Body Beast Total Body Workout - Makati City, Philippines

Body Beast Total Body Workout - Makati City, Philippines

When I travel, I never make an excuse not to workout. It can get pretty challenging at times, but it's a challenge back home as well, so I try not to make it a big deal when I travel because in all reality, it's just an excuse. So I arrived in Manila, Philippines a couple days ago and the first night I arrived pretty late, so I didn't really do anything but catch up on some Beachbody business stuff. I ended up not sleeping at all since I was still trying to get use to the time change from flying in from the USA into Asia, which is a 12 hour difference. When everyone in the Makati City was sleeping, I was wide awake! =)

By the time I knew it, the sun was up and I was very excited to start my day. The night before, I met this traveler from North Dakota who's family became pretty wealthy in the oil business years ago. The cool thing about him is that he didn't act like he was wealthy, or he didn't brag about coming from a family with money. Just like most backpackers that I meet, he was more focused on what life has to offer through the gift of travel. Through my travels, I have met Harvard Grads to down-to-earth millionaires who have started tech companies, travel blogs etc. while traveling, and we all have one thing in common, travel is the best education out there, and most of the world is totally clueless when it comes to doing something that you are truly passionate about.

 Body Beast Total Body - Slimmer's World, Makati City Philippines

So it was now about 6:00 am, and my travel buddy asked me if I wanted to go ahead and hit the gym, which we talked about the night before. We talked about going at 7am, but heck....we were both up so we decided to start the day! Before taking off, the receptionist gave us a couple guest passes to this gym called Slimmer's World. The name sounded a bit weird, but we took the passes, thanked him, and went out the door. We decided to run to a Gold's Gym which was about 1.5 miles away. We figured that the run would be a good little warm up to our workout. It was pretty fun dodging cars and jeepneys along the way, and made for a nice little obstacle run. We finally arrived at the Gold's Gym on Ayala Dr. (Makati City) and requested a day pass. The receptionist told us that it would be 1000 pesos which translates to about $25 US. Now I've been to a lot of gyms when I travel, and I have never paid $25 for a day pass! I've also been to to a few Equinox Gyms around the world and made use of free passes. I mean the most I've ever paid for a day pass is about $5-$10, and that's in the USA.....so paying $25 for a day pass in the Philippines was totally ridiculous! I started thinking that maybe this girl was starting a business on the side or something lol.

We ended up leaving and decided to check out Slimmer's World (Makati City). Our passes were good for 3 days, and when we arrived at the gym, we were totally impressed. The gym had 3 levels with everything that we needed and then some. Body Beast Total Body was the workout of the day, and we added some strength body weight cardio exrecises in between the circuit sets such as burpees, plyometric jumps, and more burpees =). 

It was an awesome workout, and I am definitely looking to my second visit today! If you are ever in Makati City, I highly recommend that you check this place out. Happy travels and stay active my friends! =)

Need more tips about working out while traveling? Contact me and I'd be happy to share some tips to help you stay motivated! =)

Makati City Philippines - Jeepney

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Spartan Race Training with Body Beast

Spartan Race Training with Body Beast

I remember when the Body Beast Workout Program was first launched, I was very hesitant on doing the program because it was geared more towards people who were interested in Body Building and Physique Modeling. But the more I looked into the program, it was a lot more than that. It was a program that catered to weight loss, toning up, gaining lean muscle, and even gaining strength for Spartan Races. Not specific to Spartan Race, it is perfect training for any Obstacle Course Racing event which requires a lot of strength to conquer the obstacles. There are different workout schedules to follow depending on your goals, but if you are training for a Spartan Race, then you may have to change it up a little to make sure that you are using the program for not just strength, but also for athletic performance.

I'm not gonna lie, but since I've been doing Body Beast, I rank it up there as one of my favorite workouts along with P90X and Insanity Asylum Workouts, I'm totally addicted to it! What guy do you know doesn't like lifting weights? And that's the thing, it's easy to want to lift more weight with Body Beast, but if you are focused on becoming a faster OCR (obstacle course racing) athlete, then building too much mass with Body Beast will hinder your speed and ruin your PR times. So you now ask "why would I want to do Body Beast then?"

