Neutral Wrist Workout

I was recently challenged to come up with a workout that is easy on the wrist as far as extension & flexion are concerned. A buddy injured his wrist awhile back & has been cleared to hit the gym again. As always, you'll want to consult a licensed physical therapist & actually listen to them and complete any and all rehab exercises they prescribe. Once completing this, it is advisable to take it easy, which in this particular case will involve at least wrapping your wrists until they get stronger. Outside of working out in the gym, you'll want to continue your rehab exercises & stretching to regain as much function as possible in the injured joint. Certain exercises either need to be avoided or modified to prevent re-injury. Things like push-ups, forearm curls & certain types of fly movements are out of the question right now. So we'll want to focus on exercises that keep the wrist fairly neutral but still achieve the desired muscle hypertrophy. We also have to watch the wrist even when performing exercises that do not work the upper body. Things like holding the bar while squatting could become problematic if you normally have some extension in your wrist (like I do). This can be overcome by adjusting your form. In my case, if I move the bar a litter higher up on my traps & widen my grip, my wrists are fairly neutral when supporting the bar.

DAY 1: BACK 1 - Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns: Example Video ***Alternate: Machine pulldowns / Wide Overhand Grip Pull-ups (weighted or assisted) 2 - Wide Grip Barbell Rows: Example Video ***Alternate: Cable or machine rows 3 - Rack Pulls (Barbell): Example Video Use a slightly wider, double overhand grip (easier on wrist) ***Alternate: Back extension machine or Smith machine 4 - Neutral Grip Lat Pulldowns: Example Video ***Alternate: Machine pulldowns / Neutral Grip Pull-ups (weighted or assisted) 5 - Bent Over Dumbbell Rows: Example Video ***Alternate: Cable or machine rows DAY 2: CHEST 1 - Incline Barbell Press: Example Video ***Alternate: Incline Dumbbell or Machine press 2 - Standing Cable Fly: Example Video Keep wrists locked ***Alternate: Machine or dumbbell fly 3 - Flat Dumbbell Press: Example Video ***Alternate: Flat Barbell or Machine press 4 - Incline Dumbbell/Kettlebell Fly: Example Video ***Alternate: Cable flys w/ low mounting point 5 - Dumbbell Push-Ups: Example Video Do not bend your wrist & use a wide grip ***Alternate:Dips (assisted or weighted) DAY 3: ARMS 1 - Lying Dumbbell Tricep Extension: Example Video ***Alternate:Tricep Kickbacks 2 - Hammer Curls: Example Video ***Alternate: Standing Cable Curls 3 - Tricep Press Machine: Example Video ***Alternate:Two Hand Standing Cable Tricep Pulldown 4 - Standing Two Hand Cable Curls: Example Video ***Alternate:EZ Bar Curls 5 - Dips: Example Video Do not do bench dips. That will cause wrist extension. Use a standing setup & keep wrist nuetral. If wrist still causes pain, perform one of the other alternate tricep exercises. ***Alternate:Machine Assisted Dips DAY 4: LEGS 1 - Hack Squat (Smith Machine): Example Video ***Alternate: Machine or Barbell Squats 2 - Static Lunge (Smith): Example Video ***Alternate:Walking Barbell Lunges or Unweighted Lunges 3 - Calf Press Machine: Example Video ***Alternate:Standing Smith Machine Calf Press 4 - Hamstring Curl Machine: Example Video ***Alternate:Should be several options for machines 5 - Leg Press: Example Video ***Alternate:Should be several options for machines DAY 5: SHOULDER/TRAPS 1 - Dumbbell Lateral Raises: Example Video Use lighter weight & be careful not to flex your wrists. ***Alternate:Cable lateral raise or lateral shoulder machine 2 - Barbell Shoulder Raise: Example Video ***Alternate:Shoulder raise machine or Dumbbell shoulder raises 3 - Barbell Front Raise: Example Video ***Alternate:Dumbbell front raise or cable front raise 4 - Hex Bar Shrugs: Example Video Neutral Grip ***Alternate:Dumbbell or machine shrugs 5 - Face Pulls: Example Video ***Alternate:Upright rows or Rear delt machine

Reebok RealFlex Run SE Review

I purchased these shoes because they were on sale. I didn’t really know what to expect with these shoes at all. I was surprised but not in a good way. These are the Reebok RealFlex Run SE. First off these shoes are really bright. There’s nothing wrong with a pop of color but I don’t like flashy things so that was an immediate turn off. The shoes are light and minimal, so if you like that sort of feeling these may be for you. I felt like I could feel everything in these. There isn’t a lot of ankle support, the insert is really flimsy and I could feel the “grippers” on the bottom of the shoe. I only used these shoes for a few sessions of circuit training. I wouldn’t even dare to take these out for a run. The shoes also run big. I don’t know what the original price of these were, but I got them on sale for $30. - Pacer

Nike Lunar Glide 4 Review

I decided to get these shoes because they were on sale. These are the Nike Lunar Glide 4. When the Glide 5 version launched, these went on sale. After doing a little research I found that there weren’t any big updates between the 4th and 5th version. These shoes took me a little longer to get used to. I was still getting hot spots after a couple of runs. After finally breaking them in, they felt better. I’ve only used them on shorter runs and on Sunday’s while doing circuit training. I don’t think that these shoes would hold up to the pounding I would put them through. A CheFit teammate also has these shoes and he alternates them as his daily running shoe. He likes them a lot. I am a heavier guy so I tend to push the support & cushioning of my shoes more. Four miles would be my limit in these. For our circuit training these are great. They are light enough to feel agile in them and contain enough support for plyometric exercises. These shoes do take a little longer to break in and still feel a little stiff. There aren’t any real ridges on the bottom of the shoe so I feel like I tend to slide if the ground is slick. Aesthetically the upper looks and feels cool, but the bottom Lunarlon material doesn’t look good. Original price: $110 - $120 I’ve put about 100 miles on these shoes. - Pacer

