How to Burn Fat with Minimalist Training
No gym? No problem. With Get-Fit Guy’s tips, you can still get a heart-pounding, fat-burning workout—minimal equipment required!
Ben Greenfield
With minimalist training, you don’t need a lot of fancy gym equipment to give your body a good workout. Case in point: A few days ago, I was traveling, and my hotel did not have a gym. Instead of throwing in the towel, I wandered outside and found a few old cement blocks left over from a construction project.
Now, this got me thinking about some very interesting research that found people experience a significant hormonal fat-burning response when they swing a heavy object (like a kettlebell). So I picked up one of those old cement blocks, and I swung it 30 times, using the same type of swinging motion I explain in the article “How to Use Kettlebells.”
But I didn’t stop there. Choosing a few other “minimal equipment required” exercises, I ended up performing a potent, fat-burning workout right there in the grass outside the hotel. My routine consisted of the following:
- 30 cement block swings
- 30 mountain climbers (15 per side)
- 30 lunges (15 per side)
- 30 flutter kicks (15 per side), and
- 30 burpees.
After five rounds, my metabolism was elevated for the day—I was huffing and puffing!—and it all started with that one cement block. See, fancy gym machines aren’t always necessary. To get the body you want, all you need is your own body weight and occasionally a few simple objects.
What about you? What’s your favorite minimalist workout? Do you have more questions about minimalist training for fat burning? Then join the conversation over at Facebook.com/GetFitGuy!
Bricks used in construction image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.