Saturday, 1 September 2012

September Total Body Pump At Home

AT HOME

For the weights room/gym alternative please follow this link: http://homeimprovementfitness.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/september-total-body-pump-at-gym.html

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE

Please note that if you need to take a rest during the actual set (a rest-pause) then do so, just don't cheat yourself on the rest between sets and exercises by taking longer than specified. Using a stopwatch or an app on your phone (such as a round-timer) is a good idea for this workout to make sure you are keeping to the correct times and you will really feel the pump! You will also need an aerobics step (alternatively a set of stairs). A gym ball is also useful for this workout but if you don't have one then perform another workout that you know works the same muscle groups if you can or contact us in the comments below for suggestions.

Warmup - 15 star jumps, 15 calf burn-outs (like skipping without the rope), 15 bodweight squats, 15 dumbell bent-over rows (with a very low weight), 10 press-ups, 10 crunches and 5 leg raises

Bodyweight Squats: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests between the sets)
(1 minute rest after exercise)
Calf Raises on Step: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Press-ups: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Dumbbell Bent-Over Row: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Dumbbell Overhead Press: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Dumbbell Bicep Curls (one arm*): 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Dumbbell Tricep Extension on Gym Ball or Bench: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Gym Ball Back Extension: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)

Cooldown - Perform at least 5 minutes of static stretching for all the muscle groups worked.

* = Perform as many bicep curls as you can for one arm in 30 seconds, then immediately perform the same amount for the other arm with roughly the same tempo to ensure they both get as equal a workout as possible. After you have done the exercise on both arms then take your rest for between the set.

INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED

Warmup - 25 star jumps, 50 calf burn-outs (like skipping without the rope), 25 bodyweight squats, 25 dumbbell bent-over rows (with a low weight), 20 press-ups, 20 crunches and 10 leg raises.

Side-to-Side Step Jumps: 2x 30 seconds (45 second rests between the sets)
(1 minute rest after exercise*)
Calf Jumps onto step: 2x 30 seconds (45 second rests between the sets)
(1 minute rest)
Bodyweight Squats: 2x 30 a seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest*)
Calf Raises on Step: 2x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Press-ups: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Dumbbell Bent-Over Rows: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Dumbbell Overhead Press: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Dumbbell Bicep Curls (one arm): 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest*)
Dumbbell Tricep Extensions on Gym Ball or Bench: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Bent-Leg Variation Deadlifts: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)

Cooldown - Perform at least 5 minutes of static stretching for all the muscle groups worked.

* = Advanced exercisers super-set/alternate with the next exercise before taking the specified rests. So you will be doing a set of each exercise – resting for 45 seconds, then resting for one minute after performing all the sets for those two exercises.

THE JUMPS EXPLAINED

Side-to-Side Step Jump: Place a step on the floor in front of your feet facing vertically. Now move to one side of the step and jump over it landing on the other side. Then jump back over to the other side so you have returned to your original position. Continue this until the time for that set elapses. If you need to stop for a moment or bounce on the spot before making another jump feel free to do so as this may feel more natural to you, it’s about gaining a rhythm. Breathe out as you make the jump and breathe in before jumping again to regulate your breathing. Advanced exercisers should hold their arms up slightly, elbows bent and kept relatively still. This will ensure that you are using mostly your lower-body to jump rather than using your arms to boost you up and over.

Calf Jumps onto Step: Place a step on the floor in front of your feet facing horizontally. Jump onto the step and immediately jump back to the floor, back into the position you started in. Repeat this until the time for that set has elapsed. Ensure that you don’t bend your legs too much with the jump, you want to be using your calves to make the jump (similar to when skipping) rather than your quads or hamstrings. You can bend them ever so slightly on take off and landing to reduce impact on the joints. Breathe out as you make the jump and breathe in before jumping again to regulate your breathing. Advanced exercisers should hold their arms up slightly, elbows bent and kept relatively still. This will ensure that you are using mostly your lower-body to jump rather than using your arms to boost you up on and off the step

September Total Body Pump At The Gym

AT THE GYM

If you do not have access to a weight room or it does not have some of the equipment required please refer to our at home version of this workout using this link: http://homeimprovementfitness.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/september-total-body-pump-at-home.html
 

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE

Please note that if you need to take a rest during the actual set (a rest-pause) then do so, just don't cheat yourself on the rest between sets and exercises by taking any longer than specified. Using a stopwatch or an app on your phone (such as a round-timer) is a good idea for this workout to make sure you are keeping to the exact times and you will really feel the pump!