Brooks Glycerin 10 Review

I bought this model of Brooks because I having a trouble with the toes on my right foot. The Glycerin model is the top of the line Brooks shoe. I’ve tried their Trance model as well, but they hurt both of my feet. This is the Brooks Glycerin 10. With that being said, I’m in love with this shoe. I use the Glycerin for my daily runner. I do have the Adrenaline GTS which I use if I’m going to be upping my pace. I also have the Cadence but reserve that strictly for speed work. Using a lighter shoe as my daily running shoe had me a little bit worried. They aren’t that heavy to where you’re going to need some time to adjust. I laced these shoes up and didn’t feel like I would have a problem. I’m able to add a little speed with no issues. There’s enough cushion and support that as you fatigue and your form suffers, these shoes will help with your foot landing. Usually I go no more than 250 miles in any shoe because I tend to wear them out quickly. I can usually feel pain in my knees and calves when this starts to occur. I’ve gone over 360 miles and I’ve just reached the point to where I need a new pair. My new pair of shoes will be the Brooks Glycerin 11. There are a few negatives with this shoe however. At the tip of the toe you can see the shiny rubber flairs downward into the sole of the shoe. At that point where the rubber and shoe cloth meets, the cloth frayed pretty quickly. There’s a second layer of cloth there so you don’t have a gaping hole all the way through. The price might be a little on the high end at $150. - Pacer

TuneBand Review

One of my favorite running accessories is the Tune Band for the iPhone. I think I’ve gone through about 6 or 7 of them. Not because of the quality but for other circumstances (ex. phone upgrade, lost them, dog chewed it). The part that goes around your phone is rubber and band is primarily Velcro with a little elastic. I use it whenever I run which is four to five times a week. The one thing that I don’t like is as the band gets older, the plastic loop gets loose and as you’re running it will twist. This is apparent in the second picture. So when it’s on your arm you will feel it loosen up as you’re working out, but with a simple adjustment it will work fine. I’ve used the plastic cover arm cases, but I sweat so much that the plastic would fog and it has ruined 2 phones of mine due to the moisture staying in the case and getting into the open parts of your phone. I haven’t had any problems like that with this. I highly recommend this product for anyone looking for a new phone armband. - Pacer

Black Diamond Revolt Headlamp Review

If you’re going to be out running, hiking, or camping at night this headlamp could be for you. It’s sturdy enough so that when you put it on your head and out running, it won’t bounce too much. It’s also light enough that you will forget that you have it on. I’ve used it on my head and around my wrist. The 110 lumens work really well in pitch black conditions. You can use 3 normal triple A batteries but it also comes with 3 rechargeable batteries. You can recharge them with the USB cable provided. It has 1 Triple Power LED, 2 Single power LED, and a Red LED. It also has a strobe setting. It was about $80 but well worth the price. REVOLT HEADLAMP - Pacer

Adidas Compression Sleeve Review

There isn’t much that I can say about these Adidas Compression Calf Sleeces. First off the quality was terrible, the sleeves didn’t compress at all, and they were a complete waste of money. I wore them once and after a wash I pulled this out of the washer. I thought at had gotten caught on to something and shredded it, but as you can see the other one was also starting to fall apart. This could be a one experience, but I didn’t enjoy wearing these at all. - Pacer

Grab Bag Workout

Equipment Used: Various sets of dumbbells / kettlebells Adjustable resistance band Sled

Grab Bag Workout

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warmup Dumbell/Kettlebell Double Windmill Resistance Band Calf Press Lying Leg Lifts Renegade Row into Pushup Straight Leg Deadlifts Tricep Dips Overhead Medicine Ball Slam Burpee Bicep Curl into Shoulder Press Supermans Side Squat Jumps Plank Mountain Climbers Bear Crawl Sled Drags Hand Over Hand Sled Pull

Grab Bag Workout

This workout hits various muscle groups and incorporates strength training alongside plyometric and isometric exercises. You will need to use basic fitness equipment to complete the circuit although a couple sets are bodyweight only. To really polish off the workout, we finish with sled work. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of space to get at it & stretch appropriately beforehand. Since the equipment used here varies greatly, it would be best to perform the circuit for reps as opposed to time. A vast majority of the exercises used here have not been featured in previous workouts. So please take time to review them and practice your form before hitting the workout. Good luck!

Examples

Dumbell/Kettlebell Double Windmill: Click For Video Example Resistance Band Calf Press: Click For Video Example Lying Leg Lifts: Click For Video Example Renegade Row into Pushup: Click For Video Example Straight Leg Deadlifts: Click For Video Example Tricep Dips: Click For Video Example Overhead Medicine Ball Slam Burpee: Click For Video Example Bicep Curl into Shoulder Press: Click For Video Example Supermans: Click For Video Example Side Squat Jumps: Click For Video Example Plank Mountain Climbers: Click For Video Example Bear Crawl Sled Drags: Click For Video Example Hand Over Hand Sled Pull: Click For Video Example

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!

Hill Workout

Equipment Used: A grassy hill at a steep incline Optional: Gloves Optional: Ankle weights Optional: Weight vest Optional: Rubber Bands / Resistance Band Loops

Tip: This workout can be done anywhere but the incline helps provide additional difficulty.

