Most of the time, I really enjoy working out by myself. I don’t tend to have many issues with motivation – I’m pretty happy to just get in and get my workout done. I know that’s not necessarily the case for everyone though – overwhelmingly, my clients tell me that they see me because they never really push themselves when training alone.
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to (or can afford) a personal trainer. And that means that if you really want to get fit, sometimes you’ve just got to take the bull by the horns and go it alone.
I find the Tabata training method an excellent one if you’re lacking in the self-motivation department. For anyone unfamiliar with Tabata, basically it’s a form of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), involving 20 seconds of maximum intensity exercise followed by 10 seconds rest, and this cycle is repeated eight times for a total of four minutes. Sometimes I’ll choose two exercises and run a Double Tabata, where you cycle through two exercise eight times each (i.e squat jump followed by push up followed by squat jump etc.) for a total of eight minutes. You can read more about Tabata here.
Because the intervals are short, it’s an easy session to wrap your head around psychologically. I find big, compound movements give you the most bang for your buck, but you can choose your exercises based on your surroundings. Today I’ve designed a workout you can do in your living room – as proven by the pics where I’m doing exactly that!
Tabata Living Room Workout
Tabata 1 – High Knees
2 mins rest
Double Tabata – Squat jumps & push ups with row
3 mins rest
Double Tabata – Chest-to-ground burpee & squat kick
3 mins rest
Double Tabata – Side touches & plank
FINISHED
[sorry the first 2 videos are so dark!]
I highly recommend downloading a Tabata app from the app store; the beeps will tell you when to work and when to rest, which means you can concentrate on the important things, like getting out an extra rep each round!
I hope you enjoy this one, it’s perfect for those rainy days where even the balcony is off limits.
Enjoy, and have a fabulous week!
p.s This one is pretty intense, so just a little reminder (as always) to consult your doctor if you have any concerns and/or before starting a new exercise routine.
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