Time Flies when the sun shines

Hey, guys, sorry for the delay, but in case you missed it, SPRING IS HERE!

Spring cleaning is something most people do because everyone else says they have to do it!  If you are like me and are trying to drop those extra pounds and shape up before bikini / trunk season then perhaps a little Spring cleaning is needed in your workout program.

For me, I'm cutting back on the weightlifting for a month, dropping to three core exercises and ramping up my cardio to burn off the excess flab without bulking up.  I'm doing this to help show off some of the muscle I believe I've added over the winter and to get rid of those last few pounds that keep dogging me.

My very favorite cardio exercise is something that is surprisingly easier on my knees than just about anything else I've tried:  running the bleachers at Midland.  For starters, they're not real high so I don't get completely exhausted before I get a little break.  They also are close to the weight room so what little weight work I do will just add to my overall toning and conditioning.

I will still do my dynamic warm up to get my body ready to perform.  Then I'll take to the steps.  The first thing I do is run four sets up, hitting every step as fast as I can.  When I get about two-thirds up and my legs feel like jello, I focus on my form and pump my arms as quickly as possible to squeeze out those last few steps.  I walk down the steps at an easy pace and once down I take about five seconds and hit it again.  On my next four sets I hit every other step which helps to simulate a sprinting stride.  Near the top I have to concentrate on driving my legs like pistons through each stride.  This will be my first week's workout and the goal is to add one extra set each week for the next six weeks.

The combination of a pre-run workout consisting of the three core lifts, the clean complex, squat, and deadlift will have taxed my legs hard before the run and then they'll be screaming afterwards.

Be sure to get plenty of fluids and fruits, especially bananas and other high potassium foods to reduce the possibility for cramping later on if you decide to give this workout a try.  It will quickly turn you into a fat burning machine!  But don't take my word for it!  Go for it!