Here are a couple cool exercises for the next time you’re in a park. Pushups on the swings, put one hand on each of two swings, one foot on the ground. Pushups. If that is too much, try both feet on the ground and use a wide stance.

Number two is an inverted row. Stand between two swings, grab a chain with each hand and lean back and do a chinup or rowing movement.

See you outside.

The results were that I lost 2 lbs. during this time.  I normally eat pretty well anyway so I was mostly cutting desserts and eating more veggie and fruit than usual. The TV probably had more impact than anything. I finished a couple of drawings, wrote some new music and read a great deal. My workouts have been going great. The weather has improved here so I’ve been out for sprints on the track and at the hill. On the last week of a 12 week bench press cycle that has my upper body strength back where I want it. And I continue to work the kettlebells and total body training.

All in all I look at it as successful. I don’t need to lose weight. If you do, I would recommend going off the sugar and processed foods. You will be surprised.

Here we see Karen working legs. First up is one of the great leg exercises you can do. LADIES! This exercise works the quads and glutes in a functional running position. So balance, stabilization and core strength are all challenged during this exercise. When you do a machine leg press, most do not require balance, just a little stabilization and not much core.

This particular lunge is using one of my home-made balance tools, the water pipe. It is partially filled with water and Karen is showing an advanced version of the exercise with the tool held overhead. This requires a great deal of core strength in addition to the great leg benefits it provides.

Stanimal is training clients in Glen Ellyn. If you have fitness or training questions email or leave a comment. Thanks.

Live from Schaumburg and Glen Ellyn, Stanimal demonstrates a figure eight and a wood chopper. These are both safe and effective core training methods. Dig it!

Haley is pregnant. Who would’ve guessed. She is exercising just like always. She feels better when she works out. She and the baby will be healthier because of it. And she will recover faster after the baby is born.

Please no excuses about not working out. They just don’t hold water.

Ouch, bad pun.

Birthday today so I’m thinking about age just a little. This is me tossing the sandbag.Check out this woman Beatriz Maullins. She is bench pressing at 87. See her story here.

Kettlebell training is one of the best methods I have come across for total body training and weight loss. Works great for any fitness level. Above is Greg doing the single snatch, one of the pillars of kettlebell training.

There are many types of swings and presses available. I am especially interested in the single arm movements. The off-center weight of the bell make these movements really good for core development. The cardio demands are great as well so your metabolism will be tuned up. Keep the rest as low as possible.

Call to order.

Let’s start the weekend boot camp. Saturday and Sunday am, inside and outside so bring clothing as needed. Email or call me for details.

High energy workouts with cardio, strength, stability, and agility components included.

See you soon.

One of my clients came up to me all giggly. It seems her husband had been to the chiropractor to seek some relief from his shoulder and upper back pain. She is not sadistic as far as I can tell. But it was humorous because I told her this would happen maybe six months ago. Let’s review.

During a training session with my client, I spy her husband across the gym. He is mid-fifties and in great shape from 35 years of bodybuilding type training. The downside of that is that he has spent waaaay too much time doing chest and shoulder exercises and has poor technique on some of his lifts. He doesn’t stretch much or do the right stretches. I find that guys are not too receptive to suggestions about their workouts, especially from their wives.

I noticed that his shoulders are rounding and he has a forward head and thumbs are starting to turn inward as he walks. Bad posture. So I mention to wife that he could improve this situation with stretching and strengthening of the upper back and rear delts. I suggest that pain and injury is what he can expect in the future if he continues this path.

She tells him and he ignores her advice.

Now he is using a vibrator on his upper back every night and is visiting the chiropractor.

I hope you don’t see yourself in his example, but I see lots more just like him out there. This is why I am advocating training in a different style than before. Total body, function before beach muscles, vary the methods. More to come..