Here are some benefits to using Body Beast for Obstacle Course Race Training:

- Helps you gain strength
- Easy to follow workouts, just add some cardio conditioning (examples below)
- Workouts can be done at home or gym
- Totally customizable depending on your goals

So let's talk about each of these benefits.

Helps You Gain Strength
I think that this is the main benefit for using Body Beast for a Spartan Race or OCR. But just like any lifting program, the question is, how much is too much? Just to keep it simple, if your goal is not to become a Body Builder, then it's really not necessary to lift really heavy. The next question is, how much is too heavy? Well this all depends on you. With Body Beast, a lot of the workouts have anywhere from 3 to 5 complexes, each complex can have a set number of reps per exercise from 8-15 reps including super sets. If you cannot finish all of your reps, then you are probably lifting more than you should. I mean you should always push yourself to add more weight, but remember, we're just building strength and lean muscle, not MASS. Of course the more you continue doing Body Beast, you will soon see that your strength gains go through the roof, just be careful not to build too much mass or else it will again slow your running pace down when you are at a Spartan Race.

Easy To Follow Workouts
That's what I like about Body Beast, because just like the Daily Spartan and Crossfit WOD's, you know exactly what you need to do because it tells you what to do. The only thing about Body Beast is that it is all about lifting (most of the time), and hardly focuses on Cardio Conditioning. So what do you do? You add it in between the Body Beast sets. Here's are some examples:

Ex. 1
During Body Beast Total Body (which is a Full Body Workout) there a 4 circuit sets. The first set includes: Pull ups, Push ups, Squats, and Crunches (2 rounds). What I do is after I complete the circuit of 2 rounds, I will pick up a sand bag and run up some stairs, or if I don't have stairs, then I will just run around the block for 100-400 meters. Other things that you could do in between sets are (depending on the workout):
- Burpees
- Jump Squats
- Running without Sandbag
- Bucket Carry
- Jump Rope
- Insanity or Insanity Asylum Exercises

Ex. 2
During a Body Beast Back/Bis Workout, this workout consists of about 8 sets, each set includes 1-3 exercises with 3 to 4 rounds of lifting reps (from 8-15 reps). After each set, you could add some cardio conditioning such as running, high knees, box jumps etc. Just be careful not to work the same muscle groups every day. If you can only workout 3X per week, then I would do Full Body Workouts on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, then maybe do some running, core focused, and even yoga in between those days. If you need help with this, message me and I would be happy to assist =).

Get the Body Beast Workout Sheets here!

From Home or Gym
I workout at both home and the gym, but I also love doing work outdoors! Body Beast is perfect because you can workout at home, then go outside to do your added cardio conditioning and athletic-based exercises to cater to your Spartan Race goals. The gym works the same way especially if you are using an outdoor gym, or gym with outdoor access.  My gym has an athletic training area, so I will go back and forth from the weight training area to the green training area.

 Just another Spartan Race Success Story using Body Beast

Body Beast helped me build my legs for those elevated hikes carrying sand bags. It also helped with the atlas carry, Hercules hoist to where I can lift heavier weight with less effort. ~Jeremy

Totally Customizable
Although Body Beast has their own workout schedules, and it's highly recommend that you follow it according to your goals, it can still be customizable. For Spartan Racers and OCR Athletes, the workouts should be more customized to your athletic goals, and cardio conditioning and athletic-based exercises should be added in between sets to get the full benefit of Body Beast for Obstacle Course Racing. If you are not skilled with creating your own workouts, then I can assist you with showing you how Body Beast can benefit your OCR strength and running game. Make me your FREE Coach now, click here!

So I hope this helps you understand some benefits of using the Body Beast Workout Program for Spartan Race and other Obstacle Course Racing events. As always, listen to your body, use proper form, and have fun!

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Body Beast Bulk Chest Workout

 Decline Push Ups "the crazy way"

(One-Legged Decline Plyo Clap Push Ups) Watch Video below!

Today's WOD was Body Beast Bulk Chest at my favorite place to workout, which is the Powerhouse Gym in downtown TAMPA, FL. I had Beachbody Coach Steven, and my buddy Aaron Wagner from Aaron Wagner Fitness join me for this BEAST UP session!

