Workout of the Week - Backyard Edition

Back in March, like millions of people around the country, the gym that I went to was shut down and there was a time of uncertainty about what I would be able to do in order to keep sane for the foreseeable future. 

Fast forward to late June and the gym is able to open, what do I do? Do I go back? Do I keep doing the “routine” I had settled into over the last 3 months? Do I get my own equipment and do my own thing? With a lot of thoughts rattling around the brain, the ultimate decision was to start the search for some equipment to have at the house and go it on my own. 

Out of all the equipment I thought I would get first, the piece I was actually able to get was not in the top 25. A good friend told me about a gym going out of business and had a Concept 2 rower for sale for a very reasonable $500. Sold. So I rowed…..a lot. Rowing and burpees became the staple for a couple of weeks while I kept my eyes peeled for whatever other equipment I could get. 

A barbell was next on the list but nothing was coming up at the price point I was looking at. Even with no barbell in sight that didn’t stop me from getting 220lbs of bumper plates. By the time those showed up I still had not found a barbell but getting those plates allowed me to do some other movements that were not possible before. Progress I suppose. 

Two weeks later I was able to find success! Barbell purchased! I finally had the first wave of equipment that I figured could allow me to do the essentials when it comes to doing workouts.

I have just been making up workouts on my own with inspiration from some outside places and people. For the last three weeks, there have been a lot of bar facing burpees and thrusters but I think for the workout of the week I am going to go with this number that I completed:

100 Cal Row
75 Back Squats (135lb)
50 Cal Row
25 Front Squats (155lb)

Going into it I thought maybe about 16-17 minutes and oofffff was I wrong. Almost 22 minutes later I think the neighbors called to get a welfare check based on noises that I was making.

I know doing these things at home is not the same as the gym. The only one I have to push me is me. While that might hurt the overall fitness, I am happy that I am not striving to get a certain time. Not pushing myself to do something just because someone else is. I am not as strong as I was 5ish months ago or have as much equipment available at the moment, but with the tools I have with me I can still embrace the suck. 

BUT, if anyone wants to help me build a structure to hold some rings, I do miss muscle-ups :(