Workout: Mueller Lake Park Circuit 5

Equipment Used: An adjustable resistance band or a few bands w/ varying resistance A pull-up bar, free-standing pole, or something similar Optional:Timer

Circuit #5

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warmup Bicep Curls Tricep Extensions Chest Flys Overhead Press Lateral Raise Standing Back Rows Rear Delt Flys Good Mornings Squats Static Lunge Reverse Ab Crunch Oblique Twist Kneeling Crunch

Circuit #5 - Resistance Bands

We are always looking to challenge ourselves with new styles of working out. A couple of us have been doing strict body weight, "street-style" workouts and gradually incorporated resistance band work into that. I initially always thought that resistance band work was for all the older seniors at the gym but was surprised at how well it works. They key is to ensure you have access to a set of bands that are of varying resistance and possibly different lengths. The bands are also convenient for our workouts because they are easier to carry around than dumbbells. The bands promote use of many stabilization muscles. Resistance is constant throughout the exercise which challenges you more than a traditional dumbbell workout. The way to get the most out of reps is to focus on form and maintaining a smooth line of movement. Also be sure to squeeze the target muscle group and focus on flexing it during the movement. Be wary of certain exercises. If you are not mindful of your setup, you may find a band snapping back at your face! Always double check your mount points. This circuit can be done in a living room, garage, pretty much anywhere that has a stable place to loop the band around. Even if you are lacking a good mount point, many of the exercises have multiple variations that can be done w/out a mount. The circuit covers most major muscle groups, targeting each one w/ 2-3 exercises. We are using a timer to keep track of sets or doing certain exercises to failure. There are more exercises in this circuit than usual but you can super set several of them together if you want to shorten the time taken to complete it. The bands are fast to setup and easy to transition between so time shouldn't be an issue.

1 - Bicep Curls  Video Example Stand on the band w/ your feet shoulder width apart. Have your hands down at your sides. The band should start tension as soon as you begin to raise your hands (adjust band accordingly). With your palms facing up/out, begin to curl. Optional: You can perform hammer curls by keeping your palms facing in. Optional: You can flip your palms down and work your forearms during this too. Optional: This can be done seated as well. Adjust band length and use foot to keep band stable.

2 - Tricep Extensions  Video Example Stand with one leg slightly back from your body. Have your band under the back foot. Grab the band handles behind your head and your arms at ninety degrees. Extend your arms upward to complete extensions. Optional: If you have an overhead mount point (i.e. pull-up bar), you can wrap the band around that, lean forward w/ and perform extensions.

3 - Chest Flys  Video Example Loop band around a pole (or other mounting point, i.e. doorknob). Face away from the pole. Extend your arms out horizontally and step away from the mount point a few paces until the band is taut. Have your palms facing out and away from you. Keep your arms extended and rotate your arms in front of you. Flex your chest as you complete reps. Optional: You can bend your arms ninety degrees, while still keeping them horizontal (i.e. push-up position). Push forward and flex your chest to perform reps.

4 - Overhead Press  Video Example Stand on the band w/ your feet shoulder width apart. Have your arms at ninety degrees w/ your hands up by your head. The band should start tension as soon as you begin to raise your arms (adjust band accordingly). Press your arms into the air above your head. Optional: You can alternately kneel on the band.

5 - Lateral Raise  Video Example Stand on the band w/ your feet shoulder width apart. Have your hands down at your sides. The band should start tension as soon as you begin to raise your hands (adjust band accordingly). With your palms facing down, raise your arms to the horizontal position. Optional: You can alternately kneel on the band. Optional: You can perform this exercise one arm at a time or simultaneously. Optional: You can raise your arms at your sides or straight in front of you.

6 - Standing Back Rows  Video Example Loop band around a pole (or other mounting point, i.e. doorknob). Face the pole. Step away from the mount point a few paces until the band is taut. Start with your arm slightly outstretched. Have your palms facing in and pull your arms back until your elbows are behind you. Keep your elbows close to your sides and bend your arms at ninety degrees. Optional: You can alternately perform this seated. Loop the band around your feet w/ your legs stretched out. Optional: An alternate grip is to have your arms out horizontally and bent at ninety degrees. Palms down.