Warmup -
Cross Trainer: 3mins forward, 2 mins backwards


Bodyweight Squats: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests between the sets)
(1 minute rest after exercise)

Calf Raises on Step: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Machine Chest Press: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Wide Grip Seated Row: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Machine Shoulder Press (knuckles facing you): 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Machine Preacher Curls: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Tricep Pushdown with Rope: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Machine Back Extension: 3x 20 seconds (45 second rests)

Cooldown - Perform at least 5 minutes of static stretching for all the muscle groups worked.

INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED

Warmup - Cross Trainer: 5 mins forward, 3 mins backwards

Side-to-Side Step Jumps:
2x 30 seconds (45 second rests between the sets) (1 minute rest after exercise*)
Calf Jumps onto Step: 2x 30 seconds (45 second rests between the sets)
(1 minute rest)
Squats with Barbell: 2x 30 a seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest*)
Calf Raises with Barbell or Standing Calf Raise Machine: 2x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Bench Press: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Barbell Bent-Over Rows: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Barbell Standing Overhead Press: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Close Grip EZ Bar Bicep Curls: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest*)
Tricep Pushdown with Rope: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)
(1 minute rest)
Bent-Leg Variation Deadlifts: 3x 30 seconds (45 second rests)

Cooldown - Perform at least 5 minutes of static stretching for all the muscle groups worked.

* = Advanced exercisers super-set/alternate with the next exercise before taking the specified rests. So you will be doing a set of each exercise – resting for 45 seconds, then resting for one minute after performing all the sets for those two exercises.
 
THE JUMPS EXPLAINED

Side-to-Side Step Jump:
Place a step on the floor in front of your feet facing vertically. Now move to one side of the step and jump over it landing on the other side. Then jump back over to the other side so you have returned to your original position. Continue this until the time for that set elapses. If you need to stop for a moment or bounce on the spot before making another jump feel free to do so as this may feel more natural to you, it’s about gaining a rhythm. Breathe out as you make the jump and breathe in before jumping again to regulate your breathing. Advanced exercisers should hold their arms up slightly, elbows bent and kept relatively still. This will ensure that you are using mostly your lower-body to jump rather than using your arms to boost you up and over.

Calf Jumps onto Step:
Place a step on the floor in front of your feet facing horizontally. Jump onto the step and immediately jump back to the floor, back into the position you started in. Repeat this until the time for that set has elapsed. Ensure that you don’t bend your legs too much with the jump, you want to be using your calves to make the jump (similar to when skipping) rather than your quads or hamstrings. You can bend them ever so slightly on take off and landing to reduce impact on the joints. Breathe out as you make the jump and breathe in before jumping again to regulate your breathing. Advanced exercisers should hold their arms up slightly, elbows bent and kept relatively still. This will ensure that you are using mostly your lower-body to jump rather than using your arms to boost you up on and off the step

Supplement Tax Disgust

The first of October 2012 will be a sad day for the sports nutrition industry as the Government will impose 20% VAT on their products. The dust of a peaked-passion for sports fuelled by the Olympics and Paralympics isn't even close to settling while fitness enthusiasts will be disgusted to learn that they be forced to suffer a significant increase in the cost of supplements from this date.

You will undoubtedly notice the jump in price soon enough and may be searching elsewhere for your supplementation needs in the near future, but this change is purely to line the Government's pocket. This means that we shouldn't be blaming the sports nutrition companies for slapping a higher figure on their labels because they will pretty much have to. In fact the UK Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance was formed (fronted by such companies) to oppose the move, albeit to no avail.

Obviously the money generated from the taxation could be used to fund positive developments in the sports/fitness industry and pioneering a healthy lifestyle. However, it seems backwards to hurt those who are already passionate about staying healthy and those who will become so in future. On the one hand the Government makes incentives and encourages us to become more active, and with the other hand they punish us for taking them up on the offer.