Hill Workout

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warmup Wide Walking Lunges (Zig Zag Lunges) Backwards Run Side Squats (up & down) Incline Sit Ups (half) Squat Jumps (Frog Jumps) Decline Burpees (base) Suicides (half/full) Incline Walkout Push-Ups (base)

Hill Workout

This workout was created to take advantage of the natural resistance created by exercising against an incline. Although we are working out using a hill, this circuit could be done on flat ground (no excuses!). The hill just makes it tougher. Your bodyweight is sufficient enough to use for this workout but if you want an additional challenge, I recommend using some form of added weight. A set of K Bands, comfortable ankle weights or a weighted vest can really ramp up the intensity. The workout is primarily legs and cardio but it does touch on abs & upper body a bit. Be sure to stretch appropriately. The exercises are meant to vary in how you use the hill. Every exercise should start at the "base" (bottom) of the incline. The exercises marked "base" are just done at the bottom of the hill. For the Walkouts, you want to "walk" up the incline of the hill. The burpees should be done facing away from the hill & kicking your feet back onto the incline surface of the hill. When doing the sit-ups, face the incline & walk halfway up. Take a seat & start performing reps. Be careful when performing these exercises. They are very common bodyweight movements but it will be slightly more tricky to execute these on a raised & uneven surface. Take your time with them the first set. For the other exercises, perform the instructed exercise while moving up the hill towards the top. Once at the top, lightly jog back down to the base. If the length of the incline is fairly short, you may want to perform several trips to the top to complete a set. If the incline is really long and/or steep, one trip to the top (or even halfway up) may be sufficient enough to call a set. Use your best judgement & don't cheat yourself! The side squats should be done one side leading on the way up & the other on the way down. Alternate which side takes the incline. If the incline is long enough, perform suicides by putting the return points at both halfway & all the way up the incline. For shorter hills, just run to the top multiple times to complete the set. All these exercises have been used in previous workouts but we have video examples linked below to refresh your memory. Take time to review them and practice your form before hitting the workout. Good luck!

Examples

Wide Walking Lunges: Click For Video Example Backwards Run: Click For Video Example Side Squats: Click For Video Example Incline Sit Ups: Click For Video Example Squat Jumps: Click For Video Example Decline Burpees: Click For Video Example Suicides: Click For Video Example Incline Walkout Push-Ups: Click For Video Example

DIRECTIONS Lake Pflugerville Park 18216 Weiss Lane Pflugerville, TX 78660 Find your way to Weiss Ln and approach the park from either the north or south. On the map picture below, the red pinpoint marks the location of the main entrance area. There is a driveway w/ a sign stating "Lake Pflugerville Park".

FROM NORTH AUSTIN Toll Road Take Texas 45 Toll East Take the Kelly Ln/Farm to Market 685/TX-130 exit Stay straight and merge onto Kelly Ln Turn right onto Weiss Ln About 1 mile up the road, look right for the Lake Pflugerville Park entry ***There is a sign for it, shortly before the lake. No Toll Roads Get onto I-35 & Wells Branch Pkwy Exit the highway & travel east Turn right at E Pflugerville Pkwy, travel about 5 miles Turn left onto Weiss Ln About 2 miles up the road, look left for the Lake Pflugerville Park entry ***There is a sign for it, shortly after you pass the lake. Get onto I-35 & go to Grand Avenue Pkwy Exit the highway & travel east about 3 miles Turn left onto Dessau Rd Take a right onto E Pecan St / Pflugerville East Rd Turn left onto Weiss Ln About 2 miles up the road, look left for the Lake Pflugerville Park entry ***There is a sign for it, shortly after you pass the lake.

FROM SOUTH AUSTIN Toll Road Take Texas 45 Toll North Exit Pecan St / Pflugerville Take a right into E Pecan St / Pflugerville East Rd Turn left onto Weiss Ln About 2 miles up the road, look left for the Lake Pflugerville Park entry ***There is a sign for it, shortly after you pass the lake. No Toll Roads Head North on I-35 Take exit 243 toward Braker Ln Turn left onto Dessau Rd Turn right onto Farm to Market 734 E/E Parmer Ln Turn left onto Cameron Rd (Harris Branch Pkwy) After the road curve, turn left to stay on Cameron Rd Stay left to continue onto E Pecan St/Pflugerville East Rd Turn right onto Weiss Ln About 2 miles up the road, look left for the Lake Pflugerville Park entry ***There is a sign for it, shortly after you pass the lake.

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!

Sagat Cosplay

SAGAT COSPLAY

The Costume

Streetfighter II will always be one of my all-time favorite games. Having graduated high school in 1997, I had about 6 years of Streetfighter II experience in the arcades during my teenage years. Growing in San Diego, home to what is probably the largest annual Comic Convention in the US, I received a lot of early exposure to "cosplay". For you non-nerds, cosplay is short for "costume play" & basically involves dressing up as your favorite character in a work of fiction. This does not necessarily mean that you have to draw inspiration from a piece of literature. Cosplay characters are drawn from video games, movies & other media forms as well. My interest in cosplay & Streetfighter naturally drew me toward doing Sagat. While not my best playable character in the game, I would have to say he's one of my favorites. Akuma would be the only one to beat him, so look out for my Akuma cosplay someday! I'm always scrambling around Halloween on what to do & this came to me as a pretty easy costume to put together. A set of kickboxing trunks, a ring robe, two hand wraps and ankle braces (not shown) were fairly cheap from Amazon. I sourced an eye patch from a local party store as well as some scar makeup (also cheap). Just under $60 achieved the "Tiger" look!

Fitness, Confidence & Cosplay

A confident person does not need to bolster their own ego by putting down others. Generally at any Halloween party or convention, everyone is there to have a good time & show off their creativity via costume. Take pride in your work and do not put down the efforts of others. The same sentiment should exist in the gym. Everyone at your chosen workout facility is there to improve themselves. Always try to help foster a positive environment and develop a sense of community. In fitness, with cosplay or whatever hobby you may be into. Cosplay can involve an element of fitness but primarily requires confidence. Even if you are lacking in the "fitness" part, pour your soul into your costume & wear it proudly. Get immersed in your character. People will look past whatever differences you may personally find between yourself & your cosplay. In the case of most superheroes or heroines, they are usually depicted with killer bodies & often times have greatly exaggerated proportions. Most people cannot even come near the actual rendering of these characters. So do not hold others up to those impossibly high standards, especially if you do not hold yourself accountable to the same rules. Positive feedback on your cosplay may boost your self esteem & help lessen the presence of any body issues. It could be the kick in the pants you need to get into better shape for your next piece. The benefits of your newly found fitness will extend into way more areas of your life than just cosplay. So the next time you're on the convention floor & you see that chubby girl rocking a kick butt Harley Quinn, go tell her how bad ass she looks and get her number. She could be the one to come back next year with a rocking body & a swarm of drooling nerds around her. And even if not, she's probably just a cool chick anyway, which is all that matters in the end (plus, who doesn't love Harley?).

