workout

Weekend Workout – Gotta Keep that Core TIGHT!

Got another core centric superset workout to kickstart your weekend. As if core exercises weren’t challenging enough, these exercises will all be executed from the plank position. That means you’ll need to utilize much more than core muscles to complete the workout.

Performing five 10 rep supersets of this workout will help improve strength in your ENTIRE core, not just your 6-pack (rectus abdominis). For those that need a refresher on supersets, they require you to perform a desired number of repetitions for 3 separate exercises in succession. Don’t forget to warmup and modify the workout to match your fitness level.

Let us know in the comment section below if you completed this or any weekend workout. ENJOY!

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Try It This Weekend: The Burpee

Weekends are usually reserved for relaxing and recovering from a hectic workweek. UNLESS one of the biggest holidays of the year falls on the weekend, which is the predicament those celebrating Christmas are faced with this year. A large percentage of us will be driving, flying, eating, drinking, wrapping, unwrapping and hopefully spending time with the ones you love this weekend. It’s important to experience all that goes with the holiday because it only comes around once a year, but it is also important to incorporate a workout into your schedule. Trust me, conversations with relatives go a lot smoother if you get a workout in. However, since your schedule is chock full of social engagements, you have to make smart use of the little free time you do have. That’s where this week’s “try it” exercise comes in.

The modified burpee is a compound movement that will provide you with a total body workout without the need of any equipment. The burpee I’m describing may be a little different than ones you’re used to seeing and I’ll explain why in the following step by step explanation.

  1. Stand with your feet square and a little wider than shoulder width apart.
  2. Squat (eyes forward, chest up) down till your hands touch the floor. Your arms should be inside your legs at the bottom of your squat.
  3. STEP one foot back
  4. STEP the other foot back till you’re in the up push-up position. *** I suggest this technique opposed to thrusting your feet back to prevent any lower back pain or discomfort ***
  5. You should be in a flat back plank position
  6. Perform 1 push-up
  7. STEP one foot up
  8. STEP the other foot up till you’re back in the lowered squat position.
  9. Perform a vertical jump as you rise out of your lowered squat position. *** Land softly ***

– Repeat for desired number of reps

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I recommend performing 5 sets of 10 modified burpees with 30-60 seconds of rest in between sets. Make sure to adjust the exercise and/or workout to match your fitness level. I imagine this workout will take approximately 10-15 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to do some last second wrapping.

If you try out the modified burpee, let us know what you think. Also, we’d love to see pics of you performing the exercise so feel free to share them with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (@ettampa). Happy holidays peeps!

What’s on the Menu

Taking a little different approach to this week’s look at what’s on my menu. Instead of highlighting a healthy food item, I’m going to tell you about a healthy endeavor that Elemental Training Tampa (ETT) will be offering this week. On Saturday, November 19th, ETT will be bringing our free monthly group workouts to the Seminole Heights neighborhood. Shannon and I are residents of Seminole Heights and we thought what better way to give back to the community we love so much than helping people improve their fitness.  The workout will incorporate basic punching & kicking techniques with complimentary strength building exercises to help you start your weekend off right. No experience is required and exercise modifications will be provided for all fitness levels. As if the workout wasn’t enticing enough, each participant will receive a 15% discount at one of Seminole Heights best coffee “shops” Spaddy’s Coffee Co. We will also be collecting non-perishable food items for ETT’s annual food drive for Metropolitan Ministries. All the details about the workout can be found on our Facebook event page. If you live in and around Seminole Heights, please come out and see what ETT has to offer. You won’t be disappointed.

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Weekend Workout

Become a true weekend warrior and join Elemental Training Tampa for some outdoor group training. The workout will be held near Downtown Tampa and incorporates basic striking techniques with complimentary strength building exercises to help you burn off some of those incessant weekend calories. No experience is required (modifications provided for all fitness levels) and this training session is entirely FREE! Take some time out of your weekend schedule and join ETT because your health is worth it. Check out the event page on Facebook to find out all the details. SEE YOU THERE!

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ETT Exercise of the Week Ep.5

The ETT Exercise of the Week is back with authority! I have a great ETT exercise that combines a reverse lunge with a properly thrown front kick. To perform this ETT exercise you have to engage nearly all the muscles in your lower body and core. This exercise not only increases strength & cardio but also helps you improve your balance & flexibility. I recommend you practicing your reverse lunges and front kicks in a mirror before combining them to complete this ETT exercise. You can see in the video that I alternate legs after a few repeititions. This will help you avoid fatigue, which is key to performing the exercise with the proper technique. Go ahead and incorporate this ETT exercise into your next workout, but you have to promise one thing. Promise that you won’t hate me for making your legs sore. Embrace the burn!

Sunday Funday

This week’s Throwback Thursday pic is from a past ETT group training session. Compared to individual training, evidence suggest that group training helps people stay motivated, provides a support system and is overall more enjoyable. You will receive all of those benefits and more at an ETT group training session. If you are in or around the Tampa Bay Area, come on out to Davis Islands THIS Sunday for the next ETT group training session. The workout is entirely FREE and no experience is required. I promise you won’t leave disappointed. HIT IT!

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ETT Exercise of the Week Ep. 2

We are back with another great ETT exercise that will get your butt in gear, literally. This week’s exercise combines sumo squats with alternating knee strikes. The wide stance and outwardly angled foot position of the sumo squat puts a ton of focus on the muscles of the inner thighs (adductors) and the butt (glutes). Combine these squats with knee strikes that would make a Thai kickboxer proud, and you have a lower body & core exercise that would be perfect for your next workout. This exercise will also build your cardio but as with all ETT exercises, we want you to focus on form over volume. Don’t forget to warm-up before you begin your workout and modify the exercise to match your fitness level. If you use this exercise (or any ETT exercise) in one of your workouts, let me know what you think about them in the comment section below. Now go burn some calories!

Work Smarter, Not Harder

We all have that one exercise that makes us cringe whenever we see it in our daily workout routine. My experience with group training has lead me to believe that the burpee is pretty high on people’s cringe worthy list. The burpee incorporates several body weight movements (squat thrust, plank, push-up, vertical jump, etc.) into one complex strength & cardio building exercise. The linking together of multiple movements creates the potential for improper technique which can lead to potential injury. I found this tutorial video on how to modify the burpee in order to ensure proper form and save yourself from potential injury. Check it out!

Video courtesy of https://m.youtube.com/user/StreamFITtv