Marching Bridge Tones Butt, Stabilizes Core

Use the marching bridge exercise to tone your butt and stabilize your core. The marching bridge will also strengthen your lower back. Many people develop low back problems because too little time is spent strengthening the muscles of the lower back.





1. Start by lying on your back with your knees bent and your hands by your sides.

2. Lift your body off the ground into a straight line and brace your torso (like taking a punch to the gut). Don't let your body sag.

3. Lift your right leg, contract your glute and hold for 3 seconds. Lower your leg and do the same with your left leg. That's one repetition. Do 8-10 repetitions.

Other great core exercises that will strengthen your lower back muscles are cobras, stability ball plank, supermans and back extensions.

Don't neglect to strengthen your lower back muscles! You will pay with pain and injuries if you ignore training your lower back!

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Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Ab Ball Curl Up

The ab ball curl up is a good core exercise if done correctly. Your rectus abdominis (6-pack part of your abs) and obliques should do most of the work.





Lie on your back on the ball, knees bent about 90 degrees, hands behind head and feet flat on the floor.

Lie on the ball so that your back hugs the ball. Your shoulders and neck shouldn't assist your abdominals during the movement.

The movement should be slow. Curl up and bring your chin towards your chest (to about 45 degrees). Curl up through the upper back and not the neck. Brace your abs during the movement (as if someone is going to punch you in the gut). Keep your ears and shoulders in alignment. DON'T ROUND YOUR LOWER BACK WHEN LIFTING YOUR TORSO!

Use your abdominals to curl your upper back up. Don't move any other body part and keep your arms, shoulders, neck and legs relaxed as the abs pull you up. Your head and arms should curl up with your shoulders.

Don't tilt your pelvis or pull with your thighs to lift your upper body. Hold for 2-3 seconds and return slowly to the starting position.

Use your abdominals to lower your upper back. Don't move your head or arms as you return to the start position.

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Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Beat Childhood Obesity With Active Lifestyle

Beat childhood obesity by training your kids to have an active lifestyle and to eat healthy. Here is a question I answered from a client:

Client Q: Mark, I have a question? What do you struggle with? I think of you as this fitness god, but let's know you better.... ya know.

Mark's Q: Great question! I'm definitely not a fitness god! But I made a commitment to fitness years ago and that's the key! But, I had alot of help! Let me explain:

1) I grew up in sunny New Mexico so I played outside almost everyday. That leads to an active lifestyle of games, walking, running, etc. Fun exercise is the best exercise. Even today, I do exercises that I like (there are tons to choose from)!

2) I participated in organized sports from age 5 to age 21. Along with genetics, that's how I shaped a lean, athletic body. From there, all I basically had to do was maintain what was built.

3) I didn't own a car until I was 23 years old so I walked and biked alot. Again, this helps lead to an active lifestyle (OK, I bummed alot of car rides too)!

4) I grew up in a time when kids came home from school, did their homework (well some of the time anyway) and then went outside and played games 'til dark (now kids are on MySpace and FaceBook 'til dark).

So, I kinda indirectly fell into the "fitness lifestyle." Stated another way, I had alot of "social support" to help me stay fit. Social support is a leading indicator that you will stay on the fitness track!

The commitment to a fit lifestyle will lead to the body changes you want and give you lifetime health. I always tell people to commit to this lifestyle first and the health and "hot body" will follow!

Anyway, one of my weaknesses is sweets. I love sweets! I try to find replacements for them. So, instead of soda, I will drink water or unsweetened tea. And candy! Instead of eating a whole bag of M&Ms, I try to eat a few! And, some days I just flat out cheat. If you make the commitment to fitness and hold to good nutrition about 90% of the time, you will be just fine.

Unlike some trainers, I stress health and commitment first because that's really where the problem issues are! The commitment to a fit lifestyle trumps all other fitness commitments and will help you to overcome the obstacles and failures along the way.

A fitness god I am not---I am committed to fitness! Start your child out early with health and fitness.

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Fat Loss Workout

If you want fat loss, your workouts need to be intense enough to burn fat. It is that simple. To do this, you might need to make some changes to your workout program!



If you are taking 5 minutes between exercise sets (talking to friends), that probably won't get the job done. If you have a workout partner who is not serious about working out hard, find another workout partner. Work harder for a shorter period of time and you'll burn more fat and calories during and after your workout! An intense 30-40 minute workout will work just fine.

Do as many compound strength exercises (with weights or bodyweight) standing up as possible. These types of exercises work major muscle groups and many times are full-body strength exercises. Squats, deadlift, lunges, standing bentover rows, squat-to curl-to press and bench press are great examples. Full-body core exercises like planks and side planks work well also. Spend less time posing on "mirror exercises" like bicep curls, calf raises and tricep extensions.

Here is a good fat-burning workout:

Do each exercise one after the other with little or no rest between exercises. Rest 2-3 minutes between circuits. Do the circuit 3 times.