Resisted Running 1

Resisted Running 1

Exercises like resisted sprints & sled pulls/pushes help you develop power which can increase your ability to accelerate. Resistance leg work recruits more hip muscles which allows you to be able to put more power to the ground. Dragging resistance while running also tends to promote arm action which is good for your technique. Correct arm action can improve stride & leg movement, all which help you dust your opponent.

We've recently incorporated a Sklz Power Sled, a few parachutes & a harnessed tire to our circuits. The Sled takes standard 2" weighted plates & has an adjustable front handle which can be used to either push or pull the sled. This helps build dynamic power in the lower body. The tire is just an old passenger car tire (free from any tire shop) with a hole drilled into it. A rope is passed through and knotted at the end to hold it into place. The other end of the rope is tied to a generic waist belt. So you just strap up and take off running! We try to perform backwards & lateral runs in addition to standard forward runnning. The parachutes strap to your waist in a similar fashion. They only provide resistance if you are sprinting forward however.

Get fast! If you're not first, you're last...

Inversion 1

Inversion 1

This was one of our first attempts at dabbling in AcroYoga. It's a basic inversion. The base lies on their back. The flyer is standing & approaches the feet of the base. The base places their feet on the upper thigh of the flyer. The flyer bends over while the base grabs the flyers shoulders. The flyer places their hands on the floor near the bases ears as the base hoists the flyer in the air. The flyer is basically trying to achieve an assisted handstand. Once the flyer is vertical, the base slides their feet to the outside of the flyers thighs & removes their hands from the flyers shoulders. This pose is pretty easy for most folks to do & doesn't require much strength or flexibility. Kiss is optional!

Namaste!

Agility Workout 1

Equipment Used: Agility Ladder At least 10 Cones Mini Hurdles (or use more cones) Waist Harness w/ attachable weight (i.e. tire/plate) Parachute Bosu Ball Prowler/Sled Timer (watch/phone/etc)

Tip: Be creative! This workout utilizes a lot of equipment but a determined mind can find several ways to make do w/ household substitutions. Several are suggested in the exercise descriptions.

Agility Workout 1

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warmup Ladder: Push-Ups or In/Out Hand Shuffle Ladder: 2in/2out Steps into High Knee Runthrough Tire: Backwards Run into Lateral Side Steps Cones: L drill Cones: Suicides Centipede Push-Ups (Walkouts) Cones: Crab Walk (w/ Sit Ups) Bosu: Alternating Knee Planks (Side Crunch) Hurdles: Lateral Two Steps Chute: Sprints Sled: Push/Pull

Agility Workout 1

The ability to start, stop and change direction is the definition of agility. This workout was designed to help increase both raw speed and agility via several high & low impact exercises. Traditional weight workouts may grant you power but what use is that strength without coordination or function? If you participate in almost any sporting activity, some form of agility is usually required for you to be able to excel. An additional benefit to this style of workout is that it is a form of cardio. Instead of mindlessly running on a treadmill, you can perform a series of plyometric exercises, achieve a greater caloric burn and have fun at the same time. The primary drawback to this workout is that is does require specialized equipment. This equipment is readily available at any sporting goods store & can be used in other workouts as well. If you can't get ahold of the outlined accessories, get creative and improvise. The Cones & hurdles can be replaced w/ any type of marker (i.e. shoes, med balls, coolers, etc). Instead of an agility ladder, you can use twine, shoelaces or just spray-paint/chalk your chosen surface. If you lack a waist harness, tie a rope to your weight & simply use your hands to anchor it as you exercise. You can place your hands on the ground or any slightly raised surface as opposed to a Bosu ball. A parachute is not necessary. If you do have a harness setup, sprint dragging a tire. As for the sled, that is a hard one to replace. A cart/wagon filled with weight would work as a substitute however. Once you have figured out the equipment setup, lay out each "station" w/ enough room in between to safely exercise. You can use a timer and perform each station for a set time period (i.e. 30-60 seconds). An alternate method would be to run through each station continuously & rest at the end. Wait a couple minutes and then repeat. Video examples are linked below. These are all new exercises so take time to review them and practice your form before hitting the workout. Good luck!

Examples

1A - Ladder Push-Ups Video Example Begin in a push-up position at one end of the agility ladder. Perform a push-up and return to the starting position. Move your leading hand and foot over to the next rung of the ladder, followed by the lagging hand/food. Perform the exercise on your knees if you need to. Repeat push-up exercise. For an advanced version, lower into push-up position and push your entire body up and over to the next rung. Repeat until you reach the end of the ladder. 1B - In/Out Hand Shuffle Video Example Position your body with one hand and one foot on either side of the agility ladder starting in push-up position. Move one hand at a time into the rung of the ladder. Return to starting position by moving one hand at a time back to the outsides of the ladder. Try to move as quickly as possible while performing this exercise.

2A - Ladder In In Out Out Video Example Start at one end of the agility ladder. Moving as quickly as possible, put both feet into the first rung of the ladder, one at a time. Then move them one at a time to the outside of the rung. From the outside of the rung, move your feet one at a time into the next rung of the ladder and repeat. Once at the end of the ladder, without turning around, perform the same pattern moving backwards toward your starting position. 2B - Ladder High Knees Video Example Start at one end of the agility ladder. Bring each knee into your chest (at least to waist height), making sure to step into each rung of the ladder as you move toward the other end. Perform this exercise as quickly as possible.

