Maximizing Your Workout Time

Maximizing Your Workout Time

In order to see great results, you have to use your time efficiently. If your goal is to get leaner and lose fat, why waste time on wrist curls? You want to spend your time on exercises that will yield the highest results.

Kettlebells do just that. Just ask anyone who's used a kettlebell. They can tell you that within a couple of minutes, you're sweating. Exercises like the swing, snatch, and get-up will get your heart pumping and get you into incredible shape. How long does it take? For a beginner, ten minutes a day is all you need, not to mention all you'll be able to do at first.

Don't get hyped up into the muscle magazine culture that tells you that you need to split your workout into each body part. If you don't have access to kettlebells, do full body exercises such as Deadlifts, Squats, Bench press, Pull-ups and Dips. Get started on these exercises with heavy weights and you'll not only see your body change aesthetically, but you'll also be stronger and perform better.

Below is a full body workout I used for awhile that gave me great results. The key is heavy weights. Obviously, don't go overboard, but with a weight that's heavier than you're used to will burn more calories and increase your strength tremendously.

Workout 1

A1: Deadlift-5 sets of 3-5 reps

B1: Weighted Pull up-3 sets of 5 reps

B2: Weighted Dip-3 sets of 5 reps

C1: Hanging Leg Raise-3x10

C2: Kettlebell/Dumbbell Swing-3x20

Workout 2

A1: Bench Press-5 sets of 3-5 reps

B1: Double Kettlebell/Barbell Clean and Jerk-3x6

B2: Renegade Row (with Kbs or DBs)-3x6

C1: Kettlebell/Dumbbell Get up (Right Arm)

C2: Kettlebell/Dumbbell Get up (Left Arm)

D1: Finish with 10 minutes of jump rope intervals

Follow this workout for a month, alternating Workout 1 and 2 three days a week and along with a healthy diet and a basketball session or two and you will start seeing some major results in overall strength and muscularity, not to mention fat loss. Forget the wrist curls and lateral raises and start hitting your whole body. With these exercises, you'll be hitting all the muscles that you would have with isolation exercises.

No need to do curls because heavy pull-ups will build your arms. No need for lateral raises because the push press will take care of your entire shoulder. You'll build a better body in half the time of a muscle magazine workout. Time is expensive so why waste it on actions that aren't going to give you the most bang for your buck. I doubt you would spend twice as much money for a car you could get for half the price elsewhere. Spend your time wisely and start seeing results!

Marcus Martinez, 6/24/2008