Benefits of the Burpee

I have to say I have certainly let myself go the past year. My bodyfat % has risen considerably, I train less than half the amount I used to... and my weight has certainly blown out.

I tell myself I needed to so I could relax, save some money and be more financially secure... but at the end of the day, you gotta take care of yourself.

It's hard to find an exercise that will give you bang for your buck, by burning fat, building muscle, increasing your cardio, etc. Lucky for me (and you)... there is. I recently watched a video about a guy who started on his own journey to be a better man than he was by doing a 100 burpees a day.

In fact, I was so inspired by it, I literally went to the gym straight after and tried it for myself. Nearly passed out in the process. Regardless, I got through, my heart rate was through the roof, but man did it feel good. I've been trying to do them consistently and have already felt the benefits of feeling lighter, fitter and stronger.

Here are some tips to help you get started (Source: Coachmag):

1. Mobilise: “The burpee can put a lot of stress through your ankles, knees and wrists,” says Baldwin. “Make sure you're thoroughly warmed up and you've done some mobility work, including press-ups, lunges and squats, to loosen up the joints.”

2. Break it up: “The burpee can be complex so to start with, split the move into two parts: a squat thrust and a deep squat jump. Make sure you are comfortable with each phase of the exercise before combining the two.”

3. Squat thrust: “For the squat thrust make sure your shoulders are directly over your hands, and your legs are extended into a press-up position. When jumping your feet in and out, keep your shoulders above your hands – don't let them move backwards or forwards.”

4. Deep squat jump: “For the deep squat make sure your hips are sitting back and try to keep your chest as upright as possible. Explode up and ensure you cushion your landing by bending the knees as you make contact with the floor.”

5. Get some air time: “Once you're happy you can perform both with good form, add the two together. Your arms can play a part here and as you transition from the squat thrust to the squat jump, swing your arms forwards and above your head for maximum height.”

I've pledged to do the Burpee Mile later this year. So i'll keep you posted on how the training goes.

#training #fitness