3A - Tire Backwards Run Video Example With a tire (or other weighted object) tied around you waist using a stability belt, start with legs shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent facing toward the tire. Run backwards from one marker to another (distance can vary) as quickly as possible while keeping your balance. 3B - Tire Lateral Side Steps Video Example With a tire (or other weighted object) tied around you waste using a stability belt, start with legs shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent facing sideways. Shuffle laterally from one marker to another (distance can vary). To increase the difficulty of this exercise, move in a Grapevine motion, crossing one leg in front of the other and alternating as you move along.

4 - Three Cone L Drill Video Example Setup three cones in a "L" formation. Evenly spaced, about 5 yards apart. Start a cone that is not in the "elbow" of the "L". Sprint to the middle cone, touch the ground & then run back to the start cone. Once you reach the start cone, pivot and then run back to your middle cone. This time cut around the cone & head towards the last cone. Be sure to cut toward the inside direction of the last cone. Run around the last cone & head back to the middle cone. Run around the outside of the middle cone & power back to the start cone.

5 - Suicides Video Example Place at least three cones in a straight line equidistant from each other (at least 10 feet apart). Begin by sprinting to the first cone and returning to the starting position. Next, sprint to the second cone and return to the starting position, followed by the third.

6 - Centipede Push-Ups (Walkouts) Video Example Begin in standing position with feet together. Reach down toward your toes (it's ok if you're not able to reach your toes) and place your hands on the ground in front of you. Walking one hand out at a time, extend into push-up position. Perform one push-up, and then begin walking one foot at at time into your body until you have returned to starting position. Stand up straight and repeat.

7 - Crab Walk (w/ Sit Ups) Video Example Place four cones in a square approximately 15 feet apart (distance may vary based on difficulty). Beginning at one corner, sit on the ground with legs slightly wider than shoulder width apart and both arms placed behind your butt. Lift your pelvis off the ground, placing your weight on your hands and heals. Walk backwards on all fours to the second cone in the square, then proceed sideways to the third cone. From the third cone walk forward back to starting position. Perform 10-15 situps (vary based on level of difficulty). Repeat.

8 - Alternating Knee Planks (Side Crunch) Video Example With the flat side of the Bosu ball facing up, place one hand on each side with your legs stretched behind you in plank position. Bring your right knee into the left side of your chest, twisting at the waist, and return to starting position. Repeat the motion with your left knee to the right side of your chest. For a more difficult version, bring your knee in and extend it outward under your body.

9 - Mini Hurdle Lateral Two Steps Video Example Beginning at one end of the mini hurdles, step over the first hurdle one foot at a time placing both feet in between the first two hurdles. Repeat as you travel down the line of hurdles. Run back to the beginning and repeat as quickly as possible.

10 - Parachute Sprints Video Example Perform sprints, or runs of various lengths depending on level of difficulty with speed chute attached at the waist.

11 - Sled Push/Pull Video Example Keeping knees and elbows bent, push the sled to a preset "finish line." Turn the sled around and pull it in reverse position back to the start.

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!

Workout: Deerpark Circuit 3

Equipment Used: A heavy and light pair of dumbbells Soft ground area to lie down (carpet/grass/etc) Highly Recommended: Medicine Ball Optional: Timer (watch/phone/etc)

Tip: Keep the intensity up!

Circuit #3

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warmup Legs: Toe Taps Arms: Tricep Push-Up to Frogger Abs: Full Extensions Legs: Sumo Squat Press Arms: Cleans Abs: Opposite Arm & Leg V-Up Legs: Side Lunge Arms: Push Up to Plank Row (ManMakers) Abs: Rollbacks (weighted) All: Side Crunch to Burpee

Circuit #3 - Hope Solo Workout

This circuit is based on Hope Solo's "15 minute workout". All of the exercises are demonstrated via Nike athletes. The workout is designed to be intense and executed in bursts of activity. If done correctly, you should be dripping with sweat and be able to maintain an increased heart rate. The exercises touch on all muscle groups so you should feel it everywhere once done. If using a timer, try to clear out an area sufficient enough to be able to perform every exercise. Have your equipment (dumbbells/med ball) readily available within arms reach. Set the timer to anywhere between 15-30 seconds and roll through each exercise. Once done, rest and hydrate for a few minutes and then repeat the round. You can decrease the timer time each round if needed. Try to see how many "rounds" you can complete before becoming completely gassed. *** If not using a timer, you can perform a traditional workout by assigning a rep/set amount to each exercise. The exercises used here vary as far as the equipment needs. Dumbbells are used in some, while others only require bodyweight. Examine the example videos and use your best judgement to decide what is needed for your own individual needs. A medicine ball is not required but works better for a few exercises. If possible, having various weights of dumbbells will help you maintain a maximum amount of effort each round. A great portion of these exercises have not been used here before. Video examples are linked below so take time to review them and practice your form before hitting the workout. Good luck!

Examples

Toe Taps: Click For Video Example Tricep Push-Up into Frogger: Click For Video Example Full Extensions: Click For Video Example Sumo Squat Press: Click For Video Example Cleans: Click For Video Example Opposite Arm & Leg V-Up: Click For Video Example Side Lunge: Click For Video Example Push Up to Plank Row (Man-makers): Click For Video Example Rollbacks: Click For Video Example Side Crunch to Burpee: Click For Video Example

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!

Workout: Deer Park Circuit 2

Equipment Used: Soft ground area (carpet/grass/etc) A raised, solid surface which will support your weight (park bench, steps, sturdy chair) Optional: Timer (watch/phone/etc) for calculating rest periods

Tip: This could also be modified for indoor use however, just get creative!

