Four workout plans that I like to use for cross-training as a supplement to my running routine. These workouts are easy to do at home or at the gym.
It’s no surprise that I enjoy staying in shape with exercise. I’ve been a runner for about four years now, running every week outside, about 3-5 miles per run (unless I’m training for a race). But now that the temperatures in Florida are skyrocketing, my fitness regimen has taken a turn (as it does every year around this time). I tend to go in waves… during the colder months in Florida, I end up increasing my mileage and running more, simply because I would rather run in the cold. That is, the “Florida cold”.
But in the hotter months, I end up doing more strength workouts, taking more fitness classes, and just generally cross-training a lot more. And every time this happens, I realize how important it is to incorporate more strength workouts. When will Christina learn to do this on a more regular basis? And why is she talking in the third person all of a sudden?
I’m in one of those grooves again… the run less, train more grooves. And I think I’m headed toward a happy medium. I’ve been taking days to run (3-5 miles), then a day to train at the gym, then a day to take a fitness class. It’s an equilibrium I’m really enjoying! It definitely keeps me from being bored with fitness, which can be a real problem when it comes to motivation.
But when I do go to the gym, I do need a little guidance on what to do. I’m not a personal trainer, I didn’t study anything exercise-related in college. Everything I know is from experience and my own research. So when I am on my own for cross-training workouts, I tend to follow a few workout plans on rotation.
These are my favorites:
Four Workout Plans to Follow for Cross-Training
Tone It Up
I’ve been following Karena and Katrina since before they were hugely popular! It’s so crazy for me, as a blogger, to see how successful they’ve become since I started following them years ago. That totally sounded like when I was an emo hipster in middle school, like “yeah I heard that song so long ago…they’re just now playing it on the radio…” But seriously… I’ve been following them for so long because I love the way they push weekly fitness routines, their workouts are tough (but not too tough), and their materials and resources are easily accessible. Every Sunday they post a new week-long workout routine on their website. Before I go to the gym on my off-running-days, I look up which workout they’ve got posted for that particular day!
Born to Sweat, Sweat Series
My bloggin’ buddy, Beverley Cheng, recently came out with a beautiful e-book called The Sweat Series. This series is a three-month workout plan that progressively gets more difficult as you grow stronger throughout the months. The beginner month is the perfect way to warm yourself up and prepare for the transition into kickass mode. It incorporates some bodyweight work with weighted exercises and high-intensity interval training; it’s definitely conducive to working out at home. I’ve been following it chronologically, but I plan on hand-picking her workouts from the Series when I’m finished, for days when I need some cross-training. If you follow me on Instagram, you know her workouts give me shin sweat. The ultimate sign that your ass has just been kicked.
Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Training Plan
Ok, when I tell you I’ve used this for a long time, I’m so super cereal. I used this plan when I first started working out in college. As in, my freshman year when I was completely lost in the gym and was used to my high school coaches telling me exactly what to do. This plan totally got me off my feet and taught me, basically, how to exercise, use weights, strength train, etc. Much like Beverley’s Sweat Series, this is a 3-month plan. Jamie’s workouts are mostly strength-based. I usually use these workouts as a supplement to a quick cardio session on the treadmill, rower, elliptical, or bike. This plan also gets you into a routine of focusing on muscle groups. Legs one day, arms one day, so on and so forth.
Kayla Itsines, Bikini Body Guide (BBG)
When I really want to get my ass into gear, I reach for BBG. Seriously, am I the only one who finds these workouts so challenging?! I started to follow the BBG plan a couple years ago and could barely get through five minutes of the workout without wanting to collapse. Granted, I wasn’t in as good of shape as I am now. Kayla’s BBGs are focused on building strength and attaining a lean, muscular body. I’m not super into the whole ‘bikini body’ hype, but the proof is in the pictures. Her workouts are killer and I like to use them because they give me a little extra cardio while I work on my strength!
In addition to these four workout plans, I frequently snag different workouts from different fitness bloggers. These are the blogs that I’ve found to provide quality workouts (I use them regularly!):
The Balanced Berry – Great circuit workouts!
Pumps and Iron – My go-to for kettle bell workouts!
Physical Kitchness – For when you want to do barre on your own!
Born to Sweat – Obviously… Great strength workouts!
Join the conversation:
What is your routine when it comes to fitness?
How do you figure out what workouts to do (if you’re not a professional)?
Love this round up! I’m the same way…the summer months I seem to gravitate toward more inside workouts and less running. Running always sneaks in but it’s not as appealing. I’ve done a few BBG workouts but not regularly enough to see a change. Love to check out Beverly’s book!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life recently posted…Goal Digging
Seriously in Florida I walk outside during the Summer months and already want to die it’s so hot even in the morning lol #treadmill
Awesome round up Christina!! I’m definitely going to have to try one of these soon!
Marina @ A Dancer’s Live-It recently posted…“Crunching The Numbers” with Chobani
Thanks Marina!! I hope you like them!
With the temperatures warming up, I was getting the urge to do more running, but now winter is back again…LOL! I honestly just listen to what my body is telling me it needs. Some weeks it is cardio and yoga…others it is strength. Lately I have been just going with the flow…And it feels good. Great post friend!
