Lift Weights Faster with Jen Sinkler

I recently purchased Jen Sinkler’s Lift Weights Faster, a library of body weight, kettlebell, and barbell workouts. I love training and look forward to it, but these days I am pressed for time, not to mention sore from lifting and carrying around my built-like-a-hockey-player son. Before he was born, I would hit the gym six days a week for two hours each time. I would start with five or more sets for one particular body part (back, chest, legs, shoulders, more legs) and then complete a butt load of cardio, either steady state—think step mill—or circuits with lots of skipping and jumping about. I still make it to the gym almost every day but must now condense this regime into a single hour. I initially struggled to choose between lifting weights and doing cardio [you will not be surprised to hear that lifting always won]. Then I discovered the Lift Weights Faster system, with its wide range of short and challenging circuits that combine weight training with cardio. I tend to lift lighter weights, but that is mostly okay. My goals have changed: I no longer want to build giant muscles and look ripped. I want to increase my heart rate, move my entire body, and stretch out my sore back while maintaining my still-impressive-though-covered-with-flab muscle mass. I would also like to lose a few pounds, but think that I am supposed to pretend I do not give a rat’s ass about my fat butt and instead look at it lovingly in the mirror while speaking gently to it about “self love.” I am not there yet.

Yes. You read that correctly.

You might be wondering: FFG, why not save money by designing your own circuits? I have tried that. My circuits tend to feature the movements that I like, namely squat jumps, burpees, push ups, and kettlebell swings. I need someone to force me to do shin boxes, hip bridges, dead bugs, and other such horse shit. I also want to have someone else do the planning, even as I no longer have time to work with a personal trainer. Of course, having a personal trainer is the best thing in the world. Oh how I wish I was still working out with G-Smash or DYT. But my world has forever changed and I must get on with it…

If you can following these shin-box directions, I salute you.

Back to Lifting Weights Faster. Here is how I do it: I warm up with a ten-minute beginner bodyweight circuit, then move on to two intermediate or advanced drills, often using kettlebells or dumb bells. I try not to rest at all. After this fairly intense 30 minutes, I do split training, working a single body part with a superset or triset for another 20 minutes, and then I do some cardio. I still teach spin two days per week and have one full ass-kicking legs day, preferably with Fitbabe because she makes me work very hard. She also makes me squat very low and do walking lunges. Ugh.

Most recent photo of me at the gym, taken by PDDs four months ago.

I guess this post is dull for people who don’t like to work out at the gym. Yet the Lift Weights Faster Program could still suit you as many of the circuits can be done at home, with little to no equipment. No doubt this post is equally dull for seasoned gym rats, who will find my dilemma and its solution to be old hat. So let me send a loud shout out to all of you who are in between the gym haters and lovers. I hope you enjoyed this self-indulgent discussion of my current workout regime. I should end by mentioning that I am not receiving anything from Jen Sinkler or her company for this (sort of) promotion of her program. But if she ever reads these words, she can feel free to get in touch. Jen is the bomb and has the right idea about fitness.