Circuit #2

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warmup Jumping Jacks (warm-up) Lunges (20 reps, walking) Squats (35 reps) Bulgarian Split Squats (20/leg) Pistol Squats (15/leg) Squat Jumps (25 reps) Box Jumps (30 reps) Calf Raises (20/leg)

Circuit #2 - Leg Nuke

We decided to start our own Manhattan Project with the purpose of bombing your legs! Our project is not atomic but I guarantee your quads will be burning as if they were irradiated after this workout. As opposed to some of our other workouts, this one is rep-based. You still want to be mindful of time but this is to monitor your rest periods. You want to keep them as short as possible to keep your leg pump high. The workout is essentially plyometric so move quickly but don't sacrifice form for speed. Keep rest periods at a maximum of 30 seconds. You want to aim to complete the entire "cycle" as fast as possible. Once the cycle is complete, take a longer rest (1 - 3 minutes) and then hit it again. You should be able to finish 3-4 cycles and feel the burn. Each exercise can be done with just bodyweight but you can use a set of dumbbells or a resistance band to add stress. Your legs are the largest muscle group in your body and can take the extra weight. If you start to tire when using the extra weight, just switch back to bodyweight to finish out. This allows a group of people w/ varying degrees of strength to all workout together. Most exercises have been covered by us before but there are video examples below to refresh your memory. There are a few new exercises that may prove very difficult initially. The videos below for those exercises include a "progression" to help you work up to the actual exercise. Use the modified versions explained in the progression initially.

Examples

Jumping Jacks Click For Video Example Walking Lunges: Click For Video Example Squat Presses: Click For Video Example Split Squats: Click For Video Example Pistol Squats: Click For Video Example Squat Jumps: Click For Video Example Box Jumps: Click For Video Example Calf Raises: Click For Video Example

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!

Workout: Design

Designing Workouts If you are brand new to working out, I suggest finding a knowledgeable friend or enlist a trainer to "show you the ropes". It's important to start slow and take your time to learn various exercises and proper form. Once you are comfortable with your gym and the equipment available, you can progress on to customizing your own workouts. When creating your own workout routines there are several things to consider. Goal You need to have an overall goal that you are shooting for and train accordingly to help achieve that goal. No one style of training is superior to another but there are types of workouts that are better suited towards specific goals. Your goal does not have to be specific however. "To keep in shape" is as good a goal as something like "lose 10 lbs". Goals can also change over time. As your goals change, be sure to step back and examine your current training routine. Make adjustments as needed to suit your new goal. Time Working out takes time! Due to work, family, school or a number of other reasons, you may not have as much free time to workout. Be realistic about how much actual time you will devote to your routine. Do not set yourself up for failure by creating a 6 day routine that you don't have time to complete. Figure out how many days you can actually make it to the gym and design your routine around that schedule. If possible, make your routine flexible enough to handle unexpected life events interrupting your schedule. Treat the gym as an important meeting, make it a priority! Also remember that the more time you put in, the better your results will be. Capability Take into account your age, current health and any existing injuries or limitations when creating a workout. Use this as a guide to setup the appropriate amount of rest days between workouts. Also avoid any exercises that may aggravate nagging injuries. Look for stretches and physical therapy exercises you can do to bolster or strengthen your weak areas. You may have naturally stronger or weaker muscle groups. For weaker groups, be sure to add in some extra sets/reps to get them caught up. Do not completely ignore your strong areas but try to use compound exercises to strengthen the surrounding, supporting muscles to that group simultaneously. As you grow stronger, you can decrease the amount of rest between workouts and also in between sets. Constantly test your ability and "push the envelope" if you want to continue to see growth. Body Type Everyone is different and therefore may respond differently to training. There are three basic bodybuilding types: Ectomorph, Mesomorph & Endomorph. (Read Here) It's important to figure out which one you lean toward and train to suit your frame. This will also affect how much cardio you need and your dietary habits. Inspiration Once you figure out your body type, it may be helpful to find a person who represents your goal. Ensure that this person is of a similar body type so you can maintain a realistic expectation. Study your chosen person and try to emulate their training and dietary methods. If your goal role model is a professional bodybuilder/model/etc, do not attempt to use their exact routine right off the bat. Pros usually have years of experience working out and often have extreme discipline when it comes to supplements and diet. A person off the street may not be able to deal with a strenuous routine. What you can do is take pieces of their routine and apply it to your own workout as needed. I like going to Cut And Jacked and browsing their listing of workouts from pros. I take bits and pieces from there to form my own routines. It is also useful for switching up your workouts from time to time so your body keeps guessing.

Split vs Full Body There are two basic types of workout routines: Full Body and Split. Depending on your goals and the time you have available to workout, one may be better than the other. Again, no one method is "better" than another. It's all about finding out what works best for your body and your schedule. Split Split workouts break the body into individual muscle groups that are trained during different workout sessions. It's up to you how far you want to break down the groups. In the next section we will give some examples of different splits. This style is best for "molding" your body as you can focus on specific areas. It also is the best for building muscle as you can devote an entire session to exhausting a muscle group. This style is not best for burning calories as it's usually doesn't include rapid movements. Skipping a workout also means that a particular muscle group gets ignored during a week. This usually must be made up and shouldn't happen often. If you want to build muscle and have ample time to devote individual areas, use this style of training. Full Body Full body workouts encompass the entire body as one big muscle group. You do several exercises for both upper and lower body during one session. The good thing about this type of workout is that if you happen to skip a day, you are not leaving out a muscle group like you would with Split training. If you are just starting out or only have time to workout intermittently, this is a good way to go. It also is great for folks who are focused on cardio or running events. By keeping the intensity up and decreasing the amount of rest between sets, you can maximize calories burned and burn a lot of fat. This makes it ideal for those trying to lose weight. If you are into building specific muscle groups or bodybuilding in general, you should stick to split training. There are pros who have made tremendous progress doing variable full body workouts but for the average person, there is a big risk of injury and overtraining.

