Apartment Living & Workouts at Home

Hey there! My clock says 3:37 pm but it still looks like 7:00 am outside; crazy/cold thunderstorms are not at the top of my favorite weather list. Alas, its a good reason to brew an extra pot of coffee or a cup of tea or three. :) Hope your week has been lovely so far!

I was chatting with a friend about working out in her apartment and the woes of jump squats on the second (or third, or fourth) floor in an apartment building. I live in an apartment myself, and can totally relate. Riley and I were practicing handstands the other evening (normal) and it was obnoxious just hearing our feet land back on the ground! Alas, this conversation led to a request for a neighbor-friendly living room workout. Genius! This is what friends are for; brainstorming ideas you seem to miss ;)

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Living Room Workout (no stomping required)

2-3 sets of 20; rest 1 minute between sets

• double leg glute bridges
• plank with single leg lift/glute squeeze (20 each leg)
• close-grip push-ups (keep those elbows by your ribs!) make it easier: do these from your knees
• side plank with crunch (example) make it easier: drop your bottom knee to support your weight
• chair step-ups (only if you have sturdy chairs!) OR reverse lunges: control the stepping-down motion in the step-up to work the quads more and prevent a loud "thud" when you reach the ground! 
• suspended straight-arm leg kicks: this sounds crazy, I know! Get into a tricep dip position (like this woman) then alternate kicking each leg straight into the air. Once you do 20 of each leg, kick across the other leg, 20 each side, keeping your arms in the same position the entire time.
• speed skaters-minus the hop inbetween (just step from one foot to the other to keep the neighbs happy)
• duck and punch: in a wide-legged squat position, squat and lean to the right while punching with the left arm across your body. Then squat (duck) and lean to the left while punching the right arm across your body. Do 20 on each side, then repeat with uppercut punches (punching up towards the ceiling with elbow bent) on each side. make it harder: lift the heel of your right foot off the ground as you lean left and the heel of the left foot off as you lean right (opposite sides!).
• couch plank jacks: In a plank position (hands below shoulders) with your feet on your couch, hop your feet apart, then together. Keep your booty in a straight line with the rest of your bod!
• three-count wide-grip push-ups: hands wider than shoulder-width, count to three as your lower until your elbows are at 90 degrees, then push back up to starting position at a normal speed.
• rope climb crunches: Start lying on your back with your legs straight (or as close as they can get) up in the air. Crunch up until your shoulder blades are off the ground; you'll keep them off the ground the entire time! Pretending there is a rope hanging from above and dangling by your feet, alternate reaching your right hand up towards it, then your left, "climbing" the rope. Do 20 reaches each side. These should burn!

Questions on an exercise? Hate it or love it? Let me know! Have fun with it, and let your mind rest easy knowing your neighbs don't hate you (unless you happen to be blasting Rihanna at 3 am, then perhaps they do). :)

That's it for today! May the rest of your Wednesday make you happy :)

--KQ