How to Make ANy Exercise More Difficult

 

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HOW TO MAKE ANY EXERCISE MORE DIFFICULT. There are many ways to make any exercise more challenging without adding more weight or doing more reps. Today I offer one such technique. It involves manipulating the tempo (speed). In other words, purposely moving faster and/or slower. It could also involve some deliberate pauses, often called isometrics. This can be a very useful tool. There may come a time when you want more from an exercise or a piece of equipment. If so, try some new options before adding weight or reps. With that said, it’s important to note that there is no magical rep range for the average person. That means that there might not be a huge difference if do 5 reps, 8 reps, 12reps, 15reps, 50reps, 100reps, etc of certain exercises. The magic is found in the effort. 100 reps done sh*tty is of little value. 3 reps done with smooth form and a ton of intensity may in fact be worth more. It’s always about the quality not the quantity. Find creative ways to get more out of any exercise by demanding more from your own body. Do more with less. The power is within. #tempotraining #trainingvariables #isometricexercise #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Nov 11, 2019 at 6:01am PST

Minimalistic Dumbbell Workout

 

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MINIMALISTIC DUMBBELL WORKOUT. This works the entire body using only 1 dumbbell and 2 exercises. It’s simple and effective. The key is to challenge yourself while making sure your form on each movement is smooth and correct. I promise you…long workouts are not needed. Most adults are busy. The number one excuse for not exercising is a lack of time. There is no excuse why you can’t do this (or something very similar if modified for an injury or limitation). Make it all matter. Aim for 5-12 reps on both exercises, done for 2-5 rounds, 1-3 times each week. Don’t be scared to challenge yourself. #minimalisticworkout #1dumbbellworkout #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #austinfitness #austintexas #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Oct 21, 2019 at 8:33am PDT

Fitness Equipment Minimalism

 

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STRENGTH TRAINING WORKOUTS NEED NOT BE LONG OR REQUIRE MUCH EQUIPMENT. Whether you exercise at home, at work or on-the-go, short workouts with minimal equipment are your best friend. No more excuses. In the next few weeks i plan to demonstrate a few simple routines. It’s important to note that equipment is not actually necessary for resistance training. It is 💯 % possible to work the entire body using only your body weight, for FREE. With that said, equipment can be very useful and help make things more interesting. My top 3 equipment recommendations are: 1) Resistance Bands 2) a single Kettlebell 3) a single Dumbbell. Resistance Bands are typically inexpensive and kettlebells or dumbbells can often be found used (and you really only need ONE of either). Last week I talked about the essential exercises for a short total body workout. Next week I will demonstrate an example. #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #resistancetraining #strengthtrainingathome #dumbbellworkout #kettlebellworkout #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Oct 15, 2019 at 7:28am PDT

Fat Loss Tips 2019

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Fat loss. Don’t over think it. I know that’s easier said than done. I also know that there’s a lot of information out there on the subject, some good, some bad, some misleading. Keep it as simple as possible. Understand, you must eventually learn to eat healthier foods in amounts (portions) that are also healthy. As Americans, we don’t do this well. We over-eat and over-drink much of the time. What’s worse is most of our food is highly processed with added sugar and salt. It might as well be poison. Add to that all the sitting we do. Add to that overworking and undersleeping. Add to that caffeine addiction. Add to that the stress of modern living. Add to that chronic dehydration. Add to that little or no exercise. It’s no wonder there are such serious health problems with obesity constantly on the rise. Its so bad now that children are being affected as early as grade school. The medical, insurance and pharmaceutical companies profit from it. Its unlikely that things will improve anytime soon. It’s up to each of us to take ownership over the things we can control, which is actually quite a lot. Above is just a quick list that I jotted down earlier to give examples of a few healthy habits that I believe work. What are you waiting for? Death & disease? Please don’t. Take back your health. #nutrition #healthylifestyle #bssbbooks #personaltrainer #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Jun 26, 2019 at 10:55am PDT

Students February 2019

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February 2019. Simple stuff repeated consistently adds up over time. Remember this when under (or over) confident about a goal. Most likely, there will be a lot of work involved. The key is to break down all the necessary components into bite-sized pieces and then consistently do those small things EVERY DAY until the job is done. None of us are perfect… it’s ok. Sh*t will happen sometimes. But with that said, I believe the current culture of entitlement that tricks some into believing they frequently “deserve” time off from any (or all) responsibilities is the easiest way I know to self-sabotage your entire life away. #bssbbooks #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Feb 27, 2019 at 10:26am PST

A sample of my own Workouts…

 