Just to let you know, I am not trying to bulk up, or gain mass, I mainly use the Body Beast Program to gain strength for my upcoming Obstacle Course Racing events, as well as just to stay strong and healthy. Body Beast can be catered to your fitness goals, but is mostly geared towards Body Builders and Fitness Models, but there are different workout schedules to suit every lifestyle. I highly recommend this program!

Let's workout: Click here to get the BODY BEAST WORKOUT SHEETS!

It always begins with a WARM UP which is about 2 minutes:
Jog, arm circles, bending the arms in right angle fashion to warm up the shoulders, a bunch of push-ups, and another light jog.

 

SUPER SET:

Incline Fly - 15/12/8

Incline Press - 15/12/8/8 (drop set)

FORCE SET:
Chest Press w/Rotation - 5/5/5/5/5

PROGRESSIVE SET:
Incline Press - 15/12/8/8/12/15

COMBO SET:
Close-Grip Press to Fly - 15/12/8

MULTI SET:

Decline Push Ups - 15/12/8

(this is where we went a little crazy)

Cobra to Airplane - 10

Russian Twist - 30 sec. 

(we actually skipped the ab exercises lol) 

One Legged Decline Plyo Clap Push Ups 

(instead of regular decline push ups)

And then we decided to do Weighted (45lbs) Decline Push Ups

(of course we were already wasted from the workout)

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

Oh and while we were just minding our own business, we saw these MONKEY BARS, so what would you do? Exactly, so we did them too! =)

 Aaron Wagner - Visit his website here!

 Coach Steven Cartagena - Check him out here!

It was a HELLA workout! Total workout time, hmmmm, not sure, but the Body Beast Bulk Chest Workout alone was about 30 minutes. We also did a 1 mile cool down run. Today was a good day! =)

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Body Beast - Build Shoulders Workout

This was my second WORKOUT OF THE DAY. Earlier I did an online LIVE Shaun T workout to start my day, but I originally planned to do a Body Beast strength workout, so BAM....here's Body Beast Build Shoulders, I absolutely love this workout!

Warm up started with some light jogs, arm circles, and some light lateral raises to get your muscles fired up.

The first exercise was shoulder presses. from 15, 12, 8, then a drop set. Sagi really gets us started quick, no messing around!

From there, we killed some super sets which consisted of lateral raises (15,12,8) and some up right rows with a drop set.

Then comes the giant set  with some under hand presses, (1,1,2) front raises, and some killer delt raises!

Finished strong with another super set of the infamous "Sagi Six Way" exercise, and some tuck & rolls for some shredded abs! Always end it with a cool down stretch =) Total Time: 38 minutes!

I'm ready for my SHAKEOLGY! And going to kill some ribs and grilled chicken, enjoy your July 4th! =)

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My Strength Marathon Training Program with P90X

My Strength Marathon Training with P90X

I started running back in mid-2011 at the age of 40 years old. Contrary to what some of my friends believe, I was actually never a runner! In fact, just the thought of running made me sick to my stomach. I was always active when I was young, and was involved in extreme sports such as skateboarding, surfing, martial arts, and mountain biking.....but never running!

Things change as you get older, and for people who are in my age bracket, you are either a couch potato or super fit, there really is no in between, at least from what I've seen in my network of friends.

I started running when my brother introduced me into the sport of obstacle course racing, but around that time, someone told me about this marathon in Boston where you had to qualify. After doing my first obstacle course race, I made a decision to make running part of my daily routine. I ended up doing a half marathon even before I did a 5K, and finished with a 1:36 time with an average of a 7:19 pace per mile. I was amazed what my P90X training has done for me because I have never ran before in my life. It's amazing what that program did for me!

I got heavily involved with obstacle course racing in late 2011, and pretty much forgot about my Boston Marathon goal. The main reason why I loved OCR (obstacle course racing) was because it didn't just focused on running. As an OCR athlete, you are required to have overall strength and endurance especially if you want to be competitive. After years of racing and even developing a project to help the sport grow, I am now focused on my Boston Marathon goal once again. I just want to mark it off of my bucket list =)

My passion for Obstacle Course Racing

I continue to be involved in obstacle course racing, and if it wasn't for my love of the sport, I would not have become a runner. I really owe it all to my success with P90X (thanks to my brother), and the sport of OCR. Now I am focused on the Boston Marathon.