1. Bulgarian Split Squats (pictured above), 15 repetitions each leg
2. Ball Plank, 15 repetitions, 5 second hold
3. Pushups on Medicine Ball, 20 repetitions
4. Step Ups with Knee Lift (knee high platform), 10 repetitions each leg
5. Pullups, 10 repetitions
6. Walking Lunges, 10 repetitions each leg
7. Standing dumbbell shoulder press, 10 repetitions
8. Repeat circuit 2 more times.

This type of workout will help you break through your fat loss and weight loss plateau.

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
My Fitness Hut
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Steam Engine Exercise

The steam engine exercise is a challenging core exercise that burns more fat. It is also a great full body exercise. If you want to burn more fat and calories during and after your workout, do more full body exercises.



You should have adequate core stability and strength before advancing to exercises like the steam engine. Exercises like planks, bird dogs, bridges and cobras should be done before you proceed to exercises like the steam engine.

1. Stand with with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width, your hands behind your head.

2. Lift your left knee to waist level or higher and touch the left knee with the right elbow. Do the same for the other side. That's 1 repetition.

If you have low back problems, you shouldn't do the steam engine exercise.

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Friday Bodyweight Cardio Workout

Its been a long week and sometimes you just need a good, short Friday cardio workout....



If you're bored with running on machines or biking for cardio exercise, try a jumping bodyweight cardio workout! Jumping is one of the best ways to tone and shape your lower body and you won't get bored!

You don't need any machines---just get your body ready for some very intense exercise. If you have knee or low back problems, this type of workout is not for you....

Here is a jump bodyweight cardio workout:

--jump rope, two feet, full speed, 1 minute
--squat jumps, 10, full speed
--jump rope, right foot, full speed, 30 seconds
--jump rope, left foot, full speed, 30 seconds
--tuck jumps, 10, full speed
--depth jumps (off knee-high platform), 10
--rest 1 minute and repeat circuit 2 more times. 20 minutes total workout time.

Rest more after each circuit if needed. Take rest between exercises if needed. If you can't do an exercise full speed, then try half speed or three quarters speed until you improve.

Happy fat-burning Friday!

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
My Fitness Hut
Her Fitness Hut
Sports Fitness Hut
Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Bodyweight Exercise Workout Books

My Fitness Hut's FREE Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts feature beginner, intermediate and advanced level workouts. Start at the level you can handle.



My Fitness Hut's Fat Blaster Athletic Training System is the best and quickest way to give you that lean, toned body. And, according to research, you will also have superior heart health.

One of the toughest things for people to understand is that you need to exercise using "your natural motions." No two bodies are exactly alike....that's why you shouldn't exercise exclusively on machines. Machines limit you to "that machine's" pre-determined range of motion.

Because machines also stabilize your body for you, bodyweight exercises help you develop strength that allows your body to stabilize itself.

The bodyweight workouts will double as a strength and cardio workout so you maximize your time and get double benefit!

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Bodyweight Exercise Series: Lower Body Circuit

Bodyweight lower body circuits will really burn more fat and tone your legs.




Bodyweight lower body circuits are a tried and true method to burn more leg fat, increase strength/endurance and improve heart health.

Since this workout is circuit-style, you also get the benefit of a great cardio workout. Do each exercise (10-12 repetitions) one after the other with little or no rest between exercises. Rest 2-3 minutes and do the circuit 2 more times. Here is a good bodyweight leg circuit program:

--Bulgarian split squats
--Step ups (with knee high platform), pictured above
--Squat jumps, Depth Jumps (set 2), Tuck Jumps (set 3)
--Reverse lunges
--Side lunges

Do this workout as a supplement to your regular full body strength training workouts.

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Her Fitness Hut
Sports Fitness Hut
Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Blast Fat With Bodyweight Exercise And Running Cardio

Blast more fat with bodyweight exercise and running cardio. If you're bored with your cardio, just try this workout! You won't get bored again! You need to ramp up the intensity of your cardio workout to get better fat loss and weight loss results.



Here is a good workout for you to try....you don't need any weights, medicine balls, resistance tubes or stability balls....you just need your body to do this workout.

Part 1

--Warmup on treadmill - run three minutes at moderate pace
--15 minute cardio interval rotation: 1 minute run, 2 minutes walk (running outside will give you better results)

Part 2

--Prisoner squats, 12 repetitions, moderate pace
--Plank, 5 repetitions, 30 second hold
--Pushups, 20 repetitions, moderate pace
--Mountain Climbers (pictured above), 30 seconds, fast
--Pullups, 10 repetitions (or do as many as possible), moderate pace
--Ab Curl Ups, 15 repetitions, slow pace
--Do this circuit 2 times

Do this circuit with little or no rest between exercises. Rest 2-3 minutes between circuits.

Part 3

--12 minute cardio interval rotation: 1 minute run, 2 minutes walk

You're done (literally)!

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Bodyweight Exercise Series: Ab Ball Rollout

The bodyweight ab ball rollout is a great core exercise that doesn't put your low back at risk for injury. At the same time, this exercise requires that you have an adequate amount of low back muscle strength and stability.

Finish

Start

1. Start with the ball in front with your elbows on the ball.

2. Roll the ball out slowly and keep your abs braced (as if taking a punch to the gut). As you straighten your torso you will feel your abs stretch and extend. Return to the starting position.

