16 Minute Max Fat Burn Circuit Workout
Even though it’s cold and snowy out here on the farm, this might be my FAVORITE time of the year. Why? Let me take you on a quick walk down memory lane to explain (and then I’ll give you a great workout, too).
When I was a child, this weekend was a big highlight of the year for my family. Every November my mom and dad would splurge on our family. They’d even take me and my sister out of school on the Friday for our annual trip to the big city of Toronto. It was the weekend of the Royal Winter Fair. We’d drive up to Toronto on the Friday morning and the anticipation of the weekend ahead was the best part.
Our plan was to go to the big city, wander around the animal exhibits at the fair, watch the horse show on Friday night, stay in a hotel (the old Holiday Inn on King Street West) and eat a breakfast of sausage and eggs in a restaurant (ooooh, fancy!) on Saturday morning.
Then we’d go Christmas shopping, eat pizza for dinner (again, fancy for the Ballantyne family!), and top it all off with four tickets to a
Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game.
Finally, on Sunday, we’d head out from the hotel and secure our spot along University Avenue in Toronto for the annual Santa Claus parade. This was the highlight of the weekend for my mom. And yesterday, while my sister and I were visiting her and Bally the Dog at her new house, we all sat down and watched the parade for a bit. More memories. That’s what matters.
And I’m serious when I tell you this was a big deal for the Ballantyne’s back in the day. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up. My parents had to make BIG sacrifices to afford this, but those memories are priceless.
Ha, I’ll never forget how one year we were halfway to Toronto before my mom realized she forgot the hockey game tickets at home. My dad was fuming as he turned our old beat-up station wagon around and drove us back to the farm. It was right out of a TV comedy.
Another year we were wandering through a flea market during the Saturday afternoon shopping portion when I got to watch my first ever robbery. Some young punk ran in and stole a bunch of gold chains from a vendor. My mom thought it was staged because she just couldn’t believe it happened.
But the best part of the trips were the hours I spent with my dad. We’d visit the horse barn at the fair on Friday, watch a dog show, and then at night we’d buy some Reese’s Pieces candy (he literally survived on candy) at the Equestrian horse jumping show.
Dad would point out all the fancy rich people of Toronto down in the VIP sections (the same ones that would be in the fancy VIP sections at the hockey game the next night). I sure do miss the old guy.
Saturday night was the pinnacle of the weekend. Going to a live Toronto Maple Laughs (as he called them) game was something that almost every Canadian boy dreamed about doing. To sit there with my old man, it made me think that he was the King of the World to be able to get me into the hallowed hall of old Maple Leaf Gardens where so many legends played.
And that is why I love this time of year. Even though we no longer go to the parade, and frankly you couldn’t pay me to go to a Maple Leafs hockey game, I still kick into the Christmas spirit over the weekend and stay in that mood for the rest of the year.
That’s why I want to give you a BIG present today. It’s a fancy 16-minute Max Fat Burning Circuit workout that you can do anywhere, anytime, even if you’re as busy as ol’ Saint Nick on December 24th.
16-Minute Max Fat Burning Circuit
– Do not rest between exercises…unless you really need a 15-second break.
– Rest 1-minute at the end of the circuit.
– Repeat the circuit up to 4 times for a total of 16 minutes of exercise.
1) Total Body Extensions – 30 seconds
2) Prisoner Squats – 30 seconds
3) Mountain Climbers (alternating sides) – 60 seconds
4) Reverse Lunges (alternating sides) – 60 seconds
5) Close-Grip Pushups – 30 seconds
6) Plank – 30 seconds
NOTE: Please start with just 8 minutes per workout this week (two circuits), then 12 minutes per workout next week (three circuits), and then finally work up to 16 minutes in week 3 (four circuits).
And if you want some variety and have access to a little bit of equipment, here’s another version (it’s also more advanced)…
16-Minute Advanced Max Fat Burner
– Do not rest between exercises…unless you really need a 15-second break.
– Rest 1-minute at the end of the circuit.
– Repeat the circuit up to 4 times for a total of 16 minutes of exercise.
1) Total Body Extensions – 30 seconds
2) KB Swings – 30 seconds
3) Mountain Climbers (alternating sides) – 60 seconds
4) KB Goblet Reverse Lunges (alternating sides) – 60 seconds
5) Close-Grip Pushups – 30 seconds
6) Burpees – 30 seconds
NOTE: Please start with just 8 minutes per workout this week (two circuits), then 12 minutes per workout next week (three circuits), and then finally work up to 16 minutes in week 3 (four circuits).
If you liked that, you’ll LOVE the rest of the workouts I have coming for you this week. With the “big eating holidays” coming up, you need all the fat burning workouts you can get .
Stay tuned. Max Fat Burn week continues tomorrow!
Love this fat burning time of year,
Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer
PS – Here’s one of the best gifts you sent in last week…
Each week we hear from hundreds of TT readers, and I love seeing your fat loss success stories. I also appreciate your kind words about our Turbulence Training team, other TT trainers, and when our support staff are able to help you through any technical difficulties. I also love lil’ notes like this one…
“Craig, I really appreciate your ‘good manners’ (for lack of a better way of saying it) in all of your communications. I have been receiving your emails for a while now, and have watched some of your videos, etc. I notice the ‘clean’ language, and positive client-centered outlook. You also do a great job of speaking to/helping the UNFIT population just starting out, AND challenging the super-fit. Your mature outlook is refreshing– & appreciated! These are a few of the reasons I chose TT. Thanks and keep up the good work!” – Michele, Kansas, USA
If you have any feedback to share, good or bad (we need to hear it all), please send me an email at TurbulenceTrainingHelp@gmail.com or post me a message on the Turbulence Training Face page here.
Oh, and one more thing about what matters…
PPS – Go make some HOLIDAY memories this week and weekend with your friends and family.
I’m off to Tampa, Florida on Saturday for a week with my friend Joel Marion and family. I’ll be celebrating my 2nd ever American Thanksgiving with them next week. Another reason I love this time of year.
Stay strong and keep on pushing on. And remember this nutrition tip…
You need to know your nutrition obstacles. Write them all down and then write down at least 2 solutions for each obstacle. This will help you avoid nutrition breakdowns. Plan ahead. Do your shopping and cooking and meal prep on the weekends, so that during your busy week you have your meals ready…and you avoid vending-machine regret. Plan, shop, and prepare for success today. You can do it. I believe in you.
PPPS – You are awesome!