Try This Crazy Fat-Burning Workout...

A uniquely different style of cardio-combo-weight-training workout
by Mike Geary, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Specialist

I just have a couple quick, yet cool tricks for you today for workout modifications that can help you break training plateaus.

Idea #1 - The weights / cardio high intensity combo workout...
This is a totally different way to structure your workouts and is great for breaking a plateau and getting new results.

Most people either do a session of "cardio exercise" before or after their workout or on different days altogether.

You already know my opinion on boring slow pace cardio so I won't go into that today... BUT, try this workout for really interesting variety!

How you do this workout is to alternate short 1-minute bursts of high intensity cardio work in between weight training sets.

So for example, let's say that you're doing 4 sets of pullups or 4 sets of bench press.... well, in between the weight training sets, you do any type of cardio at a high intensity for 1 minute.

This 1 minute burst of cardio could be a 1 min blast at high speed on the treadmill, could be sprinting around a track if you have a track at your gym, or could be grabbing a jump rope and banging out a super high speed 1 min of jump roping between sets.

So your exercises are broken down like this:

weight training set #1
60 seconds high intensity cardio
weight training set #2
60 seconds high intensity cardio
weight training set #3
60 seconds high intensity cardio

etc, etc
new exercise weight training set #1
60 seconds high intensity cardio

new exercise weight training set #2
60 seconds high intensity cardio

etc, etc
This a tough style of workout
and burns a TON of calories. If you find your workouts need a new boost, give this a try, and you'll be shocked how hard this works you.

Idea #2:  the "weird pullup"...

I've tried this on occasion to mix up my pullups and give me a harder variation as a challenge.
This type of pullup is only for advanced trainees that can already do at least 8-10 normal pullups or more per set.

What you do on this challenging style of pullup is use 2 small towels and wrap them around the bar at about shoulder width for each towel. The small "hand towel" size towels work best, as a large towel will make too large of a grip for grabbing onto for pullups.  You wrap each towel around the pullup bar so that at least 6-8 inches of towel are hanging below the pullup bar.

Then grip the towels as hard as you can (from the hanging towel sections below the bar) and start doing pullups.  You're basically only gripping the hanging towel and not the pullup bar itself.  You won't be able to do as many pullups as normal because of the tough grip, so do a few extra sets.

I can tell you... these are HARD pullups and challenge your grip immensely! Only try these if you are already very strong on pullups.  Great variation though to mix things up.

I hope you enjoyed these tips today and they help you get better workout results!

Abs for Life Book Review

Your No-Hype Guide to Stripping Stomach Fat and Toning Those Abs!

ABS for Life: Most abs books are a waste of your money. Mainly because if you've read one, you've read them all. So as a rule, I don't usually buy them unless highly recommended by someone else.

But after reading The ABS for Life I couldn't wait to get to my computer to write this review. It was the best book on ab training that I've ever read and if you follow it, you will see results.



When I first skimmed the sales page for the book, I have to admit I almost didn't buy it because the copy looked a little hyped up and pitchy. It sounded like all the rest.

But what drew me in was that the author kept emphasizing the same points I talk about on this site when it comes to the myths on flattening your stomach so I became intrigued.

Still a bit skeptical, I purchased it anyway. However, I'm happy to tell you I was pleasantly surprised with its contents.

The ABS for Life is pages of solid information on how to best train your abs. Not only do they recommend the proper exercises, but they discuss diet and offers meal suggestions as well.

Neil is a personal trainer, which makes him a very credible source on the subject. I also liked the fact that he gives customers his email address and sends a helpful newsletter with great workout tips. He seems to genuinely want to help people and not just concerned about selling his book.