Try the ab ball rollout the next time you workout.

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Bodyweight Plyometric Workout Blasts Fat

Bodyweight plyometric workouts will blast more fat because they are very intense! And, one-legged jumping exercises are more intense than two-legged jumping exercises. Shorten and intensify your workouts with jump training (plyometrics). Plyometric workouts also blast more fat and calories during and after your workout!



If you're having trouble sculpting your butt, hips and thighs then you need to do more jump exercises.

Bodyweight plyometric workouts are advanced workouts. You need to perfect jumping and landing techniques or you will injure yourself. And, if you have knee and low back problems, high-speed jump training is not for you.

Try this plyometric workout (take little or no rest between exercises):

--jump rope, two feet, full speed, 1 minute
--squat jumps (pictured above), 10, full speed
--lunge jumps, 10, full speed
--depth jumps (off knee-high platform), 10
--tuck jumps, 10, full speed
--jumping jacks, 30 seconds, full speed

Rest 1 minute between circuits. Repeat the circuit 2 more times--20 minutes total workout time. Take more rest between exercises or circuits if needed.

Try bodyweight plyometric workouts to blast more fat!

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Her Fitness Hut
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Isometric Bodyweight Workouts

Isometric bodyweight workouts help you build strength and burn fat without moving much. Exercise without much movement you say? Keep talking right?!



Isometric exercises are very underrated. They are great for building muscles, stabilizing muscles, building strength, improving power and burning fat.

Isometric contractions can be described as a type of muscle contraction where your muscles develop tension without changing length. For example, pushing against a wall and holding for 30 seconds causes an isometric contraction.

You should strength train your muscles with all contraction types (eccentric, isometric, concentric). All muscles function eccentrically (reduces force or deceleration), isometrically (stabilizes force) and concentrically (produces force).

Isometric bodyweight workouts cause most if not all of your muscles to work during an exercise. The stability ball plank exercise (pictured above) is a great example. To do the plank, you get into position and hold for a period of time (like 20 seconds). So, many core exercises are great isometric exercises.

So, here is a good isometric bodyweight workout for you:

1. Deep Knee Bends and Hold, 10 repetitions, 10 second hold
2. Stability Ball Plank, 10 repetitions, 20 second hold
3. Bridge, 10 repetitions, 20 second hold
4. Pushup and Hold, 20 second hold
5. Side Plank, 10 repetitions each side, 10 second hold
6. Captain Chair Knee Ups and Hold, 10 repetitions, 10 second hold
7. Ab Curl Ups and Hold, 10 repetitions, 20 second hold

Repeat this circuit 2 more times. Rest 2-3 minutes between circuits.

Now "hold on" and do your isometric bodyweight workout!

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Athletic Bodyweight Workouts Blasts Fat

Athletic bodyweight workouts will blast fat from your body like never before...just try a workout and see for yourself!



Athletic bodyweight workouts are very intense and will improve your body's composition (fat loss, more muscle). These workouts will sculpt your body without your joints taking a pounding from lifting heavy weights!

To get your muscles to improve power (how fast your muscles can produce force), do some or all of the exercises full speed. Also, you will really burn fat and shape your bulkier, fast twitch muscle fibers when doing exercises at full speed!

Athletic bodyweight circuit workouts are a tried and true method to burn more fat, increase strength/endurance and improve heart health.

Do each exercise (10 repetitions) one after the other with little or no rest between exercises. Rest 2-3 minutes and do the circuit 2 more times. Here is a good athletic bodyweight workout:

--Bodyweight squats, moderate pace
--Medicine ball soccer throw (pictured above), full speed
--Pushups, full speed
--Walking lunges/Side Lunges/Tranverse Lunges, moderate pace (one for each circuit)
--2-Handed medicine ball chest pass, full speed
--Squat jumps, full speed
--Back extensions, moderate pace

Use correct form and get after it!

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs

Tabata Bodyweight Workout Burns Fat

A Tabata bodyweight workout is a good way to burn more fat and change up your workout routine. If you're looking for a way to break out of your fat loss plateau, try a Tabata bodyweight workout.



Tabata is a very intense interval training technique. It is a great way to burn more calories and fat during and after your workout! You will need one bodyweight exercise (like squat jumps) and 4 minutes! Yes, only 4 minutes!

Tabata bodyweight training works this way:

1. After a 5 minute warmup, choose a bodyweight exercise.

2. Do as many repetitions as you can for 20 seconds.

3. Rest for 10 seconds.

4. Repeat this cycle for 4 minutes! Make sure to maintain correct form as you get fatigued! You will be exhausted at the end!

As you progress, you can add more time but keep the 2-to-1 work to rest ratio. For instance, you could do a 30 sec./15 sec. work to rest ratio. You could also speed up your repetitions to make Tabata bodyweight training even more intense!

Be sure and download your Free Bodyweight 500 Metabolic Fat Burner Workouts and start shaping your body faster!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Your Fitness University
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Her Fitness Hut
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Rapid Fat Loss and Six Pack Abs