7 - Rear Delt Flys  Video Example Loop band around a pole (or other mounting point, i.e. doorknob). Face the pole. Step away from the mount point a few paces until the band is almost taut. Start with your arm outstretched horizontally in front of you. Have your palms facing in. Rotate your arms toward your back, squeezing while performing reps. Optional: You can wrap the band around the pole a few times if you need more resistance. Optional: Instead of looping the band around a pole, you can simply grab the band with two hands and perform reps.

8 - Good Mornings  Video Example Loop band around your neck and place both your feet into each handle. The band should be taut when you stand up straight. Your feet should be shoulder width apart. Bend at the waist, keeping your back straight, bowing toward the ground. Keep your chin up, bend slightly at the knees and push your butt out as you bend. Straighten back to a vertical position to complete the rep.

9 - Squats  Video Example Stand on the band w/ your feet shoulder width apart. Have your arms at ninety degrees w/ your hands up by your head. The band should be taut. While maintaining your hands by your head, squat down by bending at the knee and sticking your butt out and down.

10 - Static Lunge  Video Example Loop band around your neck and place one foot into both handles. The band should be taut when you stand up straight. Place the foot that is in the handles a full step forward. Your other leg should be a step backward. Bend the knee on the back leg toward the ground. Your front leg will slightly bend at the knee as well. Keep the majority of your weight on your front leg. Be sure to switch feet after one leg is finished doing reps.

11 - Reverse Ab Crunch  Video Example Loop band around your neck and place one foot into each handle. Lean back slightly and hold the sides of the flat bench. Place your legs together and extend them out in front of the end of the bench. Perform reps by bending your knees and pulling them in toward your chest while leaning forward. Release by leaning back into starting position and extending your legs back out. Optional: Loop band around the pole, facing pole and place your feet into the handles. Perform same motion but scoot back far enough so the band is taut. ***Note: Video Example not exactly as described above.

12 - Oblique Twist  Video Example Loop band around a pole (or other mounting point, i.e. doorknob). Loop one handle through the other one and tighten it. Only one handle should be usable. Step away from the mount point until the band is taut. Stand w/ your feet shoulder width apart, parallel to the pole w/ your arms chest height and outstretched. While keeping your arms locked out straight, twist at the waist so your torso faces away from the pole.

13 - Kneeling Crunch  Video Example If you have an overhead mount point (i.e. pull-up bar), loop the band around that. Get on your knees facing the mount. Grasping both handles, place your hands together beside your head w/ your arms bent at ninety degrees. You should be leaning forward slightly. The band should be taut, move away from the mount point if it is not. Keep your hips stationary and bend your waist so that your bent elbows travel toward your knees. Optional: An alternate grip is to place your hands behind your head. ***Note: Do not move your arms during this movement. They should remain fixed in place.

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!

Workout: Street Workout 1

Equipment Used: Pair of gardening gloves Park Area w/ Pull-Ups bars, Monkey bars, various other bars Optional: Set of tow chains or weighted vest Highly recommended:Water source / Shade

Tip: This workout is outside, designed for a park with some space & some basic equipment. Scout out parks near you. *** Locations of parks that we frequent that have bar equipment is at the bottom of the page.

Street Workout #1

SUMMARY ***Stretch/Warmup Pull-Ups/Chin-Ups Muscle-Ups L-Sits Toe-To-Bar Windshield Wipers Human Flag Planche Dips Monkey Bar Suicides Back Lever Front Lever Handstand Push-Up

Street Workout #1

This workout is designed to try and build functional upper body strength while learning the basic skills necessary to perform advanced calisthenic movements. Many of these exercises take more than just raw strength and instead require a high degree of technique. Once the technique is perfected any additional strength will help progress you into advanced versions of each exercise. The key here is to slowly master the "progression". A progression is a series of exercises designed to prepare you for an advanced, and usually very difficult, exercise. This is very different and separate from the usual circuits we post and may not be for everybody. It is a fun alternative to hitting the gym and/or track daily. Some of these techniques are used heavily in crossfit/parkour workouts too. Give these a try to diversify your workouts. I guarantee that once you see improvement or master a few basic skills, you will be hooked and want to perfect more. Good luck!

