15 Minute Kettlebell Crossfit Workout

Crossfit has become to have something of a cult following.  Typically, you are given 3-4 tough exercises in a row to do.  It counts as one set when you complete the exercises back to back to back to back with no rest in between.  You have to complete as many sets as you can in a given time period, usually 15-20 minutes.  Crossfit athletes are known as some of the toughest, most intense, in shape athletes around by putting their bodies through grueling exercises with no rest.  Fifteen minutes may not sound like a tough workout, but by combining cardio and a hardcore non-stop workout your body will be screaming (or that may be you screaming) to stop by the end.  For this workout, all you need is 1 kettlebell.  Use a weight you think is appropriate for you.   

Directions: Do this workout 3 times a week resting a day in between each session.  Do all of the exercises in a row without any rest in between.  That counts as one set.  Do as many sets as you can in 15 minutes.  Rest no more than 30 seconds between sets.  Eventually work up to not resting at all.  Descriptions of exercises are at the end.

10 Kettlebell Sumo Squats
10 1 Arm Kettlebell Bent Over Rows
10 Kettlebell Deadlifts
10 Kettlebell Close Grip Pushups
10 Kettlebell Swings

Five exercises seems easy enough.... think again!  This will be one workout you'll hate to do but feel like a million buck after it's all said and done.  It's a muscle bulding cardio workout that will shock your body into looking great!

Until tomorrow, spend Everyday Living Fit!

Kettlebell Sumo Squats - Grab a kettlebell with both hands and hold it in between your legs. Squat down, touch the kettlebell to the ground and extend back up.
1 Arm Kettlebell Row - Hold a kettlebell with one hand and bend over at your waist.  Row the weight up to your stomach, pulling your elbow as far back as you can while pinching your back.  Do 5 then switch hands.
Kettlebell Deadlift - Grab the kettlebell with two hands. Bend your knees just a tiny bit and keep them this way for the entire lift.  Bend over at the waist and touch the kettlebell to the ground.  Extend back up.  Do not bend your knees a lot to reach down, it's almost like you're stretching the backs of your legs.
Kettlebell Close Grip Pushups - Put the kettlebell on it's side on the ground.  Get in a pushup position and put both hands on the kettlebell.  Do 10 pushups.  You may need to put your knees on the ground to help make it easier.
Kettlebell Swings - Grab the kettlebell with 2 hands, squat down and on the way back up swing the kettlebell out in front of you until it's just above your head.  That's one.  Keep your elbows bent just a little bit for the whole lift. 

http://www.coreexercisestudio.com

3 Week Full Body Workout!

Spring is coming quickly!  Pretty soon the snow will be melted, you'll open up the windows and it'll be time for shorts and t-shirts.  Everyone wants to feel comfortable when the summer clothes come out.  Here's a perfect full body workout for EVERYONE that will get you  more than ready for spring! 

Directions: Do this workout 3 days a week with a day of rest in between each workout.  Exercise explanations in "30 Minute Leg Blast" and "Build a Bullet Proof Chest" under the Workout tab and also at the bottom.   

Workout

3 x 12 Jumping Lunges SUPERSET Bodyweight Squats

3 x 12 Bosu Ball Straight Leg Dead Lifts SUPERSET Lying Fitness Ball Leg Curls

3 x 12 Standing Calf Raises SUPERSET 3 x 60 seconds Fitness Ball Planks

3 x 12 Bosu Ball Push Ups SUPERSET Fitness Ball Back Flies

3 x 12 Dumbbell Bicep Curls-to-Shoulder Press SUPERSET Behind the Head Tricep Extension

3 x 12 Lat Pull Down SUPERSET Standing Lat Pull Through

3 x 15 Fitness Ball Crunches SUPERSET Side Planks

3 x 15 Lying Twisting Hip Raises 

Good luck and enjoy!  In no time you'll be ready for spring!

Until tomorrow, spend Everyday Living Fit!

Exercise Explanations

Dumbbell Bicep Curl-to-Shoulder Press:  Sit on a bench with a pair of dumbbells.  Do a bicep curl, then at the top of the curl switch into a shoulder press.  Lower and repeat.

Lat Pull Throughs: After you complete the lat pull downs with the cable lat pull downs, drop to a lower weight.  While standing up and keeping your elbows bent at a 45 degree angle you're going to pull the weight down and pull your elbows through your back and pinch your back together.

Lying Twisting Hip Raises: Lie flat on your back with your legs pointed towards the ceiling.  Raise your hips towards the ceiling.  While doing so twist your hips like a corkscrew.  On the next rep twist the other way.

Image Source: http://www.exercise.com/                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

30 Minute Leg Blast Workout



Working out your legs can be a pain (literally and figuratively) but you have to work them.  You don't want to look like you're about to snap the twigs your standing on at any given point in time. You want to look like you have an equal balance of muscle throughout your whole body.  Here is a quick 30 minute leg blast workout for EVERYONE that I guarantee will have your lower body looking like an Olympian.

Directions:  Perform this workout twice a week with 3-4 days of rest in between.  Exercise explanations follow at the bottom. 

3 x 20 Jumping Lunges SUPERSET 3 x 10 Bodyweight Squats
3 x 12 Bosu Ball Straight Leg Dead Lifts SUPERSET 3 x 12 Fitness Ball Leg Curls
3 x 10 Bosu Ball Squats SUPERSET 3 x 10 Lunges
4 x 15 Standing Calf Raises SUPERSET 4 x 15 Machine Calf Raises

You'll be done in a half an hour but you're legs will be screaming for mercy at the end!