Example Workouts Female, 4 Day Split This is a routine that my girlfriend is currently doing. It is a split style routine that has two basic groups: upper & lower body. During the upper sessions, muscle groups are broken down even further. Chest and back (push & pull) are the focus of the first upper body session. Biceps, triceps & shoulders are worked with the second upper body session. The first lower body session is primarily muscle building while the second session is plyometric/isometric. It is a great routine for women looking to build overall strength and shape their legs. Cardio is thrown in whenever you have free time. Your days off are variable but ideally you probably want to throw in a day off between Day 2 & 3. Day 1: Chest/Back Lat Pulldowns Cable Rows Bent Over Rows Pull Ups Delt Flys Back Extensions Chest Press (two angles) Chest Fly Push Ups Abs (two exercises) Day 2: Heavy Leg Hack Squats Leg Curls Leg Press Leg Extensions Deadlifts Calf Press Glute Kicks Static Lunge Squats Abs (two exercises) Day 3: Arms/Shoulders Cable Curls Dumbbell Curls Crucifix Curls Shoulder Raise Shoulder Press Dips Tricep Cable Pulldown Skullcrushers Abs (two exercises) Day 4: Plyo Leg Hip Adduction Hip Abduction Calf Press Walking Lunges High Knees Box/Squat Jumps Wall Sit Stairmaster Abs (two exercises) Full Body Here is an example full body workout. Two variations are described below that cover the same muscle groups but provide different methods of working these groups. You can alternate between the two or optionally add more variations. Full body workouts are intense so I would recommend at least a one days rest in between sessions. Keep the intensity up & the amount of rest in between exercises/sets low. Routine A Back: Seated Cable Rows Chest: Dumbbell Press Shoulder: Upright Rows Legs: Leg Press Biceps: Preacher Curls Triceps: Dips Calves: Standing Calf Raises Abs: Hanging Leg Raises Routine B Back: Pull-ups Chest: Barbell Press Shoulder: Shoulder Press Legs: Squats Biceps: Dumbbell Curls Triceps: Dumbbell Extensions Calves: Seated Calf Raises Abs: Cable Crunches Male, 5 Day Split This is my current routine. It is a 5 day split but the Shoulder/Traps day is optional for me. If I have to drop a day or need extra rest, I skip Day 5 and throw a few of those exercises onto other days. My shoulders and traps get a lot of work on back day so it's not as if they are being neglected. This style routine is good for folks who have at least four days a week to devote for bodybuilding and want to build muscle. Day 1: Back Deadlifts Standing Front Pulldowns Lat Pulldowns (wide & close) Shoulder Press Cable Rows (nuetral & over) Pull Ups Abs (two exercises) Day 2: Chest Incline Press Standing Cable Fly Flat Bench Press Seated Machine Fly Decline Press Push Ups Rear Delt Fly Abs (two exercises) Day 3: Arms Overhead Triceps Extension Standing Hammer Curls Standing Rope Pulldowns Seated Dumbbell Curls Cable Tricep Extensions Dips Forearm Curls Abs (two exercises) Day 4: Legs Squats Static Lunges Standing Calf Raises Leg Curls Hack Squats Seated Calf Raises Leg Press Abs (two exercises) Day 5: Shoulder/Traps Lateral Raises Shoulder Press Dumbbell Front Raises Shrugs Upright Rows Rear Delts Abs (two exercises)   Male, 3 Day Split This was an old routine I used to use when I was in college. I was working full-time and had a full load of classes so my time was limited. I was busy all week and just wanted to try and maintain a reasonable shape. It still manages to touch every muscle group & you just throw in extra cardio whenever you have the time. I would do this Mon/Wed/Fri. If you wanted to, you could add in cardio on Tues/Thurs to turn this into a 5 day split. Day 1: Chest/Triceps Machine Chest Fly Tricep Pushdowns Incline Bench Press Overhead Dumbbell Extension Lying Dumbbell Chest Press Reverse Cable Pulldowns Abs (two exercises) Day 2: Legs Squats Standing Calf Raises Leg Curls Hack Squat Machine Hip Adduction/Abduction Leg Press Abs (two exercises) Day 3: Back/Biceps/Shoulders Deadlifts Cable Rope Curls Lat Pulldowns Front/Lateral Raises Seated Preacher Curls T-Bar Bent Over Rows Concentration Curls Shoulder Press Pull Ups / Chin Ups Abs (two exercises)

Lift Safe & Lift Heavy!!!

Nutrition: Paleo Pancakes

Nutrition: Paleo Pancakes

Recipe Whole Ripe Banana 1/2 Cup Egg Whites *** Could be whole eggs too. 1-2 Tsp Cinnamon *** I use "Pumpkin Pie Spice". Optional: Add blueberries, chia/flax seeds, or whatever you want.

Directions Cut up banana and place into a medium bowl. Add the egg whites to the bowl. Add in the cinnamon/spice. Mash the banana and mix the entire contents of the bowl very well *** Ratio of banana to egg whites is variable. *** You could optionally use a blender instead too. Heat up a pan (w/ nonstick or oil is needed) and cook the mixture like a pancake about 1/4 cup at a time. Let one side cook until the edges are dry and then flip. Depending on the ratio of egg whites to banana used, the pancakes may be thinner than traditional ones. Enjoy!

Review I love these pancakes. They are fast to make and totally guilt-free. A fast way to get in your protein and also a good amount of potassium. It's also vegetarian friendly, low-carb and gluten-free. Try making some for your friends and loved ones to see if they can even tell the difference. Tips: *** If adding in additional fruit (or any other soft substance), you will probably need to balance it out w/ additional banana slices to maintain a thick consistency in your "batter". *** Try some finely chopped greens!