I have started a 16 week marathon training program in which I will have run over 600 miles in 4 months. But I will not just be running, I will also be incorporating strength workouts from P90X, Body Beast, and some interval training from various Insanity programs such as Asylum and Max 30. The tricky part about strength training while endurance running is finding the balance. You can't build too much mass or else it will slow your running pace, but you don't want to just run or else you will lose your muscle mass and upper body strength, and that's something that I do not want to do especially if I plan to continue obstacle course racing as well.

I decided to try out the Marathon Training Program from Nike+. The coach programs are absolutely free, and it is very easy to follow. I live a pretty busy life as a Full Time Beachbody Coach, so I enjoy working out and having a program to guide me, so I can think about other things like family, travel, and business. The Nike+ Marathon Training Coach Program fits into my lifestyle, and so far it's doing well. If you are not training for a marathon, there are other training programs for 5K, 10K, and half marathons, so it's great for all fitness levels.

Run a Faster 5K using Beachbody on Demand - Click here!

I incorporate about 3 strength workouts into my week. For the most part, I will normally plan a LEG DAY (such as P90X Plyometrics, Body Beast Build Legs, X3 Triometrics etc) on Mondays. On Wednesdays I do an upper body workout (such as P90X Chest and Back, Body Beast Bulk Chest, X3 the Challenge etc) and then on Friday will will either do another upper body workout or full body interval workout (Asylum Speed and Agility, T25 Total Body, Insanity Max Interval Sports Training etc). On Thursdays which are normally a cross-training day, I will either mountain bike or do some sort of stretching workout (such as P90X X Stretch or X3 Yoga). On Sundays, I will do more stretching and just relax.

A sample of my 16 week Strength Marathon Training Program:
- Monday (Leg Day + Run)
- Tuesday (Run)
- Wednesday (Upper Body + Run)
- Thursday (Cross-train and/or Stretch/Yoga)
- Friday (Upper Body or Full Body Interval Training + Run)
- Saturday (Long Run)
- Sunday (Rest and Recovery/Stretch)

That's just a sample of what my week looks like with my Strength Marathon Training with P90X. I am always listening to my body, so if I am feeling tired or over-trained, I will take a rest day to ensure that I do not injure myself. Recovery is very important to me as I have overtrained in the past many times, and it doesn't feel good at all. Safety first guys! Nutrition also plays a key role (80%) in my training program and I will be drinking my Shakeology along with my normal eating plan of fresh whole foods, lean meats, whole grains, nuts, and lot's of greens, fruit and WATER.

I have never done a marathon before, so I am pretty excited to sign up for my first one after I am done with my 16 week program. After my first marathon, I will see how much I have improved, and then I will go into my 2nd marathon training program which will be a lot more intense with longer runs.

If you would like to join me on Nike+ or workout with me online with either my Free Fitness Group or my Online Challenge Group, feel free to message me, I'd love to run and workout with you! As always, stay active my friends! =)

Hammer and Chisel Challenge - Week 7

Week 7!!!!!! =)

Day 1, Week 7
Today was Total Body Chisel and 10 Minute Abs followed by a 2 mile cool down run. During week 6 I was taking it a bit easy and just listening to my body. Today I felt strong and lifted heavier than usual. I think that it is very important to listen to your body and not be afraid to modify. It is so easy to over-train during this workout, especially with your legs, so be extra careful with that.

Day 2, Week 7

Not sure if you've been noticing a lot of my posts, but I enjoy working out with nature. I typically just use the workout sheets and rarely use the videos. Now, I do not recommend this unless you are pretty familiar with the movements, and feel comfortable. Today was ISO Speed Hammer, and of course I did the workout at one of my favorite outdoor parks. It started to get a little warmer so the mosquitos were out today, but I solved that problem with spraying some Deep Woods =) Oh, and I need to get rid of some back fat, that's something that I struggle with. 

