Scrappers Workout #1
Back when I was doing no strength training at all, I did some poking around and found Scrapper's Workout #1. This routine will always have a special place in my heart as it, along with discovering Tabata intervals, really changed the way I train. All bodyweight exercises, no equipment required, and it's a grueling full-body workout. When I first started doing the routine, I was careful to stick to the prescribed 20-30 seconds rest maximum between sets, but I cut most of the repetitions in half, and was still wrecked by the end. I'd try to squeeze the workout in during my afternoon break from work, but by the end I was often so nauseated that I had to lie down. Even sitting at the computer was out of the question! I attribute my extreme exhaustion to three things:
- No strength training on my part for at least 10 years prior.
- Very little recovery time between sets.
- Working arms, torso, core, and legs to exhaustion all in the same workout.
I really came to dread my two days per week with this workout (that's a compliment), but happily I'm much better at it now. Not so good that I'm ready for Workout #2. I may never be ready for Workout #2, but it's good to have it out there as a goal.