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If you have ever used heavy ropes to do an interval workout you will feel my pain!

If you haven’t had the ‘pleasure’ of doing so yet, then look forward to it and make sure you add ‘Heavy Rope Intervals’ to the list of things to do before you die!

Apparently these ropes were named ‘Best New Cardio Tool of 2009′ by Men’s Health magazine and all I can say is that after a few minutes my lungs, arms, legs, shoulders……lets just say EVERYTHING was burning!

This workout was designed to be hard, fast and effective. I’m pretty sure it ticked off all of these boxes and then some! Following a 40 seconds work into 20 seconds rest interval, I did five work sets followed by a full minute rest (very generous I know!!). Do this for four rounds and you have a nice 20 minute workout. (30 minutes if you include a warm up before and lying in the foetal position for 5 minutes afterwards!)

Round One:

1. Double Waves
2. Alternate Waves
3. Double Waves
4. Alternate Waves
5. Double Waves

Round Two:

1. Outside Circles/Spirals
2. Inside Circles/Spirals
3. Double Waves
4. Outside Circles/Spirals
5. Inside Circles/Spirals

Round Three:

1. Rainbows/Throws
2. Alternate Waves
3. Rainbows/Throws
4. Alternate Waves
5. Rainbows/Throws

Round Four:

1. Double Waves
2. Alternate Waves
3. Inside Circles/Spirals
4. Rainbows/Throws
5. Outside Circles/Spirals

I got Rach to film some of the action, so you can see exactly what the exercises are if you aren’t familiar with them.

Ropes supplied by Australian Kettlebells

Interval Workout Music supplied by Workout Muse

Hey there,

I’ve been sent these two little video clips which have some nice little challenges for you!

First up is the ‘Ultimate Warrior Workout Challenge’ which is brought to you by Nate Green.

Pretty simple concept really, push yourself for 60 seconds, rest for 15 seconds and repeat for a total of four sets.

The exercises: Push ups, Chin Ups, Sit ups and Dips.

The goal: Maximum reps.

Second up is the ‘Three Minute Push Up Challenge’ brought to you by Craig Ballantyne.

Pretty simple this one. Just bang out as many push ups as you can in 3 minutes.

Let me know how you go. I will give them a crack and post my results.

Workouts don’t need to be overly complex.

Especially when the goal of the workout isn’t that complex.

If the goal is to get fitter, stronger and leaner, then you want to move as much weight as possible with just little rest in between.

Give this workout template a crack next time you are ready for a change of pace.

After warming up get cracking with the following circuit.

A1: Barbell Deadlift x 6

A2: Chin Up x 6

4 sets, no rest between A1-A2, 60 seconds rest between A2-A1.

B1: Dumbbell Lunge x 12

B2: Push Up x 12

4 sets, no rest between B1-B2, 60 seconds rest between B2-B1.

C1: Barbell Clean and Press x 6

C1: Mountain Climber x 30 seconds

4 sets, no rest between C1-C2, 60 seconds rest between C2-C1.

Now this is where the fun starts and why you never have to be bored with your workout or stuck in a rut.

Follow this workout for three sessions (ideally over a week to 10 days), then push all of the exercises down the list one. So instead of starting with A1-A2, you will do B1-B2, C1-C2 and finish with A1-A2.

Once again do this for three sessions, then bump the exercise order once more. Start with C1-C2, then A1-A2 and finish B1-B2.

This give you nine workouts (three goes at three different exercise orders) to get going with. You can do each one more than three times is you are still making progress with the numbers you are lifting (as in you can lift more weight – not reps- than the last session), but you don’t have to.

When you have had enough of this series of workouts, all you need to do is flip the combos so that your workout will now look like this.

A2 -> A1 rest, repeat

B2 -> B1 rest, repeat

C2 -> C1 rest, repeat

Then, once again you can bump the starting lot down one and do B2-B1, C2-C1 and finish with A2-A1. Do that one three times and you are onto C2-C1, A2-A1 and B2-B1 combo.

Do each of these at least three times each and you have 18 workouts, which is enough for about 6 or so weeks.

Now remember, we have only used six exercises here. After you have completed the 18 workouts, change each of the exercises (like for like, ie front squat for deadlifts, alternate chin grip, bench press for push up etc) and you have another 18 workout ready and waiting for you!

No more excuses to be stale and boring with your workouts. Keep your mind and body progressing and guessing and you’ll find that you are able to take your fitness and strength to new levels.

(Btw, I couldn’t find any relevant pics, so I used some weird ones! – Can you tell?)

Here you go.

Five Workouts.

Two Timing Variations.

Ten Minutes.

No excuses.

No equipment, still no excuses.

Got a kettlebell, dumbell or skipping rope? Definitely no excuses.

A stopwatch, countdown timer or Gymboss timer would be handy. (If you have an iPhone you already have two out of the three and access to plenty more killer workout apps.)

If access to a timing device is holding you back from working out maybe you are reading the wrong website.

Do one at the end of your weight training, one if you are short for time, or multiples (take 2-3 minutes between circuits) if you have more time and energy!

NO EXCUSES!!!

No Equipment

30 seconds: Pushups

90 Seconds: Virtual Skipping

30 Seconds: Jump Squats

90 Seconds: Virtual Skipping

30 Seconds: T -Pushup Rotation

90 Seconds: Virtual Skipping

30 Seconds: Alternate Lunge Jumps

90 Seconds Virtual Skipping

30 Seconds: Cross Climber

90 Seconds: Virtual Skipping

KB – Skipping Rope

30 Seconds: 1 Arm Swing

90 Seconds: Virtual or Real Skipping

30: Seconds 1 Arm Swing

90 Seconds: Virtual or Real Skipping

30 Seconds: 1 Arm Overhead Squat

90 Seconds: Virtual or Real Skipping

30 Seconds: 1 Arm Overhead Squat

90 Seconds: Virtual or Real Skipping

30 Seconds: KB Goblet Squat

90 Seconds: Virtual or Real Skipping

Kettlebell Only

30 Seconds:  1 Arm Overhead Squat

90 Seconds: 2 Arm Swing

30 Seconds: 1 Arm Overhead Squat

90 Seconds: 2 Arm Swing

30 Seconds: 1 Arm Bent Over Row

90 Seconds: 2 Arm Swing

30 Seconds: 1 Arm Bent Over Row

90 Seconds: 2 Arm Swing

30 Seconds: Goblet Squat

90 Seconds: 2 Arm Swing

No Equipment

30 Seconds: Burpees

90 Seconds: Prone Brace

30 Seconds: Burpees

90 Seconds: Side Brace

30 Seconds: Burpees

90 Seconds: Side Brace

30 Seconds: Burpees

90 Seconds: Climber

30 Seconds: Burpees

90 Seconds: Prone Brace

Kettlebell Or Dumbell

60 Seconds: Goblet Squat

60 Seconds: Squat Hold

60 Seconds: Prone Cross Toe

60 Seconds: Climber

60 Seconds: Hip Raise

60 Seconds: Floor Touch

60 Seconds: Superman

60 Seconds: Banana

60 Seconds: Hip Raise

60 Seconds: Floor Touch

Always simple, never easy.

Get to it and take your fat burning workouts to the next level.

Let me know what you think, how you go and your favourite ‘finishing’ combos!