PROGRESSIONS Pull-Ups/Chin-Ups Modified Horizontal Rows (knees bent) Horizontal Rows Flexed Arm Hang Slow Release Chin-Up Chin-Ups Assisted Pull-Ups Muscle-Ups Chest-To-Bar Pull-Ups Jump into Muscle-Up Kip Practice (large swing) L-Sits Parallel Bar Push-Ups (hands near hips) Bent Knee Holds (attempt to push hips fwd) Side-To-Sides Scoots (fwd and back) Toe-To-Bar Bent Knee Raises Hanging Leg Raises Knees to Elbow Windshield Wipers Hold Pike (toes pointing up, above bar) Hanging Leg Raises (half and full) Hanging Side Curl (bent knee) Hanging L-Twist Modified Wipers (bent knees) Human Flag Form Hold, slighty off ground Form Hold, knee bent parallel to ground Form Hold, straight leg vertical Form Hold, straight leg vertical w/ negative lower Planche Master L-Sit progression L-Sit w/ tucked knees Rock back into Crow Crow kicks (single and dual) Tucked Planche Hold Tucked Planche Push-Ups Elevated Planche Push-Ups (feet) Dips Bench dips Elevated bench dips (one or both feet) Parallel bar dips w/ feet on bar Negative dips (jump up, lower slow) Negative holds (lower slow then hold) Monkey Bar Suicides Master Pull-Up progression Perform reps until failure Back Lever Skin the cat (bent knee) Skin the cat (piked) Lever w/ Knees tucked Lever w/ legs wide Front Lever Hanging Lifts (knee, knee to chest, straight leg) Toe-To-Bar progression w/ no kip/swing Torso Raises Torso Raises (bent knee, legs straight) Lever lifts Handstand Push-Up Master Regular Push-Ups Pike Push-Ups Pike Push-Ups w/ elevated feet Handstands against wall

Examples

1 - Pull-Up/Chin-Up: Video Example 2 - Muscle-Up Tutorial: Video Example 3 - L-Sit: Video Example 4 - Toe-To-Bar: Video Example 5 - Windshield Wipers: Video Example 6 - Human Flag: Video Example 7 - Planche: Video Example 8 - Dips: Video Example 9 - Monkey Bar Suicides: Video Example 10 - Back Lever: Video Example 11 - Front Lever: Video Example 12 - Handstand Push-Up Progression: Video Example

Hydrate, Rest and Recover. Good luck!!!

Local Austin Parks

Brentwood Park 6710 Arroyo Seco Austin, TX 78757 This park has two separate areas of bars. One area has pull-up bars of 6 varying heights. The other area has dip bars, monkey bars and a push-up area. No trails but a large grassy field and basketball court.

ACC Northridge Campus 11928 Stonehollow Dr Austin, TX 78758 One large area in front of the school with all the equipment you need. No trails.

Mueller Lake Park 4550 Mueller Blvd Austin, TX, 78723 This park only has two medium height pull-up bars and equipment for sit-ups. Several miles of trails.

Riata Park 12401 Riata Trace Austin, TX 78727 A couple high pull-up bars and gradually rising parallel bars. Approx one mile trail.

Music: Power Songs October 1st

Some song suggestions to hype up your workouts, Enjoy!!!
1 - I Don't Even Like You - Eva Simons
2 - Die Young - Ke$ha
3 - Around My Way - Lupe Fiasco
4 - Watch You ft Pitbull and The Disco Fries - Clinton Sparks
5 - Louis XIII ft King T and Tha Alkaholiks - Xzibit

Nutrition: Black Bean Pancakes

Recipe 1-2 scoop of vanilla/chocolate protein powder * 1/3 cup of drained, unsalted black beans ** 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder 1 tablespoon of dark cocoa powder 1 egg white 1/3 cup of Unsweetened Almond Milk ***

