Tabata Strength Combo Workout

Hi friends! Howโ€™s the morning treating ya? Yesterday ended up being a great day. I got the girls to school on time – itโ€™s always a bit of a rat race – took care of work stuff, and headed to a little event at the Pilotโ€™s work. They had street tacos for dinner and they were surprisingly awesome. (I hadnโ€™t found a taco here I love, but the search has ended. High fives all around.) P is officially a ballet drop-out (she doesnโ€™t want to go anymore, so Iโ€™m not going to force her), and itโ€™s been nice having that free Monday afternoon block. It starts the week off on a more relaxing note!

After the little get-together at the Pilotโ€™s work, we came home and watched The Bachelor (omggggg) and I put together this little workout for youuuu. Itโ€™s like a little gift! Not the type that you can put in a box, but if you use it correctly, youโ€™ll get lots of new sore muscles. ๐Ÿ˜‰

strength and tabata workout

This one combines two of my workout faves: strengths and Tabata training! If youโ€™re new to Tabata intervals, youโ€™re in for a treat. Hereโ€™s a full post with all of the details!

Some things to keep in mind for Tabata intervals:

-The intervals are supposed to be HARD. When Tabata did the original study, he wanted the participantโ€™s heart rates to increase quickly and to a high level. Obviously, you should scale it according to how youโ€™re feeling and your own personal workout level, but keep in mind that itโ€™s supposed to feel challenging. I see a lot of โ€œTabataโ€ workouts floating around the Pinterest machine that are not true Tabatas. Biceps curls or weighted lunges for 20 seconds wonโ€™t get your heart rate up quickly. You want to choose challenging and often powerful movements, like sprints or plyometrics.

-Another critical component of Tabata training is the timing: 20 seconds off, 10 seconds of rest, 8 rounds = 4 minutes total. I wouldnโ€™t do more than 4 total Tabata sets within 1 day. (If youโ€™re doing it correctly, you wonโ€™t want to! Youโ€™ll be like, โ€œMAKE IT END.โ€)

-For this workout, youโ€™ll complete a strength circuit and then move into the Tabata interval (4 minutes). Rest for 1 minute before completing the circuit again. You can do the entire workout up to 3 times total. As always, check with a doctor before making any fitness changes and honor your body.

Hereโ€™s what the workout looks like:

A strength and cardio workout combining dumbbell exercises and sweaty Tabata intervals. fitnessista.com #tabata #strengthworkout #tabataworkout #tabataandstrength #totalbodyworkout

Form cues and tips:

Lunge upright row – Holding a pair of dumbbells, take a big step back to come into a lunge position. Watch your alignment and make sure your front knee is stacked over your front ankle, and your chest is lifted with a tight core. Step back to starting position, then complete an upright row, making sure your shoulders are the FIRST things to come up and the weights stop at mid-chest. That’s one rep. You can balance on one leg as you do your upright row and shoulder raise for an extra challenge. To make it more intense, lift heavier weights. If the compound exercise is too much, break it into pieces. 

Plie squat overhead press – Stand with a super wide stance, toes turned out, holding a pair of dumbbells. Keep your chest lifted and your weight in your heels as you sink down and endeavor to get your thighs parallel to the floor. Make sure your knees extend towards your toes, but not past them. As your rise, press the dumbbells overhead, then lower back down and repeat. 

Lunge curl – Holding a pair of dumbbells, take a big step back to come into a lunge position. Watch your alignment and make sure your front knee is stacked over your front ankle, and your chest is lifted with a tight core. Step back to starting position, then complete a biceps curl (squeeze your biceps and exhale as you curl). Thatโ€™s one rep. To make it more intense, lift heavier weights. If the compound exercise is too much, break it into pieces.  deadlift wide row – Hold a pair of dumbbells and tilt forward, bringing the weights just below the knees. Lift up from your elbows, bring them high and wide, engaging into your rear delts. Stop the elbows at shoulder height before carefully lowering back down. Exhale and rise with a flat back.

Alt arnold press – Hold a pair of dumbbells at your shoulders, palms facing in. Press one dumbbell overhead as your rotate your palm out, then return to start. Repeat on the other side.

Triceps dips – Place your hands behind you on a chair or bench, fingertips facing towards you, legs straight out in front of you, hips off the ground (you could also do this with your hands on the floor). Keep your elbows in and bend them straight back, then squeeze your triceps to return to start. Keep your chest lifted and shoulders down. Make it more challenging by placing a weight across your hips.  pushups – Start on your knees or toes, with hands wide and knuckles pressing into the floor. Keep your hips down and core engaged as you perform your pushup, exhaling on the way up.

x abs

X-abs – Lie on your back with your arms and legs out in an “X” shape and off the ground. Lift one arms and the opposite leg up, reaching towards your toes, lower back down and repeat on the other side. 

Plank run – Come into a plank position with hands stacked under your shoulders, neck long, and spine neutral. Keep your plank position as you bend one knee towards the floor. Quickly switch sides, maintaining your plank position. 

plank run

-For the Tabata intervals, feel free to substitute with any of your favorite plyometric exercises, or sprints on the spin bike, rowing machine, track, or treadmill. If youโ€™re a beginner or prefer low-impact, try 4 minutes of walking (or hill walking) instead. 

Please let me know if you give it a try!

