30 Days of Burpees

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well. I've been keeping busy of course with work and the gym, just figuring out life I guess. At the same time, I've been looking for new fitness challenges to get into. One day, my friend Noereem brought to my attention this 30 days of burpees challenge that Spartan Race posted on their facebook page. I was like "ehhhh I hate burpees, I don't think so". Then I said to myself that I gotta keep pushing myself so why the hell not? So that night, I put in my mind that I was going to perform 30 burpees a day for the next 30 days. No pressure right?

For those that may not know what a burpee is, it is an explosive full body workout that can be used for strength training as well as cardio conditioning.  Here's the basic set-up:

1. Begin in a standing position.
2. Drop into a squat position with your hands on the ground.
3. Kick your feet back, while keeping your arms extended.
4. Immediately return your feet to the squat position.
5. Stand up from the squat position.

Some slight alterations that can be done to the burpee includes adding a push-up once you're in the plank position and as opposed to standing up from the squat position, give a quick jump instead. This is the variation that I chose to do for 30 days. 30 burpees may sounds overwhelming to people, but you can easily break it down. For example:

1. 3 sets of 10.

2. 6 sets of 5.

3. 1 set of 20, 1 set of 10.

I must admit in the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was gonna continue with the challenge. I'm a bigger guy and that's a lot of bodyweight to be flinging around in the air and whatnot. But I kept pushing myself because I'm not a quitter. It was also good to have Noereem's constant support and making me want to be great. Halfway through the challenge, I noticed that my arms and chest were getting more solid and the beginnings of a kinda sorta but not really four-pack. That made me wanna keep going, and that I did. 

Once I got to the last day, I thanked the Lord that I got through it and I didn't quit. It's become a part of my regular workout routine. After my lifting sessions, I go to the cardio area of the gym and bang out burpees. I always get an array of looks from others at the gym, probably wondering what the hell is this guy doing. I'm simply unleashing the beast that I am. From now on, I'm doing 40 or more burpees a day. All of this extra work is merely the beginning stages of training for the Spartan Race I plan on signing up for next year. This will be my next thrill, so wish me luck. Hopefully, I've inspired someone to get up and do some burpees. I still hate them, but the results will influence to you to keep on giving your all. Until next time guys, and thanks for the support as always.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

(Royal H. Burpee; the man responsible for inflicting this hellish workout on the world)