April Strength Challenge-record your minutes

[liv]

April is the cruelest month...
It would be cruel not to take the chance to tone up the skin and build some strength. Join me and let's have some fun

This will be the place to report your weightlifting and strength training and earn your monthly prize.

No special equipment is required. You can use what you have like water bottles, cans or just gravity - it all works well. You do not need any experience either. Just take the plunge. It is easier than you think. See the end of the post for suggestions of exercises to include in your routine. Start small if you are a beginner. You can always build up later.


Rules of the challenge

1. Pledge the amount of minutes you will strength train in April
2. You will have to work to strengthen all parts of the body (lower, upper, core).
3. To be eligible for the challenge you have to share with others what your typical weekly workout schedule will look like. Exercises can be lifting weights, using gym machines, exercise balls, push ups, squats or doing yoga/pilates exercise for strength and flexibility. No equipment requirement though.
4. You have to schedule recovery/rest days.
5. Log in at least twice a week to report your minutes. Copy the whole list and add your minutes.
   
6. There will be a prize at the end of the month

Websites to help you put together a routine
The Major/Basic Muscle Groups of body & their Exercises/Workouts
Dumbbell Exercises Complete with Animated Diagrams
Dumbbell Exercises | Dumbbell Workouts | Dumbbell Muscle Menu
http://www.trainwithmeonline.com/dum...&equipment=yes
Free Resistance Training Exercises
Weight Training, Exercise Instruction & Kinesiology
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...s-workout.html
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ut-videos.html
http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com...exercises.html
10 minutes pilates sculpting (I started with this YouTube video - I used water bottles - it is a great starter arm exercise)
Dumbbell Exercises from Sparkpeople on YouTube - It is 20 minutes and a good one to start with
I want Six Pack Abs, Core Exercises - lots of core exercises.

If you do not have weights check yoga and pilates or flexibility and strength exercises that uses gravity. A resistance band can be handy to and easy to store.

Examples of weight free exercises
squats
lunges
push ups
sit ups
crunches
dips
How To Exercise Your Thighs Without Weights (Sports & Fitness: Tone Your Legs)
The No Weight Workout - Exercise
Sandeep's Fitness Page - A Simple Home Workout (Without Weights)
Exercise Classics - No Weights Required!
Plank Pose
I want Six Pack Abs, Core Exercises

You can use exercise videos - yoga, pilates, strength, callanetics

Other interesting web pages
Lies in the gym
Women's Weight Training

Icon you can use for your signature:



Example of routine:
Upper body: Push-ups, chair dips, planks (will do three times)
Core: Planks, crunches (normal and reverse) (will do three times same day as lower body)
Lower body: Squats, lunges, jumps (will do three times a week -alternating with upper body)

[planetclaire]

Question: Can I use the minutes from my Body Pump class for this? Its an hour of weight training in a class setting, it covers everything from shoulders to calves and everything in between.

[liv]

Absolutely. That actually sounds perfect.

[SunnySmile501]

I'm in. Not sure what to put as my routine, but will give it a shot.

Lower body: Recumbent stepper 30 minutes, 3 times a week
Core: stability ball workout 30 minutes, 3 times a week
Upper body: Joyce Vederal full upper body workout with 5-lb. weights, 30 minutes, 3 times a week

I pledge 400 (reduced 3/31/09) minutes strength training for April (want to leave room for aerobic exercise 400 min.)

Rest days Saturday and Sunday

This is still my favorite core exercise.


MSN Health & Fitness - Fitness Video

[planetclaire]

Oh hurray! I am in then.

180 minutes each week of body pump - full body strength training (60 min x 3 days)
120 minutes each week of yoga (60 min x 2 days)

Total of 1200 minutes I pledge to strength training in the month of April. Oh, I'm a little worn out reading that

[SunnySmile501]

Not backing out or anything, but while working up my exercise journal I realized that April is the month of Easter! I have a bunch of cantata practices (2 1/2 hours on Saturday) and a performance on Palm Sunday (and a kids party afterwards and I have to find time to bake dozens of cupcakes and cookies and then serve), then there is the Holy Thursday service/performance and then two Easter services/performances. Now, all that makes me tired just reading it!

[Georgiana]

Sunny! Nice to see you joining us!

Liv, I'm in for 600 minutes too. I'll be at my parents for a over a week and in Munich for another two... not so much time left for the gym.

[momtomany1]

I am in for 400 minutes. I have a callanetics video that will be delivered on the 1st. I also will using 'assercize.' They have podcasts for my Zune.

By the way, those are some awesome links and I can't wait to peruse them.

[12YearsofBabyFat]

Okay, I will do it.
Pilates MWF -260 minutes in April
Rest Days T Th Sat Sun

Beginner at Excercise

[Desihue]

I just discovered that I like Yoga and I see others using that toward their minutes. I'm trying to do some new things things month so count me in on this challenge!!

I'm committing to 650 minutes for April
Yoga - 20 mins per day T & W (mornings) *Lord help me*
Weights, bands, or weighted ball workouts 30 mins per day- Thur, Sa, & Su