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…Powerflow Yoga Studio In New Jersey
I can’t believe the weather the last few days!! It’s been chilly here in Florida, which is very weird this time of year! That’s so awesome – I feel like thats sort of what I’m doing right now. Whatever I feel like! I’m thankful to get free fitness classes through my job, so that’s great for when I don’t feel like doing it myself (aka having someone tell me what to do)
These are awesome resources. Loved BBG even though it’s hella tough. I can’t wait to try out Beverly’s program too
Georgie recently posted…Almond Butter Cup Overnight Oats
I need to do the whole thing like you did and see how strong I feel after! Youza boss.
I do love this post. I pinned it for later. Thanks!
Jill @ RunEatSnap recently posted…Big Sur Marathon Training Week 13 – To Run or Not to Run?!
Glad you like it! Thanks, Jill!
Being in Michigan, I am pretty much the opposite where this time of year is where I fall in love with running all over again and bump up my mileage because it gets to be the sweet spot in weather where it is not too hot and not too cold. I’ve been following Tone It Up for about 4 years now and I feel the same way about how much they have grown. Their brand has really taken off and they are doing incredible things, but still provide great weekly workouts and challenged!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Top Morning Habits of Fitness Bloggers
I can’t get over how much they give to their community. I mean, a fitness routine EVERY Sunday… that must be so hard to keep up with!
I also use Fitnessista’s Winter Shape Up and Summer Shape Up 4-week workout plans from the past few years to follow a few times per year. I like Tone It Up – although I wish they would focus a little less on the before/afters, which I think sometimes send the wrong message. Thanks for sharing this round up! I’m definitely going to check out some of the other plans!
Sam @ Barrister’s Beet recently posted…The Healthiest Food Shortcuts
I’ll have to check that out! Thanks, Sam!
Such a timely post for me! I’ve been thinking more about good cross training for when I start marathon training, meaning transitioning from just running and stretching. I’ll be on the lookout for some of these classes.
Thanks for the love, Alyssa! <3
yayyayyyyyayy! thanks so much for including me Christina <3
Hopefully one day i can be as successful as some of those other trainers you mentioned. Definitely helps when I have amazing people like you on my side.
Your balance sounds great – running/HIIT/classes, you basically get the best of everything!
Beverley @ Born to Sweat recently posted…What I Loved: March
Um you WILL!! I can already see it
The Blissful Balance recently posted…4 Workout Plans to Follow for Cross-Training
Ummmmmm anything to go those abs in that bikini guide I am so down with!
Amanda Elizabeth – Meet at the Barre recently posted…Shopbop Friends and Family Sale 2016 + Gift Certificate Giveaway
Haha so many abs on that site! Soo many abs.
The Blissful Balance recently posted…4 Workout Plans to Follow for Cross-Training
These are awesome! I just finished the 12 week program of BBG and omg. so hard. But I love them. In the winter months I usually do more strength training/cross training since I’m not a fan of running in the negative temps haha. Hopefully this spring/summer I can be consistent with strength training too!
Totally the opposite for me in Florida haha. Dang girl, anyone who can finish BBG is a bad ass in my book!
The Blissful Balance recently posted…4 Workout Plans to Follow for Cross-Training
Definitely bookmarking this for later so I can mix it up during my next workout! Jamie Eason is also how I started getting into weight lifting in my freshie year of college when I had absolutely 0 idea what those scary machines were for. And I love me some Born to Sweat workouts for SURE! Just purchased her new ebook and it’s so dang worth every penny
Cayanne Marcus @healthyezsweet recently posted…Your Acronym for Easy INTUITIVE Eating Part 2
Right? Jamie is the pioneer! Haha. YES So glad to hear you got it, it’s amazing
The Blissful Balance recently posted…4 Workout Plans to Follow for Cross-Training
The Bikini Body Guide (BBG) workouts are SO HARD! When I first started the program I thought I was in pretty good shape….uh nope I couldn’t even finish the first circuit.
Diana recently posted…April Marathon Training Schedule + Weekly Workouts
LOL no worries, I was the exact same way. No wonder she looks the way she does!
Thank you so much for including me! So glad you like mah circuits <3 Usually when it comes to my weekly workouts, I prioritize 1) things I enjoy and 2) what works with my schedule. Lately, that has been lots of classes…yoga, barre, PiYo and tabatas. I love Tone it Up too! But I definitely go through phases.
Les @ The Balanced Berry recently posted…Blogging Update: What do you do when your heart isn’t in it?
Of course!! And yeah I go through phases, too. I get bored very easily so I need to switch it up!! I’m going to barre this morning
I love the TIU girls! I have just started to use more at one workouts than the gym so this is perfect!
Such great workouts!! Thanks for the reviews! And congrats to Beverley! I love following her! Such an inspiration!
xoxo Cailee!
Cailee recently posted…Hello Healthy Toast!
Thanks for sharing that those gals have those workouts to do, because I’m always looking for new workout ideas when I’m just not feeling the ‘running mood.’
Emily recently posted…Building A Perfect Yogurt Bowl
Thanks for sharing these! I feel like I’m always googling or you-tubing a random workout on my off running days, now I have a set list!
Sarah @ BucketListTummy recently posted…Racing when you just don’t have “it” + Weekend in Charleston