ?!
See this tutorial for a ninja jump + sandbag pickup.
(Note 3/12/2012: I didn't realize the former link was to a video that has
been removed. I found another tutorial...hopefully it doesn't get pulled
from the site!)
CAN I SEARCH FOR WORKOUTS BY
TYPE OR AREA?
Yes & no. Bodyrock used to be searchable, but as of May 2013, that has been disabled. The Daily HIIT does have a search feature, but it isn't a free-text one. There is an awesome bodyrock workout search website. You can search by various
criteria, like "rep-workout, intervals, skipping, no equipment," etc. (Note: it does not include workouts from the time Lisa-Marie & Sean took over hosting BRTV)
Remember that any exercise with equipment can
be made into a bodyweight only variation.
WHAT ABOUT DIET?
See the Food/Diet tab on the site. Diet is important…no matter how much you workout, a
bad diet can sabotage your hard work!
See Lisa-Marie's Facebook Diet /Clean Eating Album
WHAT IF MY FAMILY/FRIENDS AREN'T SUPPORTIVE?
This topic had been discussed at length.
WHAT BRAND OF CLOTHES ARE
WORN?
Lululemon seems to be the most often worn brand.
ARE THERE BODYROCK.TV
T-SHIRTS?
Yes! Here they are...
I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME
This could be the most common reason
people give for not working out.
Usually, there are little bits of time
throughout the day that could be found to squeeze in activity.
After work, do a workout instead of going
online or watching TV.
Workout while you watch TV.
Most of the workouts are 4 min segments
repeated 3 times for a 12 min workout. Do a 4 min workout if that’s all
you have time for! 4 min may seem like nothing, but 4 min a day is better
than nothing.
Personally, I solved this problem by
exercising on my lunch break. Here’s a copy of a post I wrote a while
ago:
** Brief summary:
Bodyrocking during my lunch break was the answer to not having enough time.**
Pre-Bodyrock, I used to do the standard workout routine of long cardio workouts & long strength training sessions. I would spend a minimum of 60 minutes (usually 90 min) at the gym. Between my commute (1 hour each way) & my long work day (10 hr), it was difficult to get motivated to spend so much time working out, but I did it. Then, I changed jobs. I went from an active, on-my-feet-all-day job, to a sedentary one with the same schedule, same commute, & now I have to study. I knew that if I didn't find a way to 1) make sure I exercise consistently each day & 2) suppress my appetite a bit, I would probably gain weight.
Pre-Bodyrock, I used to do the standard workout routine of long cardio workouts & long strength training sessions. I would spend a minimum of 60 minutes (usually 90 min) at the gym. Between my commute (1 hour each way) & my long work day (10 hr), it was difficult to get motivated to spend so much time working out, but I did it. Then, I changed jobs. I went from an active, on-my-feet-all-day job, to a sedentary one with the same schedule, same commute, & now I have to study. I knew that if I didn't find a way to 1) make sure I exercise consistently each day & 2) suppress my appetite a bit, I would probably gain weight.
Some people ask me about working out at lunch & are turned off to it for many reasons.
1) Preparation time
2) Getting sweaty at work is icky
3) How can you have a good workout & eat in an hour?
Like most things, once you have a set routine, it's easy.
1) PREP TIME
At night I pack my workout clothes in a bag. In that bag are toiletries. I keep this at work: shoes, 2 sets of dumbbells, a yoga mat (in a bag), & a jump rope. Since I will not have time to go buy lunch, I must pack my lunch. I always have done this, so it's not any extra time. I usually pack breakfast/snacks/lunch as I make dinner. I pick my workouts ahead of time.
2) THE ICKY FACTOR
I carry toiletries, workout clothes, & a change of some clothes with me in my bag. I clean up within 7 min after my workout. No one has said to me, "You stink." I have asked... Also, I feel more alert & energized for the rest of the day!
3) TIME
I pick a few workouts at a time for work. I choose ones that have minimal equipment, or that can be modified with what I keep at work. 5min warm up + 12 min workout + 6 min cool down = 23 min. I have extra time to add in jump rope or a longer workout. Say I add 20 min skipping --> 43 min total. I can still clean up & eat fast. The key is to prepare everything ahead of time. I have coworkers who join me sometimes, & it's nice to have someone else to workout with.
Since starting Bodyrock workouts, the longest period I've gone without working out is 4 days. If I don't workout, I feel terrible. Not because I feel guilty, but because I feel so much better if I move. I say all the time that these workouts keep me happy, healthy, & sane.
I pick a few workouts at a time for work. I choose ones that have minimal equipment, or that can be modified with what I keep at work. 5min warm up + 12 min workout + 6 min cool down = 23 min. I have extra time to add in jump rope or a longer workout. Say I add 20 min skipping --> 43 min total. I can still clean up & eat fast. The key is to prepare everything ahead of time. I have coworkers who join me sometimes, & it's nice to have someone else to workout with.
Since starting Bodyrock workouts, the longest period I've gone without working out is 4 days. If I don't workout, I feel terrible. Not because I feel guilty, but because I feel so much better if I move. I say all the time that these workouts keep me happy, healthy, & sane.
SUMMARY
OF LINKS
WORKOUT INFORMATION
|
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Amazing websites with short, high intensity workouts for
free.
|
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Link to Bodyrock.tv’s beginner guide (FAQ); Link to
Visual Quick Start Guide 1/2012
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Link to Bodyrock.tv’s tips, including “How To Start
Working Out With Us At Home”
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Link to warm ups on Bodyrock.tv
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Link to cool down & stretching posts Bodyrock.tv
|
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A great website that you can you to quickly search by
various criteria (reps, intervals, time, etc)
|
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TIMERS, EQUIPMENT, & SUBSTITUTIONS
|
|
A free interval timer for your computer
|
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The timer used on Bodyrock.tv
|
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This company sells the dip station, pull up bars, Indian
clubs, & jump rope used on Bodyrock.tv. They ship to the
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Link to Bodyrock.tv’s dip station link. Here you can see
posts about cheaper alternatives, ways others have saved money, & of
course a link to the dip station.
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Link to the Lebert Equalizer
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You can buy one almost anywhere for very little.
This is the one sold by the dip station people.
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Can be found many places probably, but this is the one
sold by Ultimate Body Press.
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Link to Bodyrock.tv’s sandbag link. Here you can see
posts about less expensive alternatives, ways others have saved money, &
of course a link to the sandbag.
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Link to UGI
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Less expensive alternative, 14inch diameter.
Multiple weights & colors.
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MISCELLANOUS
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Unsupportive Family?
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Possibly the best workout clothes ever….but pricey.
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T-shirts & more
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BODYROCK.TV TEAM
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Freddy & the rest of the team are very active on Facebook.
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Labels:
Bodyrock.tv Beginner Guide,
Move
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