Tabata Strength Combo Workout
Hi friends! How’s the morning treating ya? Yesterday ended up being a great day. I got the girls to school on time – it’s always a bit of a rat race – took care of work stuff, and headed to a little event at the Pilot’s work. They had street tacos for dinner and they were surprisingly awesome. (I hadn’t found a taco here I love, but the search has ended. High fives all around.) P is officially a ballet drop-out (she doesn’t want to go anymore, so I’m not going to force her), and it’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 Pilot’s work, we came home and watched The Bachelor (omggggg) and I put together this little workout for youuuu. It’s like a little gift! Not the type that you can put in a box, but if you use it correctly, you’ll get lots of new sore muscles. 😉
This one combines two of my workout faves: strengths and Tabata training! If you’re new to Tabata intervals, you’re in for a treat. Here’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 participant’s heart rates to increase quickly and to a high level. Obviously, you should scale it according to how you’re feeling and your own personal workout level, but keep in mind that it’s supposed to feel challenging. I see a lot of “Tabata” workouts floating around the Pinterest machine that are not true Tabatas. Biceps curls or weighted lunges for 20 seconds won’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 wouldn’t do more than 4 total Tabata sets within 1 day. (If you’re doing it correctly, you won’t want to! You’ll be like, “MAKE IT END.”)
-For this workout, you’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.
Here’s what the workout looks like:
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). That’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 – 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.
-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 you’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 I’m wearing pretty much the same outfit I wore in the last workout I posted. #outfitrepeater #capsuleworkoutwardrobe 😉
Have a great day and I’ll see you soon!
xo
Gina
Outfit: Fabletics
Shoes: Nike c/o (on sale)
Photos: Lindsay Colson
360 Comments
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Looking forward to trying this workout, thank you! 🙂
Love tabata! 🙂
Stuck at home with a sick child. I will definitely try this workout during nap time
I was needing a new combo workout! 🙂
Looks like a good one 🙂
You were the first person to introduce me to tabata years ago and I love these workouts! 🙂
Love these short but sweet workouts 🙂
Tricep dips are not my friend!
Love these short but sweet workouts I could do at home. 🙂
Hope you have an awesome day 🙂
Tabata workouts hurt so good! 🙂
I’ve been sidelined from working out while I recover from surgery, but this looks like a good one to try when I’m back in the game 🙂
This looks really hard…and awesome 🙂
Woohoo!!
The X abs are my fav 🙂
Need to try this! 🙂
Love this at homeworkout 🙂
This looks like such a good workout! Need to try 🙂
I will definitely try this one out 🙂
🙂 perfect timing. I <3 taba
I would love to try
Great workout! I have a bad wrist-do you have any suggestions of moves that I can substitute for the triceps dip and planks? 🙂
🙂 <3
I love the included form cues Love your workouts. Thank you for sharing with us 🙂
Can’t wait to try! 🙂
This workout looks killer, can’t wait to give it a try 🙂
Thanks for the awesome workout!! 🙂
Looks like a great workout! I’m currently starting WSU because my whole family (me too!) we’re sick the entire month of January with the flu. So starting now! lol 🙂
FUN! 🙂
Can’t wait to try this 🙂
I’m definitely going to give this workout a try 🙂
I like how you include cues and tips. Makes understanding something I’ve never tried before so much easier! : )
Adding this to the rotation. Thank you! 🙂
Looks fun! I love love love tabatas and love all the combo moves 🙂
I’ll definitely have to try this one! 🙂
LOve these workouts
MY smiley didn’t pop up?
I’m 7 weeks post op and just getting back into working out, I’ll have to try this out 🙂
Looks awesome! 🙂
Looks fun
Might give this one a try tonight! 🙂 Thanks Gina!
Can’t wait to try this at the gym tonight! 🙂
Looking forward to trying this after work tonight! 🙂
You’re very sneaky 🙂
alex, you win!! i’ll send you an email to get your info 🙂
Looking forward to trying this workout! I love doing a barre workout you posted a few weeks ago! 🙂
Perfect for me to take to the gym tonight as my workout 🙂
I have a 3 yr old ballet drop out also. 🙂 looks like a great workout!
Great workout 🙂
Need to try this workout soon!
This looks great. How long do you think it will take to complete 3 rounds? Thanks for sharing!
Looks like a great workout! 🙂