Day 3, Week 7

I took a REST DAY today =) 

Day 4, Week 7

Since I took a rest day yesterday, I did ISO Strength Chisel today. Not sure if I mentioned this to you, but I am hosting an online accountability group and we post daily assignments to keep each other accountable, which also keeps everyone in the private group motivated to keep moving forward. Today we were asked to share which exercise that we feel we have improved on, and I would say that it has been the "step up holds". It basically is 10 step ups on a bench followed by a 10 second ISO hold (like a pistol squat hold), and you do that 3X =). Legs are definitely being worked during this program, but if you pace yourself, and not go too hard every day, you will see results on the days where you are well rested. If you feel good, then go a little harder, but if your legs are tired, play it safe and modify, then go harder the next day. It sucks to get injured, so play it safe and you will get better results and eliminate set backs. 

Day 5, Week 7

Today I made things a little more interesting. Not only is working out outside with nature super fun, but during my Hammer Conditioning Workout today, I also incorporated a quarter mile run in between sets/rounds. One thing that you may want to know is that there isn't too much cardio with the Hammer and Chisel Program, but it definitely has a lot more than the Body Beast program. I mention this because if you are like me who enjoys endurance sports such as running and obstacle course racing, you may need to continue to run daily to ensure that your level of cardio stays on point. Just like most guys, I tend to start lifting heavier and building more mass (it doesn't take me long to build mass), and whenever that happens, I gain more weight which leads me to run a bit slower. So in order to keep myself lean, I run after or during my workouts to keep that athletic balance and endurance level. 

Click to Watch Video!

Day 6, Week 7

Speaking of CARDIO. Today was Chisel Cardio which is not like your typical cardio workout. When most people think of a Beachbody Cardio Workout, you think of something like INSANITY =) Well, this workout is more like a P90X3 CVX workout, a little bit of cardio, but with the added benefit of using weights, which I love! I think this workout is key because when you combine weight training with cardio, it's more functional. It's also perfect for obstacle course race training where some obstacles require running or some sort of cardio activity with lifting heavy objects.  You will also see in the video below that instead of a pull up bar, I used my TRX Force Suspension. Use what you have, and if you are outside like me, and you see a sturdy branch, go for it, just be super careful! 

Click to Watch Video!

Day 7, Week 7

Total Body Hammer and 10 Minute Hammer Abs today. I was pretty excited that I only had one more week left of Hammer and Chisel. It's been a great program, and my legs have gotten super strong, which is always exciting for me! The cool thing about these Beachbody Workouts is that it's catered to different fitness levels and goals. As for my goal for Hammer and Chisel, it is just to maintain my health and fitness so that I can continue to keep up with the best obstacle racing athletes when I travel on the weekends to film races. When you are running side by side with an athlete that runs 4-5 minute miles, then I have to definitely stay on point with my fitness (strength and endurance), so I thank Beachbody for allowing me to have the flexibility to do my workouts anytime and anywhere, on the go! Hammer and Chisel is definitely one of those programs where you can easily take to the gym, home, or even like I do...outdoors. It's also perfect to incorporate into any other type of training program like OCR (obstacle course race training). Whatever you do, just make it happen =) If you need Free Coaching, motivation and advice from me, feel free to message me, and I can give you some details on my next Hammer and Chisel Online Challenge. I'd love to help you! =) 

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Top 5 Reasons Why Being Fit Helps You Travel Better

 5 Reasons Why Being Fit Helps You Travel Better

I wanted to post a super quick blog about this because I've been VAGABONDING since the month of March this year, and I've seen so many travelers miss out on so many photo and video opportunities just because they were just too tired to take a few steps up a mountain, or walk just around the corner because they were out of breath.

Come on guys, you've traveled half way around the world, and you are just minutes from taking a shot of a lifetime, or that amazing waterfall that you've been talking about for two years! Now I do understand that some people are in some unfortunate situations way beyond their control, but let's just say that this post has little to do with, if not anything to do with them. This is about people who are very willing and capable, but they decided to not take the extra steps because of the decisions that they made prior to their trip.

It's a short list, but here goes:

1.  ENERGY - Studies show that when you live a healthy and fit lifestyle, you will look and feel more energized. Granted that you continue your lifestyle whilst you are traveling, you will have the natural energy needed to wake up and start your day without coffee or those toxic energy drinks.

2.  ENDURANCE - When you combine cardio with your strength workouts, your endurance level will go through the roof. Anyone can carry a backpack and a camera up a mountain, but to do it for hours or even days, it takes a lot of endurance. Don't get me wrong, strength is very important, and it all depends on what type activity you are doing. To fully enjoy a long trek or an all day tour, your endurance level will play a key role on how you feel. And we all know that if we feel great, "and not out of breath", we will just have more fun! Adding cardio to your strength workouts will help you make it to the end of the trek to get that money shot that you've been talking about for two years =).

