Saturday, May 17, 2008

Weightless Weight Loss

If you want to do the Men's health belly off program, here is the ultimate challenge from the 8 week program.

For example, when it calls for 50 pushups, you could do 25 pushups, rest, then another 15 pushups, rest, and then finish with 10 more pushups. Then you'd move to the 25 jumps.

Let's take a look at each exercise and the form for all movements.

First up, you start with 50 Prisoner Squats. In this exercise, place your hands behind your head, squeeze your shoulder blades together, keep your chest up, and do regular bodyweight squats. To squat, push your hips back first, then bend your knees and squat until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Squeeze your glutes, and push yourself back up to the start position.

The second exercise is the classic pushup for 50 reps. Place your hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart on the floor, squeeze your abs and keep your body in a straight line from head to feet. Lower your chest to the ground, keeping your body in a straight line, and then press up to the start position.

Twenty-five jumps are next. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart, quickly drop your hips and then jump up. Land softly and bend your knees to absorb the impact, then explode up into another jump as quickly as possible. Repeat for all 25 jumps.

Next, move to Stability Ball Leg Curls for 25 repetitions. Lie on your back and place your feet on top of a ball. Squeeze your butt and bridge your hips up so your body is in a straight line from heels to shoulders. Bend your knees, contract your hamstrings, and curl the ball toward your butt while keep your butt up in the air. Return to the start position and do that 24 more times.

Keep the ball handy, and get ready for 50 Stability Ball Jackknifes. Place your elbows on a bench and the laces of your shoes on the ball. Your body will be suspended in a straight line between the ball and the bench. Squeeze your abs and keep your body in a straight line as you tuck your knees into your chest by bringing the ball forward.

Use the bench for the next exercise as well, where you'll do 50 step-ups (25 for each leg). Place one foot on the bench, and use that leg to pull you up to the standing position. Step back down, return the foot to the floor, and then repeat. Do all reps for one side and then switch.

Time for some upper body exercises. This time, you'll do 25 pullups. Grab the bar with an overhand grip and hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Pull your chest up to the bar with each rep. This is one exercise where almost everyone will have to split up the 25 reps into smaller chunks. Do whatever you can, but there's no doubt your workout will slow down here.

Then move into forward lunges for 50 reps, doing 25 for each side. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and step forward (with a slightly exaggerated step), place your foot on the ground, bend the knee and drop your hips straight down. Push through the lead leg to return to the start position. Do all reps for one side and then switch.

Next up is 50 Close-grip Pushups. These are the same as regular pushups, but with your hands placed only shoulder-width apart, no wider. Keep your elbows tucked into your sides to emphasize your triceps.

Move back to the bar to do 50 Inverted Rows. Set the bar at hip height in a squat rack or smith machine, lie on the ground underneath it, and grab the bar 3 inches wider than shoulder-width apart. Keep your body in a straight line and row your chest to the bar while supporting your weight on your heels. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement.

Now its back to 50 bodyweight squats, regular style, with your hands in front of you or at your sides.

Then finish off with 25 chinups. Grab the bar with a shoulder-width, underhand grip and pull your chest up to the bar. After 24 more reps, you are done.

Congratulations, you've completed the Bodyweight 500 workout!

Visit Turbulence Training for more fat burning bodyweight exercises.

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