HIIT WORKOUT #3-Tabata Training

Hiii friends! TGIAF. Am I right, or am I right?

So I am going to share something with you all…

I’ve been feeling a little under-motivated lately. Not just in my workouts, but in the day-to-day stuff. I can’t seem to find my groove. I think I am already anticipating the end of summer and it is making me SAD. I know there is a month to go yet, so I shouldn’t think so far ahead… I should live in the moment, yes? But sometimes that becomes a problem for me. I am a planner, a creature of habit, with obsessive compulsive tendencies. Having my month consumed with activities that are not actually on my “To-Do” list stresses me out. Which probably sounds ridiculous to some. Letting go of every little detail and just LIVING, is something I am working on. But I am not going to lie to you, it is tough for me. I feel right now, more than ever, my well-being actually thrives on a schedule. I feel so out-of-sorts lately with work, summertime, studying, blogging. I think it is safe to say, I’m a little STRESSED.

But the good news is, there is one thing I can always count on to de-stress. And that would be my friend called EXERCISE. When I am exercising, I am really not thinking about anything else but the workout itself. My brain switches over and I am counting reps, counting sets, talking to myself to get through the last 10 seconds. For however long my workout is planned, I can pretty much count on the fact that I am entirely consumed in it. And no matter how much I didn’t feel like starting the workout, I always feel better afterwards. It may have something to do with endorphins, the “feel good” hormones that are released during exercise. And that feeling definitely keeps me coming back for more.

So today, I am sharing with you a workout I did after getting back from our camping trip a couple weeks ago. We got home Sunday night and after sitting in the office all day Monday, I certainly was not in the mood to do much of anything. But I also knew I would feel better if I just engaged in some form of exercise for at least 20 minutes. While going through this workout, I didn’t feel as though I was working too hard. In fact, my goal for that day was actually to ease into my workout schedule again. But then the next couple days hit and man did I feel it! I guess that’s what happens when you take a week off.

The workout? An HIIT tabata workout. Tabatas are rounds of exercises performed at a high intensity for 20 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of rest. So yes, it is a form of HIIT, which I touched base on briefly here. TECHNICALLY speaking, a true tabata is one exercise performed for 8 rounds. But for this workout I split up the tabatas into groups of 2 exercises for each set. (A little trick I learned from the Summer Sweat Series from Lee @ Fit Foodie Finds & Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen) 😉 For me, I’ve found it helps me approach the tabata with a can-do attitude. A set of 8 rounds can sound kind of intimidating, if you ask me. But 4 rounds of 2 exercises back-to-back? That is do-able, RIGHT?! It’s funny how the brain works. 😉

This is a QUICK and EFFECTIVE fat-burning workout that will have you sweating in under 30 minutes! This workout includes 5 sets of different back-to-back exercises, incorporating upper and lower body movements. I’ve included the links for the exercises at the bottom of the post. So be sure you’re using the correct form, but move through the movements as quickly and safely as possible! Add or take away weights to certain movements if you’re not quite comfortable with them yet.

AND HAVE FUN! I actually really enjoyed this workout and it took me less than 30 minutes!

YOUR TURN >>

Do you struggle with getting OUT of a routine?

How do you handle increasing stress levels?

I’d love to hear from you! 🙂

SET 1: Dumbbell Push Press & Mountain Climber

SET 2: Dumbbell Cleans & Squats *add weight for more advanced levels

SET 3: Dumbbell Reverse Lunges & Standing Overhead Tricep Extension

SET 4:  Kettlebell Swings & Dumbbell Curl to Arnold Press

SET 5: Goblet Squats & Stability Ball Leg Curls