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10 Workouts From My Garage Gym

Editor’s note: This post was written before the insanity and reality/tragedy of COVID-19 set in. As you read through, please consider doing the following:

  • Wipe down your own equipment with a disinfectant before and after use, even if it’s just you. Be sure to wash your hands before and after, too. We don’t recommend you working out with others, but if you do, keep at least six feet apart.
  • Remember that very intense exercise can decrease your immunity, so go at a moderate to mild pace where you can talk (reference here).
  • If you just started working out at home, consider some of these workouts instead.
  • For all of us, rest days are essential. If you don’t feel 100 percent, REST.
  • We are one of many places offering fitness advice, workouts, etc. during this trying time. Get more self-care, fitness, and meditation resources here.

Now that the weather is warming up, I’ve been able to have even more fun in my garage gym. (AKA The Barn Box, in case you missed it.)

I’ve been able to work more running into my workouts — and even some box jumps and double-unders. That’s a big deal for me. I hadn’t done a true box jump since I found out I was pregnant with the twins more than a year ago, and it’s just now that my core (and, um, bladder) feels like it’s recovered enough to jump rope.

Now look how big these cuties are!

Now, like the last time I shared my garage gym workouts (here), my intention in sharing them isn’t for you to do them exactly as written (although if you want to and can, go for it!); rather, I hope they’ll serve as inspiration for workouts you could try at home. Most of these are a mix of cardio and full-body strength, HIIT, and are very short. They also require some equipment, like dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, TRX, and a rower — although I’ve listed ideas for modifying with less equipment for each.

Obviously, talk to your doc and a personal trainer if you have any questions about what you should or shouldn’t do — especially if you’re just starting out on your fitness journey. And, of course, listen to your body. Knowing when to push yourself and knowing when to take it easy is a skill that takes honing but is SO important, especially when you’re working out on your own.

Now let’s get to those garage gym workouts!

10 Awesome Workouts From My Garage Gym

Row Your Burpee

No rower? Try running or walking instead for a set distance. Total workout should take you 10 to 15 minutes.

Full-Body Blast

This one is great for working your posterior chain. Substitute running or walking for rowing if you need to. And you can definitely use dumbbells instead of a barbell for the rows.

Top of the Row to Ya & 12-Minute Full-Body AMRAP

If you’ve got the time, do both of these back to back (they’re each 12 minutes long) — if not, they’re great on their own. Don’t have a rower? Sub in any other cardio move.

Working on My Weaknesses WOD

As I’m getting back into my workout groove after having the twins, I’ve really made sure to work my weaker areas. For me, that’s making sure I target my upper back and don’t just use my delts for everything, and that I continue building equal strength and mobility in each of my legs and glutes. If you don’t have a rower, use any other piece of cardio equipment that tracks calories. (And please note: this isn’t about actually BURNING calories — instead it’s just a way to track intensity / reps in a way other than distance.)

3 WODs in One

This one is pretty straightforward and simple, but it does the job. Sub in 5 minutes of cardio for WOD 1 if you don’t have a rower.

5-4-3-2-1 WOD

It’s just 15 minutes, but it’ll kick your booty! Feel free to sub any movements that you need to — but do make sure the last minute is something really challenging so that you end with a cardio bang.

Jump, Jump

Don’t go too heavy on the clean and jerks here for WOD 1 — you’ll be doing a total of 50 of them and want to make sure you have good form. WOD 2 is quick, but don’t be surprised if your core is sore the next day from it.

A Little Bit of Everything WOD

This workout is bookended by rowing, but feel free to run or walk 400 meters instead. If roll to stand is too challenging, swap with sit-ups or crunches. And, if Turkish get-ups are too much, try a windmill with a kettlebell, dumbbell, or sans weight. Lastly, if you don’t have a plate to walk with overhead (for about 100 meters), feel free to use dumbbells.

Countdown WOD

I did this one when it was quite cold out (note the mittens!), and let’s just say it warmed me right up. No rower? You know the drill — sub in any cardio.

Fight Gone Bad

This is a well known workout in the CrossFit world and with good reason — it’s sneaky hard!

How to Get More Garage Gym Workouts

Follow along on Instagram (@FitBottomedGirl) to see my garage gym workouts in real time, and bookmark all of our workouts here — I’ll be posting more garage gym workout recaps in the future.

What home workouts are you trying? –Jenn

FTC disclosure: We often receive products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are always entirely our own. Unless otherwise stated, we have received no compensation for our review and the content is purely editorial. Affiliate links may be included. If you purchase something through one of those links we may receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!

Comments

7 Comments
  1. Sam says:

    Thanks a lot for the exercises you can do at home. Recently I picked up https://bit.ly/2UcOLrr, it helped me a lot with building muscle and losing fat at home. I hope it helps some others!

  2. Emily B says:

    These are great workouts! Thanks for posting, especially during this time while we are all staying at home social distancing.

  3. Thanks for that advice Jenn. I’ve definitely got a couple of ideas from this, and I’ll be mixing and matching them with the workout I do at the moment.

    1. Jenn says:

      Yay! That’s so great to hear, Paula! Happy sweating! 🙂

      –Jenn

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