RichRuff Training Exercise of the Week: Five Minute Rounds

This weeks exercise can be used as tool for your high intensity interval training or as a "finisher" at the end of your workouts. Basically you're going to get as many rounds as possible in a five minute period of the following exercises:

1) 8 Lunges each leg (can be any lunge variation)
2) 8 Push Ups (can be any push up variation)
8) 8 Burpees or 8 Mountain Climbers each leg

And then you're just going to keep repeating, without any rest between sets until your five minute round is up. If used on your conditioning or high intensity interval training day, rest for 2-3 minutes and repeat 2-3 times. If used at the end of your workout as a finisher, I'd suggest only one round because this will really beat you up.

Give it a shot.

RichRuff Training Exercise of the Week: Single Arm Jungle Gym Inverted Row

Another long name for an exercise and another exercise you can do with one of the best pieces of home training equipment around, the Jungle Gym.

Strength Training for Fat Loss

Here's a brief article about setting up your strength workout for optimal fat loss:

Strength Training for Fat Loss

NY Times Article

Here's an interesting article a client passed along to me after seeing it in the New York Times. This is not about creating a sculpted six pack. This is about maintaining a healthy spine.

Is Your Ab Workout Hurting Your Back?

Any one have any thoughts or opinions? I'd be interested to hear.

RichRuff Training Exercise of the Week: Bodyweight Dips

Dr. John Berardi's Weekly Nutrition Tip

Tip #9
Mood Eating
by Dr. John Berardi

Most people eat based on their mood and/or some subjective feelings of hunger. They don't eat based on what their bodies need. Think of it this way: you're about to take a long drive on a stretch of highway with no gas station. Do you fail to stop for gas before you hit the road because you're 'not in the mood?' Of course not. Think of eating in the same way. Eating fuels your metabolic engine. So it's time to start feeling like eating so that you can stop feeling like you're scrawny.

SEE ALSO:
This tip is sponsored by Precision Nutrition - my pick for the best nutrition and supplement resource currently available. Containing system manuals, gourmet cookbook, digital audio/video library, online membership, and more, Precision Nutrition will teach you everything you need to know to get the body you want -- guaranteed

RichRuff Training Exercise of the Week: Barbell Cuban Press

No, this not some type of healthy sandwich. I have no idea why it is called a Cuban Press. Others call it a Muscle Snatch. This is an exercise that could be classified as a "shoulder saver". And it's an exercise that is not going to require a lot of weight to really get those shoulders working.

The first part of the movement is a pull up to about sternum level and then you're going to externally rotate and extend your arms to bring the barbell overhead. The key is to keep the elbows high as your externally rotating. Take a look: