Backyard Workout - JP Fitness Forums

Q. · 11-06-2007, 07:13 PM

Although I have a free membership at the university gym that I use regularly, I still have stuff at home that I workout with. I recently came up with a plan that I use as a part of "the mix." I say the mix because routine is the enemy!

So, back to the workout. I have a chinning bar that I built in the back yard. I moved my Blast Straps out there for this.

I recently built a 10' x 4" Sloshing Pillar of Pain (SPoP)! I didn't cement one end in case I want to change the water level. I also bought a 10 lb medicine ball recently.

So, the work out is:
* 10 between the legs from squat position med ball throws as high as I can throw it, using as much leg as possible
* walk with the SPoP from one side of the yard and back again
* 5 pushups as low as possible on the Blast Straps
* 5 chins
* repeat

No rests and keep it up for 20 minutes, currently. It gets my heart rate up pretty good, the med ball is a good explosive exercise, the SPoP is great core work and the pushups and chins are just long time fundamental stuff. My plan is to keep the intensity up and increase the time.

Other days I swim and tomorrow will be deadlift and squat day with some overhead DB presses so I think I mix it up pretty well.

I think this new "routine" is my fav for the time being because it's "new" and fun but I'll still keep on changing things up as I go to keep the mix going!

Kevin T. · 11-06-2007, 07:55 PM

I'm definitely building a SPoP. That thing looks sick. I just gotta figure out where to store it :p

MindPower · 11-06-2007, 08:18 PM

Backyard workouts are great, looks like you have a good one.
Throw in a keg, a tire and a sandbag and your options are endless.
I had forgot about the SPoP, how tough did you find it?

Q. · 11-06-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindPower

Backyard workouts are great, looks like you have a good one.
Throw in a keg, a tire and a sandbag and your options are endless.
I had forgot about the SPoP, how tough did you find it?

I wanted a tire but I thought it would be hard to explain to the wife why there was a hole in the fence from a runaway tire! I had a sandbag but I think I built something with the sand.

Re: the SPoP, it's amazing how light it feels when it's on end and how heavy it is when the water is about five feet out from you. I have a hard time keeping it in the air if I let is slosh too much. It's a lot of FUN!

Lisa~ · 11-07-2007, 06:54 AM

Good stuff Q! Keeping it fun makes such a big difference.

T-Runner · 11-07-2007, 08:36 AM

Looks like a good time.

I read the SPoP article a week or so ago, and I definitely need to build one. I'm pretty sure I have some PVC in the garage left by the previous homeowners.We have soccer fields across the street from our home that are not particularly well-maintained and not used for much formal league play, so I don't feel too bad doing any GPP work out there. Once upon a time, I did quite a bit, actually.

Hmm...I should go get a tire this weekend.

Thanks for the inspiring post.

kuri · 11-07-2007, 09:46 AM

Brad, have you tried holding the pillar overhead for time? That seems to be a favorite at GymJones.

Make yourself a sandbag, pick up a couple KBs and you can host your own Summt

Q. · 11-07-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuri

Brad, have you tried holding the pillar overhead for time? That seems to be a favorite at GymJones.

Make yourself a sandbag, pick up a couple KBs and you can host your own Summt

No, I haven't held it over my head but I keep meaning to give it a try.

I used to have just a regular 80 lb bag of sand that I wrapped but I need to replace it. NO KB'S FOR ME, THANKS! That applies to Summits, too!

One thing I did leave out was that I picked up a 35 lb DB at Wal-Mart (the ONLY one they had at the time) and it was intended to be left out in the back yard. So, I also throw in some one-armed DM clean and presses in the mix. Sometimes I just raise it from ground to full extension with a slow, steady motion across my body.

Yes, it's a fun alternative and there's no wait for equipment!

Bill2380 · 11-07-2007, 05:10 PM

Brad, I've been thinking about the SPoP for the backyard too, but chances are mine would be frozen for the next four months.

Kevin T. · 11-07-2007, 06:56 PM

That's what I was thinking too, Bill. Anti-freeze? That's what they recommend for the bases of those basketball hoops. Maybe.

Sign · 11-07-2007, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill2380

Brad, I've been thinking about the SPoP for the backyard too, but chances are mine would be frozen for the next four months.

Using the SPoP in the middle of winter could possibly be borderline sadistic. Not only would it be pain normally, but add in the cold weather and the deep heaving breaths drying and freezing your nostrils and lungs. Ugh, it hurts to even imagine it. Not to mention when you give out and collapse onto a nice solid frozen chunk of ground lol.

Bill2380 · 11-08-2007, 05:41 AM

Quote:

That's what I was thinking too, Bill. Anti-freeze? That's what they recommend for the bases of those basketball hoops. Maybe.

Rocksalt may be more envirnmentally friendly if you ever want to empty the damn thing. It's used to ADD WEIGHT and keep water filled tractor tires from freezing. I'll still wait 'till spring for all the reasons Sign mentioned.

Q. · 11-08-2007, 06:04 AM

Spring??? What's the big deal? It was in the 80's yesterday.

Then there's global warmning...

Q. · 02-16-2008, 10:28 PM

Sorry to resurrect this but I'm still loving the slosh pipe! I have gotten it over my head regularly now, do my w/o's that way and I LOVE IT! I also bought a couple of 60 lb bags of sand that are useful for a lot of things but mostly I just pick 'em up off the floor and raise 'em over my head or DL the two of them.

Phaedrus49er · 02-17-2008, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q.

Sorry to resurrect this but I'm still loving the slosh pipe! I have gotten it over my head regularly now, do my w/o's that way and I LOVE IT! I also bought a couple of 60 lb bags of sand that are useful for a lot of things but mostly I just pick 'em up off the floor and raise 'em over my head or DL the two of them.

The slosh pipe is still on my to-do list. Is it appropriately kicking your deriere?

Q. · 02-17-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

The slosh pipe is still on my to-do list. Is it appropriately kicking your deriere?

Yeah, one trip from one side of the back yard and back gets me breathing pretty hard! I added a few overhead presses at the end. Then I go to the other "toys." Next, I want to try to squat with it!

I used to post pics on my birthday of accomplishments in the gym but haven't in a couple of years. That might be my goal for the upcoming "54"... overhead squat my slosh pipe! YEAH!!!

It had leaked some water so I made sure I was at the 2/3 level and it was more challenging but that's the point, right?

Phaedrus49er · 02-17-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q.

Yeah, one trip from one side of the back yard and back gets me breathing pretty hard! I added a few overhead presses at the end. Then I go to the other "toys." Next, I want to try to squat with it!

I used to post pics on my birthday of accomplishments in the gym but haven't in a couple of years. That might be my goal for the upcoming "54"... overhead squat my slosh pipe! YEAH!!!

It had leaked some water so I made sure I was at the 2/3 level and it was more challenging but that's the point, right?

That makes me giddy