crunch-home-workout

As you know I often reference my bodybuilding past here at Angry Trainer Fitness and truthfully even though I no longer exercise that way, I still feel the effects of those years of abuse. It seems as though every few months I suffer a fairly serious injury. Just a few weeks ago while squatting with just 225 on the bar, I hurt my back. I felt a pop in my left side and within minutes was having trouble walking, sitting and as I’d find out later, even sleeping!

So why is this? I mean surely 225 is nowhere near my max lift. In my earlier years I’d squat 455 with no wraps or belt for several reps. The ‘lighter’ weight always seemed easy and I could perform 30 reps or even do jump squats with 225. But I’ve come to realize that all of those years of heavy lifting have just taken their toll on my body. I probably have compressed disks in my back (how could I not) and every now and again they get set off, perhaps even bulge or herniate and push on a nerve. It can get really old!

Coincidentally, right around the same that I hurt my back, I received an Ask Alfonso that posed the question Are Resistance Bands As Good As Free Weights? . And a light bulb went off in my head! I decided that for the next 6 weeks I wouldn’t touch or lift a dumbbell or barbell in any of my routines.

So here’s the deal. As you read this I’ll be approaching my second week of ‘weightless’ training. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be using resistance. My workouts for the next few weeks will involve resistance bands, my Jungle Gym XT  suspension trainer, my Power Wheel  and any/all bodyweight exercises, including calisthenics, that I can think of. I’ll also be kickboxing, running, cycling, etc – a lot!

So with this in mind I thought I’d throw down the gauntlet for all you Angry Trainer fans out there! As you know from time to time here on the site we have monthly challenges – so here’s next month’s challenge…

I’m challenging you to also ditch the weights for one whole month.

Think you can do it?

The challenge starts June 1st and runs through the end of the month. Each day I’ll post my workout for the day on Facebook and I encourage all of you to share your own routines too. This challenge will also be perfect for those of you out there that travel or don’t have a gym membership as you can use resistance bands anywhere. And if you don’t have a set, they’re super cheap! For about $15 a band you can get a great workout in! And for all of you out there that think bands / bodyweight exercises aren’t hard or that they don’t produce muscle growth or increase your strength – you’re wrong. I can’t begin to tell you how sore I was – and still am – from the workouts I’m currently following and the differences I see in my body.

So what do you say? Will you accept the ‘weightless’ challenge?

Make sure you’re following the Angry Trainer Fitness Facebook page – and we’ll be kicking off in just a few days time…

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