The 5-4-3-2-1 Workout

I am already halfway into July and am slacking big time on a lot of my missions and goals for the summer. So today, I hope to pick up some slack. I have been wanting to lose weight for sometime now, but haven't done anything about it. Pinterest, of course, is a great place to find a plethora of easy workouts, the hard part isn't pinning them, but actually doing them. So today, I am starting.

First and foremost, have never been to a gym or engaged in any real or organized exercise program beyond taking my dog out for longer walks. This workout plan is divided into time steps: 5,4,3,2, and 1 minutes each. Within step there are a list of exercises to be completed. You go through the exercises for the duration of the interval and move on the the next step.

Going through my pins, I decided to start with this one, because it was one of my first and had a lot to teach. As I have never engaged in organized or formal exercising, I recognized almost NONE of these exercises. So the first thing I did was look up what each of the exercises actually are and watch short videos demonstrating the exercises. Below I copied the workout, linked the videos and chronicled my experience with it.

The 5-4-3-2-1 Workout:

5 minutes
1 minute knee highs: I started this feeling foolish, by twenty seconds I was smiling. It was fun, harder than it seems to keep it up for a minute. Got my heart rate up rather quickly and I one of my knees gave out around 40 seconds, so it became more like knee lows. I got a phone call at this point so my heart rate went back down before I began again.

1 minute jumping jacks: I did about 60 jumping jacks, and frankly, I'm not sure I've been so bored.

1 minute front kicks: I stand corrected, this was more boring that the jumping jacks. Did sets of 10 on each leg, did about 2 sets. Will probably not want to do these again.

1 minute jumping jacks

1 minute run in place: Before starting these I took a water break, doing the three minutes almost straight is not good for the shape I (not) in. Took it more as a jog, but this minute probably passed faster than any other. Definitely wasn't planning that. I have broken my first non-walking/walking my dog exercise sweat. WOO!  My legs are tingling as I type this - is that a good sign?

4 minutes
1 minute lunges or walking lunges: I decided to do lunges since I'm new to them and it's probably easier. Like the front kicks, I did ten with each leg before switching. Did two minutes straight instead of repeating and having extra fiddles with the timer on my phone. I started off slow. This is definitely the kind of exercise I should get really good at. Did about a set and a half in the two minute period. Had to go over in order to finish the other leg.

1 minute mountain climbers: This was the exercise I dreaded the most, took another break before starting. Did it in front of a mirror to make sure I didn't do it wrong. Despite such, not sure I did it right, but practice makes perfect?

repeat

3 minutes
10 push ups and rest: I set the timer to a minute and half on this, rested ten seconds and did more push ups. I completed thirteen push-ups. Yeah, thirteen. I do not have the stamina to do so much at once. On minute three and already I'm ready to never exercise again. Will try to finish this round before into easier steps for me.

15 tricep dips and rest: Again, timer for a minute and a half. Let's hope I actually make it to 15 dips. I decided to quit at 15 dips rather than a minute and a half. They took me a minute and 15 seconds. Woot for 15 second rest. All I can think about now is my freaking cool down shower.

repeat

2 minutes
30 seconds of squats: Did about in a minute. Took a few seconds after every five. I am getting embarrassingly tired. I did not think it would kick me in the butt like it is. Took a water break before moving on.

30 seconds of jumping squats: These would be fun if bending over didn't feel like I was collapsing. Better luck tomorrow, or next time. Which ever comes first.
repeat

1 minute
planks: Let's hope these are as fun as they are still, or at least relaxing? One minute before I'm done! I went like 40 seconds. Good enough for a first try for me at least.


The workout also calls as many breaks and as much water as necessary.

Total Time: about 50 minutes +/-
Final Take: That was O-V-E-R-K-I-L-L. Doing all of the exercises was too much. Immediately after finishing I made it to the shower to turn the water on before having a date with the porcelain deity of the drunkards. I am proud I can say I did it (the workout not the date); however, if I want to continue with this routine, I have to ease into it. This is beyond my level. I either have to ease it up A LOT or do more training before resuming the work out. Overall, this one will need major editing on my part in order to be a recurring event.