 Morning Run with some Palawan Locals - Philippines

3.  STRENGTH - So here it is! I know that the guys reading this were waiting for this, and you too girls =). Having strength can be the key to either making a trip, or breaking a trip. I've seen people bail out of a mountain hike because they could not lift themselves up over boulders. I've seen people stay on the beach because they said that their arms are not strong enough to island hop with a kayak. I've seen people use horse, donkeys...you name it because their legs weren't strong enough. Having strength will make you feel more accomplished during your travels because you made it to the top of the mountain, it was you that kayaked to 3 amazing islands, and you would have the photos and videos to prove it. Don't just do cardio, make sure that you are doing some weight training, it will go a long way when you finally go on that trip or trek of a lifetime.

 Body Beast Total Body Gym Workout - El Nido, Palawan

4.  HEALTHY - This to me is really the most important. I've seen so many people workout hard, a lot of times way harder than me, then they go and eat a combo at McDonalds. What you eat and your nutrition is everything. If your insides look as good as your outside, trust me....you will have the energy, endurance, strength, and you will be happy. Who wants to do an Elephant Trek in Thailand with someone who is not enjoying themselves just because they either drank too much the night before or they ate a crap ton of junk food for the past week. Eating healthy can get tricky while you are traveling, but trust me, it's not impossible.

Try Shakeology Risk-Free!  70+ Superfoods and more, I don't leave home without it!

5.  CONSISTENCY - And for the grand finale! We can be strong, have energy and endurance, eat healthy, but can we be consistent? The more consistent that we are with all of the above, the better experience you will have during your travels. Traveling should not be an excuse to not workout, and not eat healthy, it should be the every reason why you travel. I've been to a lot of places, I've seen a lot of things, and I've seen a lot of people suffer while they travel. It doesn't have to be that way. Like anything, if you stay consistent big things will come out of it. And this my friends, is the secret sauce!

Island Hopping - El Nido, Palawan

As the P90X Creator Tony Horton always says "Do your best, and forget the rest", that is the advice that I will give all of you. Like anything, travel is a challenge, but it is one of the most rewarding and most educational experiences that you will ever do. Never stop exploring my friends!

Cliff Climbing Taraw Mountain - El Nido, Palawan

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Hammer and Chisel Challenge - Week 1

Hammer and Chisel - Week One

I am documenting my Hammer and Chisel Challenge here on my blog. You can view day by day posts by following my IG or Facebook. This challenge has been everything that I had hoped for. I was looking for something that was similar to the P90X variety, and this falls right into it. The whole idea behind Hammer and Chisel is to get CHISELED. It's about strength and getting shredded. Now don't get me wrong, the program can be perfect for other goals such as: gaining more strength/endurance, becoming a better athlete, getting lean, losing weight, and maintaining fitness. I do not see this as a bulking type of challenge, although there is a lot of lifting weights. I can see how you can bulk easy by lifting more weight, but to be quite honest, so far it seems that there are a lot of reps, so using a lot of heavy weight wouldn't be possible for most people.

Beginners?
As I am going through this program, I am getting my butt kicked! There are modifications provided, but in my honest opinion, I do not recommend this challenge for people who are at beginner fitness levels. I would say that this program is for the hardcore intermediate to advanced. But again, this is just from my experience.

Runners?
As for any program for runners, it's best to do this during your off-season. Coming from Florida, there really isn't much of an off-season, it's more like you have to create your own off-season, which I feel is very important. Over-training is the worst feeling in the world, and I've done this many times. Sometimes you just have to put your ego aside, and just suck it up and take a break. Whether you are doing Hammer and Chisel during on or off season, I would recommend that you run 3-5X per week. I've been running almost everyday, but nothing too hard core. I normally do a one mile (sometimes 1 1/2 mile) warm up before my workout, then another mile or mile and a half afterwards. Depending on how my body feels, I may just do a run in the beginning, and not the end. I will do my longer runs on my Hammer and Chisel rest day which is on Thursdays.