This is where I realize Iโ€™m wearing pretty much the same outfit I wore in the last workout I posted. #outfitrepeater #capsuleworkoutwardrobe ๐Ÿ˜‰ 

Have a great day and Iโ€™ll see you soon!

xo

Gina

Outfit: Fabletics

Shoes: Nike c/o (on sale)

Photos: Lindsay Colson

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360 Comments

  1. Teresa on February 27, 2018 at 9:17 am

    Looking forward to trying this workout! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Neena on February 27, 2018 at 9:19 am

    Iโ€™m suddenly super motivated to try some Tabata!

    • Neena on February 27, 2018 at 9:19 am

      ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Anna on February 27, 2018 at 9:21 am

    Looks like a great workout! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Tara on February 27, 2018 at 9:22 am

    Great workout ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Rachel on February 27, 2018 at 9:22 am

    Canโ€™t wait to try this workout!

  6. Ellen on February 27, 2018 at 9:23 am

    Oof looks tough! Gotta add this to my get-ready-for-summer workouts! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Lee Williams on February 27, 2018 at 9:27 am

    What a killer workout! Will need to try it this week! ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Emily on February 27, 2018 at 9:28 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Kristin on February 27, 2018 at 9:30 am

    Have a great day Gina!!!

  10. Carrie on February 27, 2018 at 9:30 am

    Looks fun! ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Emily H on February 27, 2018 at 9:31 am

    : )

  12. Lisa on February 27, 2018 at 9:36 am

    I am planning on trying this workout this week! ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Katie on February 27, 2018 at 9:36 am

    Looks like fun! Canโ€™t wait to try it ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Stacey on February 27, 2018 at 9:37 am

    Looks like a great workout:)

  15. Rebecca Finnen on February 27, 2018 at 9:38 am

    Ha ha, don’t worry it happens to all of us #outfitrepeater! ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. Joanna on February 27, 2018 at 9:39 am

    I need to do this workout!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. Sarah on February 27, 2018 at 9:40 am
  18. Molly on February 27, 2018 at 9:42 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. Joanna on February 27, 2018 at 9:42 am

    This workout looks great!! Thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

  20. Kandi on February 27, 2018 at 9:42 am

    Thanks for being sneaky because now I have some workout inspo today ๐Ÿ™‚

  21. Katie on February 27, 2018 at 9:43 am

    I canโ€™t go to the gym today because I have to work later than normal, so I might have to try this tonight! ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. Ashley on February 27, 2018 at 9:43 am

    Is that your front porch?! ๐Ÿ™‚

  23. Becky on February 27, 2018 at 9:44 am
  24. Krista on February 27, 2018 at 9:44 am

    Sneaky sneaky ๐Ÿ™‚

  25. Anna Weiser on February 27, 2018 at 9:47 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  26. Katie on February 27, 2018 at 9:49 am

    Your workouts always kick my booty ๐Ÿ™‚

  27. Jayne on February 27, 2018 at 9:49 am

    Hooray for delicious tacos! ๐Ÿ™‚

  28. Jenny L. on February 27, 2018 at 9:50 am

    Thanks for the tips to go along with the visuals! ๐Ÿ™‚

  29. Stacy on February 27, 2018 at 9:50 am

    Iโ€™m going to try this ๐Ÿ™‚

  30. Andrea on February 27, 2018 at 9:50 am

    Looks like a great workout ๐Ÿ™‚

  31. Melanie on February 27, 2018 at 9:51 am

    Yay tabatas!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  32. Mary Margaret Lee on February 27, 2018 at 9:52 am

    Loved that you are from the same town as me! Canโ€™t wait to try : )

  33. Lacey on February 27, 2018 at 9:53 am

    Happy Tuesday! ๐Ÿ™‚

  34. Lynsi on February 27, 2018 at 9:54 am

    Tabata workouts are so challenging! ๐Ÿ™‚

  35. Adrienne Barrett on February 27, 2018 at 9:54 am

    Will definitely have to give this a try! ๐Ÿ™‚

  36. Gabi on February 27, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Awesome workout ๐Ÿ™‚

  37. Jacqueline on February 27, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Love tabata workouts! ๐Ÿ™‚

  38. Emma on February 27, 2018 at 9:56 am

    This looks tough! ๐Ÿ™‚

  39. Janelle on February 27, 2018 at 9:56 am

    This looks like an awesome workout… : ) hehe sneaky

  40. Lisa W on February 27, 2018 at 9:56 am

    Looks like a good one ๐Ÿ™‚

  41. Jacqueline on February 27, 2018 at 9:57 am

    Love tabata workouts! ๐Ÿ™‚

  42. Anna on February 27, 2018 at 9:57 am

    I kept reading tabata as tabatha lol. i Need coffee ๐Ÿ™‚

  43. Heather on February 27, 2018 at 9:58 am

    I’m going to try this! ๐Ÿ™‚

  44. Briana on February 27, 2018 at 9:59 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  45. Vivian on February 27, 2018 at 10:00 am

    I just had a baby on Saturday! I need ALL the eye cream :).

  46. Bianca T on February 27, 2018 at 10:00 am

    Have a great day ๐Ÿ™‚

  47. Kristina on February 27, 2018 at 10:03 am

    Looks killer! ๐Ÿ™‚

  48. Jillian on February 27, 2018 at 10:04 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  49. Sarina on February 27, 2018 at 10:05 am

    I have this week off and wanted to try the Barre studio in my town but the whole week every class is full! I will be doing this workout instead ๐Ÿ™‚

  50. Emily on February 27, 2018 at 10:09 am

    Iโ€™m gonna try this today ๐Ÿ™‚

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