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. Virjinia @ With Purpose and Kindness on February 27, 2018 at 10:09 am

    I couldn’t agree more! Tabata workouts are supposed to be hard and definitely make you glad it’s over. I did an awesome one this morning but I think I’ll give this one a try too! Thanks for sharing. Have a great day!

  2. SandyN on February 27, 2018 at 10:10 am

    I’ve gotta give this a try…hopefully I can make it through!! : )

  3. Nora on February 27, 2018 at 10:10 am

    How sneaky! But this does look like a great workout ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Jenny on February 27, 2018 at 10:10 am

    I love tabata! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Emily A on February 27, 2018 at 10:11 am

    Looks hard but great!

  6. Katie G on February 27, 2018 at 10:12 am

    Love tabata workouts! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Emily on February 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

    Love Tabata!

  8. Jenna on February 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

    This looks fun ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Millie on February 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

    This looks like a good one! Also, cute nikes! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Melanie on February 27, 2018 at 10:15 am

    I’m trying to start working out at home, thanks for the inspiration! ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Meghan on February 27, 2018 at 10:16 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. Amanda K on February 27, 2018 at 10:16 am

    Great workout to add to my rotation ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Tera on February 27, 2018 at 10:16 am

    Looks awesome ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Jessica on February 27, 2018 at 10:16 am

    Going to try this today! ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Stacey Racette on February 27, 2018 at 10:17 am

    I can’t even tell you how much I LOVE your workouts! Can’t wait to do this one!

  16. Monica C. on February 27, 2018 at 10:19 am

    Looks like a great workout! I’ve been really into the circuits and tabata lately – finding that I get the best workout in the shortest amount of time that way ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. Katie on February 27, 2018 at 10:20 am

    I can’t wait to try this workout! Thanks for the inspo ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Katie O on February 27, 2018 at 10:20 am

    Future muscle fatigue central, right there. Whew! ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. Morgan on February 27, 2018 at 10:23 am

    :))

  20. Bri on February 27, 2018 at 10:28 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

    Oooh Tabata!! Love!

  21. Liz on February 27, 2018 at 10:28 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. Lori on February 27, 2018 at 10:29 am

    This looks intense!! I did one of your workouts from WSU and woke up so sore. It might have even a few days before I try this one!

  23. Catherine on February 27, 2018 at 10:29 am

    Canโ€™t wait to try out this work out ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Maria Dunlop on February 27, 2018 at 10:29 am

    Canโ€™t wait to try this workout! I love your workout posts. Thanks for sharing them. ๐Ÿ™‚

  25. Abby on February 27, 2018 at 10:30 am

    Doing this one this week!!

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  26. Camee on February 27, 2018 at 10:32 am

    Canโ€™t wait to try this workout! ๐Ÿ™‚

  27. Lisa S on February 27, 2018 at 10:33 am

    Looks like a good workout! Saving it!! : )

  28. Sarah G on February 27, 2018 at 10:35 am

    And I was looking for a workout to do today ๐Ÿ™‚

  29. marisa on February 27, 2018 at 10:38 am

    looks like a great workout! thanks for always having the best ones ๐Ÿ™‚

  30. Rebekah on February 27, 2018 at 10:40 am

    Looks like a fun workout! I’ll add it to my list! ๐Ÿ™‚

  31. Kristin on February 27, 2018 at 10:41 am

    Would love to try Beauty Counter! ๐Ÿ™‚

  32. MEREDITH TUCKER on February 27, 2018 at 10:43 am

    I should probably do this before we devour all the cooking club carbs tonight

  33. Elizabeth on February 27, 2018 at 10:43 am

    Iโ€™m all about short effective workouts these days! No time for much more. Thanks!

  34. Julie Creighton on February 27, 2018 at 10:43 am

    Canโ€™t wait until I can join in on more intense workouts again. Preg with baby 2 over here and isnโ€™t my skin showing it!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  35. Lisa on February 27, 2018 at 10:43 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  36. Jillian on February 27, 2018 at 10:46 am

    Iโ€™m a trainer and OTF coach and some days I just love when I can do a workout at, no brain power for planning required! Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

  37. Christa on February 27, 2018 at 10:47 am

    Definitely going to try this one! ๐Ÿ™‚

  38. Sarah on February 27, 2018 at 10:47 am

    Looking forward to trying this one later today!

  39. Lizzie on February 27, 2018 at 10:50 am

    This looks super hard but super fun ๐Ÿ™‚

  40. Kristy E. on February 27, 2018 at 10:52 am

    Can’t wait to try this! ?

    • Kristy E. on February 27, 2018 at 10:52 am

      ๐Ÿ™‚

  41. Marissa on February 27, 2018 at 10:52 am

    Looks like a great workout. I can’t wait to try this one ๐Ÿ™‚

  42. Dina F on February 27, 2018 at 10:52 am

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  43. Anne on February 27, 2018 at 10:53 am

    Canโ€™t wait to get back to tabata workouts after baby! ๐Ÿ™‚

  44. Jen on February 27, 2018 at 10:53 am

    Love Tabata workouts ๐Ÿ™‚

  45. Liz D on February 27, 2018 at 10:56 am

    Need to try this workout AND watch the bachelor episode on my DVR!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  46. Sejal M on February 27, 2018 at 10:58 am

    I have been doing more efficient workouts lately to save on time bc of baby. This looks great! ๐Ÿ™‚

  47. Cassie on February 27, 2018 at 11:01 am

    Iโ€™m excited to try this workout today! ๐Ÿ™‚

  48. Katie Luner on February 27, 2018 at 11:03 am

    Happy Tuesday! ๐Ÿ™‚

  49. Laura on February 27, 2018 at 11:05 am

    Love Tabata workouts!!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  50. Casey on February 27, 2018 at 11:09 am

    This looks like a great workout – definitely like the Tabata type workouts since you get a good sweat in a short amount of time! ๐Ÿ™‚

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