Hammer and Chisel Workout Sheets - Click Here!

So let's go with how my first week went. Here is a quick run down on how my week went, and if you have any questions, feel free to connect with me here.

Day 1, Week 1
The workout was Chisel Balance, and it started out with pistol squats right off the bat which I'm terrible at! I struggled most with the Balance Row Pistol Squat and the Single Leg Dead Lift. It was a great first impression of what was in store for the week, and the next 60 days =).

I did a 1 mile warm up run, and a 2 mile run afterwards.

Chisel Balance - Split Squat Jumps

Day 2, Week 1
In my Online Hammer and Chisel Challenge Group, one of the things that was asked was "What was my goal for the challenge?" and I responded with to maintain my health and active lifestyle, but also work on my abs =) I am also training to gain strength and endurance for my upcoming trip to Nicaragua to film one of the toughest adventure races in the world called the Fuego Y Agua Adventure Run. Workout today was Hammer Plyometrics, another day of butt kicking!

I did a 1.5 mile warm up run, and 1.5 mile cool down run.

Hammer Plyometrics - Just a few exercises from this brutal but awesome workout!

Day 3, Week 1
ISO Strength Chisel was on the menu for today! I did this workout at the park with a fellow Coach and accountability partner Steven. I love the fact that you can do these workouts pretty much anywhere if you have the equipment. I'm traveling right now, so I've been working out at gyms and the outdoors. At home, most people use the workout DVD's and Beachbody on Demand Online Streaming, but I've been previewing the workouts the day before, and using the worksheets at the gym. Do what works best for you, and most importantly, make sure that you are doing the exercises correctly.

After the workout, we did a 1.5 mile run.

ISO Strength Chisel at the park!

Post Workout Meal

Day 4, Week 1
Today was REST DAY, so this is when I do more of my longer runs, but I was so sore from the previous workouts, so I opted to do a short 5K. As always, I believe in listening to your body. I have over-trained a few times during my journey, and trust me, it is not worth it. Put your ego aside, and play it safe, you'll get better results that way.

3+ mile trail run today:

Day 5, Week 1
Today's workout was ISO Speed Hammer. It was a very short workout, but man did it really pack a punch! For the ISO exercises, you basically do 10 reps of a particular exercise with on rep being 1 count followed by a 3 count ISO. After the 10 ISO reps, you finish it with 10 regular reps, which is pretty tough after basically doing the previous in SLO-MO.

ISO Speed Hammer - 10 Chin Ups after 10 ISO's 

Day 6, Week 1
Today was a challenge because earlier I filmed and ran 5+ miles at an obstacle course race called the Muddy Brute Challenge. I'll be honest, I was thinking about skipping out on my workout since I was a bit tired after running all day, but I was good, I took a little rest, then went to the gym later in that evening. If you want to check out the video that I created at the Muddy Brute Challenge, click here.

Chisel Endurance - Incline Press Video 

Day 7, Week 1
Total Body Hammer + 10 Minute Hammer Abs

This was a killer workout because I started getting used to the short workouts, and this one was double the amount of time as the other workouts, plus it was tough! On top of that, I had to do abs lol. I was glad to finish the week off strong. It was definitely a challenge, but that's why it's called a challenge right. Looking forward to week 2, feeling strong.

Total Body Hammer + 10 Minute Hammer Abs 

(Video on Side Delt Raises)

So that was a quick run down of my first week. I'm not sure if I can be as organized with the videos every week, but I will definitely do my best. As always, you can see my posts on IG and Facebook as well. If you would like to join me, or get in on my next Hammer and Chisel Online Test Group, feel free to message me here, and I'll get you started. 

Hammer and Chisel reminds me of P90X, but with all new exercises and a whole different structure in how they schedule the workouts. If you like P90X or even CrossFit style workouts, then you'll love Hammer and Chisel, especially if you opt to doing the workouts at the gym using the worksheets. I basically have the worksheets in my iBooks app, and I keep it handy with me along with a timer app. If you are more into bulking and lifting heavy, then I would go with the Body Beast Challenge. 

Looking forward to sharing more of my journey with you, stay awesome!

Related Links:
Hammer and Chisel Challenge, Week 2, Month One

Hammer & Chisel Online Test Groups Forming Now - Contact me!