Workouts that cut gym time in half

By Daisy Carrington, amNewYork Deputy Features Editor
dcarrington@am-ny.com

February 20, 2008

Trainer Felix demonsrates various weight lifting exercises for the amNewYork Personal Trainer section published on Feb. 21, 2008 (Photo Michelle Repiso)

Trainer Felix demonsrates various weight lifting exercises. (Michelle Repiso / February 19, 2008)

Maintaining one's health and beauty is a real time consuming process. Sure, we'd all love to cram in 10 hours of cardio, strength training and yoga a week, but to do so is daunting when you're also trying to hold down a full time job.

"With our busy schedules, it's hard to find the time to consistently stick to a workout routine," acknowledges Crunch trainer Felix Deleon. To make our lives a little easier, Deleon has designed a workout that combines exercises, one that he believes, "will cut your workout time in half."

1. Lunge with lateral raise

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a pair of dumbbells and let your arms hang by your side. Lunge forward with your right leg. Your right knee should be at a right angle. While in a lunge position, laterally raise your dumbbells to shoulder height, keeping your arms parallel to the floor. Return to starting position and repeat with your left leg. Do three sets of 10 on each leg.

2. Squat with overhead press

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a pair of dumbbells out to the side with your elbows bent, so they are level with your ears. Squat down, keeping your back straight and not extending your knees past your toes. Stand and raise the dumbbells over your head. Return to the starting position. Do three sets of 10.

3. Lunge with bicep curl

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a pair of dumbbells and let your arms hang by your side. Lunge forward with your right leg. While in a lunge position, perform a bicep curl with both your arms. Remember to keep your elbows in towards your body. Return to starting position. Do three sets of ten on each leg.

4. Squat with front raise

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a pair of dumbbells and let your arms hang by your side. Squat down and lift the dumbbells out in front of your body, keeping your arms straight and parallel to the floor. Return to starting position. Do three sets of 10.