Zero-Boredom Cardio and Strength Workout

I haven’t done a workout post lately, mostly because I’ve been sticking to my fitness schedule:

• Zumba class twice a week
• Gym twice a week
• Running (or, if my knee doesn’t like running, a hike) once a week
• At-home circuit workout once a week
• Rest once a week

The at-home circuits and gym workouts I’ve been doing have either been ones I’ve posted before or ones I’ve got from other bloggers, so there has been nothing new to post.

I did have a great time doing the Grouse Grind the weekend before last.

For those of you not from Vancouver, it’s a killer hike – 2.9km that is basically one giant staircase. If you’re fit, you get it done in an hour, and it’s intense. This is the view down from about 1/3 of the way up:

And there was still snow at the top, so this is what you see as you get towards the final stretch:

Don’t mind my sweaty hair. I was nearly done!

But once you reach the top, this is your view:

Probably this time up was my slowest, because I was silly and didn’t eat a big enough breakfast. I could just feel my energy run out halfway up, but I plugged away! It’s worth it for the sense of achievement you get when you hit the top.

However, last week the weather turned sour again here – seriously Vancouver, this is May/June weather??

Anyway, that put a temporary nix on my outdoor plans, and I was pretty tired of my indoor routines, so I forced myself to get creative. I really had to focus on busting some boredom, as this would mean 3-4 in-the-gym workouts for the week, which wasn’t making me happy!

The answer? I decided to do some strength moves and cardio combined, but to mix them up so much that boredom was never an option. Here ya go!

Zero-Boredom Cardio and Strength Workout

*Tip: If you don’t want to time the cardio, or you’re doing this outdoors, just do the cardio for one song’s length, rather than 3 minutes.

Equipment used: I used the elliptical for this routine, but use the treadmill, bike, run outdoors, jump rope, whatever! Use the elliptical resistance levels as a guideline for when to increase or decrease your intensity.

• Warm-up cardio: 5 minutes at level 1
• Strength #1: 20 push-ups
• Cardio: 3 minutes at level 4
• Strength #2: 20 squats
• Cardio: 3 minutes at level 6
• Strength #3: 20 crunches (or if you have access to a stability ball, 20 knee tucks)
• Cardio: 3 minutes at level 8
• Strength #4: 20 tricep dips
• Cardio: 3 minutes at level 10
• Strength #5: 1-2-3 leg routine (#1: lying on side, do leg swings forward and back; #2: clamshells; #3: leg lifts) – 10 of each exercise on each leg (30 total each side)
• Cardio: 3 minutes at level 8
• Strength #6: 20 Russian twists (holding a dumbbell to make things harder)
• Cardio: 3 minutes at level 6
• Strength #7: 20 reps shoulder press with dumbbells
• Cardio: 3 minutes at level 4
• Strength #8: 30-second plank (1 minute if you’re feeling good)
• Cool-down cardio: 4 minutes at level 1

Voila! 30 minutes of cardio and a great strength routine done before you know it!

QUESTIONS:

• Any boredom-busting gym workouts you want to share? I’m always looking for more!