Substitution Items * I suggest sticking with vanilla/chocolate protein because flavors like "Tropical Punch" taste weird in a pancake. ** If you don't like beans, replace with Whole Wheat Flour *** You can use soy/dairy milk if you wish

Directions Add 1-2 scoops of Vanilla or Chocolate Protein Powder to a mixing bowl. *** I use Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey - Extreme Milk Chocolate flavor. Add 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder Add a tablespoon of dark cocoa powder Add 1/3 cup of drained, unsalted black beans Add 1 egg white Add a 1/3 cup of Unsweetened Almond Milk ***Optional: Unsweetened coconut flakes ***Optional: A couple pinches of Stevia ***Optional: Ground psyllium powder for extra fiber Blend all ingredients well Heat a pan coated in olive oil or non-stick spray Cook pancakes using your normal method Makes about 3 large, thin pancakes Enjoy.

Review Black beans are high in fiber, protein, vitamin B6 and antioxidants. When eaten with brown rice, its a complete protein and extremely useful for vegetarians. The pancakes hold together well and taste like normal flour pancakes. If you like your pancakes sweet be sure to add Stevia. You can also alternately play with your black bean to flour ratio.

Buffalo Burger

What You Will Need:

Ground Bison Meat
Muenster Cheese, diced
Hamburger Buns
Tomato Slices
***Lettuce Leaf
Red Onion
Avocado, sliced
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Pickles, optional

I've never eaten bison meat before, it was actually pretty good

*I don't have a grill so I cooked this on the stove top. They would have been better on the grill 
**I used too much chesse with mine, next time I will use less
***I didn't have a lettuce leaf on hand so I used a handfull of salad I had

Make It:

In a large bowl, mix together the buffalo and cheese until well combined. Shape the mixture into a patty a little larger than the bun. Season with salt and pepper

Place the burger on the grill or pan until desired doneness, during that last few mintues of cooking, toast the buns.

Put burger together by stacking all of your ingredients

Pack of ground bison

Muenster cheese

Mix together in a large bowl

Patties formed. I used way too much cheese for my burgers

Buffalo Burger ready to be Enjoyed!!!

Feel free to play around with the ingredients and make it your own

Submitted By Miles

New Balance Minimus Ionix Shoe Review

This shoe was given to me by a #CheFit Team Member for my birthday.

I use this shoe more for the Team Circuits that we do on Sunday’s(#CheFit Circuit). The shoes are extremely light and the upper is made of mesh, so the shoes breath well. These shoes come with a caution tag that says to be careful using the shoe. This had me a little worried about what I was going to get myself into. If I run with these shoes I only do speed work and keep the distance short. The longest that I’ve gone with these shoes is a 5k, since I’m a heavier runner I wouldn’t dare to take them out any longer than that. As for using them for the circuits I couldn’t be happier. They are ultra light and stable enough that I’m able to do each exercises comfortably. I would recommend these shoes for someone who has used minimal shoes before and if you haven’t, only use them for short runs. If you do decide to get these I would take it slow at first to let yourself get comfortable to being in these shoes.

The shoes are on average for the price $100

I log on average 25+ miles a week and I've put about 45 miles in these shoes.


Submitted By Miles

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12 Shoe Review

This shoe was recommended to me by a CheFit Team Member.

I did have the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11, but I liked a shoe with more cushioning so I more to the Saucony Hurricane 14(Saucony Hurricane). I ended up going through 2 pairs of the Saucony. My teammate purchased the Brooks GTS 11 and liked them so much he got the GTS 12. He told me to look into getting them so I did. I like the shoes better than the GTS 11’s. What I like about the shoe is that they are light enough to do some tempo work and have enough cushion for the long run, I'm a heavy runner so I need a shoe with stability and cushioning. I used them to run a 27 miler this past weekend and they felt good, no blisters and no foot pain. Once these shoes are broken in they feel great, they can feel a little stiff at first. I chose this color shoe because they were on sale. I usually like to get simple colors if possible. These shoes would be best for the everyday run.

The shoes are on average for the price $110.

I log on average 25+ miles a week and I've put about 125 miles in these shoes, they have held up nicely.


Submitted By Miles