Good luck!  Until tomorrow, spend Everyday Living Fit!

Exercise Instructions

Superset: Do one exercise then immediately do the next with no rest in between.
Jumping Lunges: Go down into a lunge.  On the way up jump at the top and switch legs.  You'll stay in one spot and the exercise should be one smooth motion.
Bodyweight Squats: Squats with no weights at all.  Just squat down until your legs are at a 90 degree angle and then stand back up.
Bosu Ball Straight Leg Dead Lifts: Stand on a Bosu Ball (half ball, half plastic platform) and grab some light dumbbells.  While hardly bending your legs, bend over at your waist until your upper body is at a 90 degree angle with the ground.  Pull with the back of your legs to stand back up and squeeze at the top.
Fitness Ball Leg Curls: Lay flat on your back with your calves resting on a fitness ball (big ball people use for crunches).  Press your pelvis towards the ceiling and hold in that position for the entire exercise so that your body is in a straight line.  Curl your feet in towards your but, squeeze, and then extend back out.
Bosu Ball Squat: Check Balance Ball Squats under the 'Workouts' tab at the top.

Image Source: http://www.bodyweightworkout.com

Have a Drink This Weekend!

The term “Beer Belly” gets thrown around quite a bit when it comes to drinking.  But fear not!  The term may not be all it’s cracked up to be.  It all depends on what you drink, how much you drink and what you eat while you’re drinking.

Think about every single time you watch a commercial with alcohol in it, every picture you see with alcohol in it, where they place the alcohol in stores and what you think about eating when you imagine yourself having a few drinks while watching the big game.  What do you think about?  Fatty foods.  Most of the reason people gain the weight is because of the food you eat while you are drinking, but not the drinking itself.  Of course it’s great to eat nachos, burgers, fries and chicken wings once in a while, but when you do don’t blame it on the alcohol (no Jamie Fox / T-Pain bun intended).   Here are a few other reasons why you should allow you to indulge yourself in a couple of drinks this weekend.

1.) Having 1-2 drinks every other day or so lowers your risk of heart disease and having a heart attack.

2.) People who drink 1 or 2 drinks every other day or so have less body fat then those who only drink every few weeks but have 5 or more drinks at a time.

3.) Wine has a ton of antioxidants in it to prevent sickness and disease.

4.) Guinness has a surprisingly low amount of carbs and is one of the better darker beers for you.  Stick to Guinness when drinking dark beers.  Other good options are pilsners, lagers, goldens and most light colored beers.  STAY AWAY from the fruity options!  They are filled with carbs and sugars!

So go ahead, have a few drinks this weekend.  Just make sure you are being responsible, only sticking to only a few drinks and not eating too much junk to go along with it.  Have fun and until tomorrow, spend Everyday Living Fit!

Guiltless Sweet Potato Fries!

Tired of going out to eat and feeling bad about not being able to get what you want because you’re afraid of what it’ll do to your body?  Well fear no more!  Here’s a recipe for sweet potato fries that you won’t have to feel one bit bad about!  But first a few reasons on why sweet potatoes are healthy for you.

1.) While white potatoes have slow digesting carbs that stick with you all day, sweet potatoes have fast digesting carbs (which you need) and will burn quickly.  This means your body won’t store the carbs as fat.

2.) There’s Beta-Carotene in them, along with many other vitamins, which prevents heart disease and cancer.

Here’s the recipe!

Guiltless Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

1 large sweet potato

2 tbs. olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1.) Preheat oven at 425

2.) Cut sweet potatoes into fry shapes or wedges, whichever you prefer

3.) In a large bowl, mix fries, olive oil, salt and pepper.

4.) Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil and spread fries out evenly

5.) Cook for 25-30 minutes flipping halfway

6.) Enjoy!

These sweet potato fries are one of my favorites!  Don’t forget to check back daily for new health and fitness tips.  Don’t be afraid to comment or leave suggestions! 

Until tomorrow, spend Everyday Living Fit!

Image Source: http://www.theculinarylife.com

Take You Leg Workout to the Next Level With Balance Ball Squats!

No one likes leg workouts. But if you’re going to do them, you might as well get the most out of it.  Enough with the leg extension and leg curl machines!  Those are bad for your knees and don’t do nearly as much for your legs as Balance Ball Squats do!  Balance Ball Squats work every part of your legs, including your calves. 

When you squat, whether it’s with or without weights, you work your entire lower body and your core.  Doing squats on a balance ball exponentially amplifies the results!  This is because all of the smaller muscles around your legs, ankles, calves and core have to work that much harder to keep you balanced.  This is a great exercise you should definitely put in your leg routine.  Start with three sets of no weights for a few weeks then work your way up to holding dumbbells while you do it.  Here’s how it’s done.

1 – Stand on an upside down balance ball as shown in the picture above.

2 – For the first few times, extend your arms in front of you to keep your balance until you get used to it.

3 – Slowly squat down until your knees are at 90 degree angles. 

4 – Slowly stand back up.

Beware, your first few times you will shake like crazy at the bottom of the squat because all of your smaller supporting muscles aren’t used to being worked out.  You’ll love the way you feel the next day and you will love the results!

Good luck!  Until tomorrow, spend Everyday Living Fit!

Image Source: http://www.fitplan.com