Workout: Mueller Lake Park Circuit 14

Equipment Used: Sturdy Medicine ball (multiple of varying weights would be ideal) Soft ground area to lie down (carpet/grass/etc)

Circuit #14

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warm-up Leg: Squat Throw/Press Core: Double Crunches Arm: One Arm Front Raise Total: Superman Leg: Walking Lunge Twist Core: Russian Twist Arm: Overhead Tri Extension Total: Push-Up Roll Leg: Wall Sit Squeeze Core: Overhead Side Bend Arm: One Arm Shoulder Press Total: Burpee Ball

Circuit #14 - Med Ball Madness

This circuit was created to foster teamwork and camaraderie among our workout group by focusing on partner exercises. Using a minimal amount of equipment, we utilize a partner to create additional resistance. If you lack a partner or have odd numbers in your group, the exercises can be modified for solo performance as well. When choosing partners try to match people who are of similar weight and/or physical ability. While performing exercises, communicate with your partner to coordinate each movement. Use good form and encourage one another to give it 100% during the circuit. Certain exercises may require a slightly longer set to get enough work for both partners. Somewhere between 30 seconds to a minute for most. If you can, bring several different types of resistance bands and medicine balls. You could also use a sandbag or large diameter medicine ball (wall ball) for a couple exercises. Use your imagination and make replacements as needed. You will need a good amount of space to perform the exercises so clear out ample room. All of these exercises are just variations of familiar exercises. Descriptions and video examples are linked below so take time to review them and practice your form before hitting the workout. Good luck!

Examples

1 - Squat Throw/Press Video Example Stand with feet shoulder width apart holding a medicine ball w/ both hands. Perform a traditional squat. When returning to standing start position, toss the medicine ball above your head. Catch the ball as you return to a lowered position for your next rep. Optional: If the ball is too heavy or you become tired, just press the ball instead of throwing/tossing it. If that's still too much, skip the throw/press altogether and just squat.

2 - Double Crunches Video Example Lie flat on the ground w/ a medicine ball. Hold the ball w/ both hands and extend your arms behind your head so that the ball rests on the ground. Bend at the knees so that your legs are raised off the ground and are at a 90 degree angle. Feet are together. This is the start position. Raise your torso, arms and the medicine ball up. Move your torso toward your legs while swinging the medicine ball over your head and resting it on your raised shins. Now lower your torso and and swing your arms back to the start position. As you do this, leave the medicine ball on your shins and extend your legs outward. They should go from being at a 90 degree angle to flat, all while cradling the medicine ball. Once relatively flat, contract to the raised position in the same manner as before but instead grab the medicine ball from your raised legs and hold it in your hands as you flatten out. Repeat this process as your perform reps.

3 - One Arm Front Raise Video Example Hold your arm straight out in front of you with the medicine ball in your palm. Lower your arm down as far as you can while keeping the medicine ball steady. Press up and return to starting position. Optional: If the ball is too heavy or you become tired, use both arms/hands.

4 - Superman Video Example Lay on your stomach with legs and arms outstretched. Hold the medicine ball in your hands and lift your arms and legs off the ground at the same time. Hold for three seconds and return to starting position. Optional: If the ball is too heavy or you become tired, perform reps w/out the ball.

5 - Walking Lunge Twist Video Example Perform traditional lunges with medicine ball in hand. While lunging forward, start to twist your torso toward the same side as your leading leg. As you rise from the lunge, return to your torso to the center and begin the next rep with the alternate foot. Optional: Some people bring both feet together in between alternating feet. It gives you a chance to re-center and get your balance back. Others go straight into the next lunge after rising from the previous rep. Do what feels best for you.

6 - Russian Twist Video Example Sit in a contracted crunch position with a medicine ball in hand. Hold the ball w/ both hands centered in front of your chest. Your legs should be bent at the knee and your body should make a "V" shape w/ your thighs and torso. Bodyweight should be balancing on your butt. Twist from side to side, lightly touching the medicine ball to the ground if possible. Optional: Some people perform this on a raised surface w/ their legs hanging in the air.

7 - Overhead Tri Extension Video Example Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Hold the medicine ball overhead with arms stretched out directly above you. Bend your arms at the elbow while keeping your shoulders steady. This should place the ball behind your head. Extend the arms back to outstretched position. Optional: You can either have your hands under the ball or on the sides of the ball.

8 - Push-Up Roll Video Examples While in push-up position, place the medicine ball under one of your hands. The other hand will remain pressed against the ground. Perform the push-up motion and when back in starting position, take your raised hand off the medicine ball and place it on the ground. Roll the ball over to your opposite hand and place it on top of the medicine ball. Perform another push-up. Keep alternating hands to perform reps. Optional: A more advanced version is to release the medicine ball at the peak of your "up" position and roll it toward your other hand. While doing this, raise your opposite hand in anticipation of the ball arriving and land that hand on top of it. Keep alternating like this in rhythm. Optional: An easier method is to simply perform half your reps on one arm first and then switch over to your other arm.

9 - Wall Sit Squeeze Video Examples Standard wall sit exercise but squeeze a medicine ball between your knees. Optional: If this is too difficult and no lighter medicine balls are available, just hold the medicine ball in your hands above your head.

10 - Overhead Side Bend Video Examples Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Hold the medicine ball overhead with arms outstretched. Keeping arms straight, bend to your right side as far as is comfortable. Return to starting position and repeat on the left side.

11 - One Arm Shoulder Press Video Examples Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Hold the medicine ball in your hand at a 90 degree angle (this will leave the ball close to the side of your head). Press the ball up until your arm is straight over head. Switch arms and repeat. Optional: You can performs several reps w/ one arm and switch to the other to finish.

12 - Burpee Ball Video Examples Holding the medicine ball with both hands. Jump up lifting the ball overhead. Proceed directly to push-up position with the ball under your hands as you stretch your feet out behind you. Bring your feet back to your chest and return to standing position. Repeat. Optional: As with any burpee, you can optionally skip the jump and/or the actual push-up if you become tired or need an easier version. Optional: A more advanced version can include a chest pass instead of a jump up if there is a wall surface available.

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!