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I’ve had a few people ask about my own personal workouts lately. So today I filmed exactly what I did WHILE I was in the middle of it. I’m only showing this to illustrate an example of an effective, yet simple workout for an intermediate/advanced trainee. This entire workout took 30minutes and was completed during an hour break I had this morning, which gave me enough time to exercise+shower+eat. It’s nothing too fancy. I am only showing ONE rep examples of each exercise. Yes, I did more reps and sets. Yes, I did rest between most sets. I normally do only 2-3 sets for any exercise. I typically do 5-10 reps on most of my exercises, which is exactly what I did today. Some days I do more, some days I do less. I rest between sets long enough to feel like I’m in control before starting the next set or exercise (and not the other way around). Being too out of breath or to hurried begs for mistakes and injuries. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Today I supersetted Kettlebell Swings with Goblet Squats and Single Leg Deadlifts + Pull-ups w 1-arm holds and Upside Down Rows. On the next (last) round, I supersetted Dips + Handstand 1-arm Stability Holds. Yes, I even had some Cajun music 🎶 on for company. Do things YOU enjoy and understand. Have a reason for everything you do or don’t do. Don’t just do stuff because it’s popular or someone else is doing it. Nothing you to needs to be complicated. In fact, purposely keep things simple. Don’t do things you absolutely hate or dread either. Because how long do you think you’ll keep that up?! With that said, don’t skip the things you NEED to do to be better. Most importantly, whatever you do, just make sure it’s repeatable. #bssbbooks #blueskystrongbox #carltonsmixtapegumbo #carltonmusicatx

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Feb 11, 2019 at 7:52am PST

Strength Training in Space

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The negative effects on the body while in space can be dramatic. The lack of gravity can leave muscles & bones under-stimulated, resulting in a serious decrease in strength and bone density (think… NOT being able to walk.) Nowadays, everyone spending time at the Space Station is required to do exercise, especially Strength Training and Aerobic Training. While they have the option to do a variety of different exercises using a custom resistance setup, the DEADLIFT is an important exercise because it strengthens many of the body’s muscles involved with maintaining upright Posture. Even with the aid of gravity here on Earth, many humans do not get enough weight-bearing activity to maintain optimal levels of Muscular Strength and Bone Density. These are just a few reasons why Resistance Training is so important. In the late 18oo’s/early 19oo’s, the Deadlift exercise was actually called the HEALTH-LIFT because of it’s many known health benefits. Everyone needs to Strength Train. The Deadlift can be a great choice for many. There are many different ways to do a Deadlift that can be safe and effective for most any human, regardless of age, gender, health status, fitness level or experience. #bssbbooks #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Jan 31, 2019 at 9:03am PST

Plan your exercise each week using a Schedule!

 

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This week, plan for success. Action speaks louder than words. I’ve already told you that Strength Training and Walking are the two most important physical activities. Look at your schedule. Figure out what days, what times you will do these 2 things. Think about all the ins & outs. Don’t keep putting things off. You can do this! Plan for success. Keep it super simple. Surely, you have at least 10 minutes each day (Monday-Sunday) to either Walk or do a short Full-Body Strength Training workout. Put it all down on the schedule…now! #bssbbooks #blueskystrongbox #fullbodyworkout #strengthtraining #strengthandconditioning #walking #healthylifestyle #noexcuses

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Jan 21, 2019 at 7:09am PST

Try Hanging to get the body stretched out…

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Today, try hanging (safely) from something sturdy and stable. Count how long you can hold. It’s absolutely ok if you can’t manage this just yet. Be patient. In time, you may find it possible. See if you can find and practice an easier version till you get stronger. Also, keep in mind that any extra weight will make this more difficult. For those that can already do a pull-up, great, you might try adding in “breathing” pauses at the top (or bottom) to change things up. The point of all this is to get some regular hang-time in each week, if not daily. The body needs to expand. This is an easy way to accomplish this. Hanging lengthens the spine and gets our arms overhead, something most of us don’t do often enough. It may sound crazy but most folks find this strangely addictive once the habit is formed. My body has actually learned to crave stretching in this manner. It’s also worth noting that the “big fitness 3” (Flexibility, Strength & Stamina) can all be improved if appropriate variations are applied. Practice. Enjoy. #bssbbooks #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Dec 10, 2018 at 7:57am PST

Total-Body Exercises are typically​ better than Isolation Exercises…

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The most popular excuse for not exercising is lack of time. With that said, when the majority of people do actually exercise, they often waste time doing things that aren’t necessary. Ask me how i know. I do understand that it’s all a bit confusing at times thus very difficult to know the difference between what’s gold and what might be a turd. My #1 recommendation for making the best use of your time while exercising is to always use FULL-BODY EXERCISES (aka TOTAL-BODY EXERCISES. Google them. There are many. (P.S. find the Instagram video I posted to my Blue Sky Strongbox page on March 20, 2018. There you will find a few of my favorite total-body exercises). Write me anytime with questions or if you need recommendations. #bssbbooks #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Oct 1, 2018 at 8:54am PDT