Four hundreds.

Basically, it’s all very simple … you hit the timer, and as fast as you can, you have to do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and 100 burpees.

Simples right?

Sure … insofar as pain is simples!!  I managed the first three rounds pretty well considering, and managed to get through them in 18 minutes odd.  Then came the burpees … which took – no kidding – 11 minutes!  11!  I just had to keep stopping.  Worryingly, at one point, my trainer yelled out “don’t forget the jump at the end”.  I was jumping.  Apparently it was imperceptible.  It took as much effort as a high-jump.

Eventually, I managed to do the full thing in 29.02 which was a relatively respectable time, apparently.  The fastest person to do it did it in 24.35 which I would’ve beaten if the burpees hadn’t beaten me.  Now I’m on a bit of a mission to beat 24.35!!  CHALLENGE!!

The full rules are:

Push-ups:  They can be done on your knees, but not in a box-shape (obviously haha!) and you have to get down low enough or the push-up doesn’t count.  You just need to do that one again, you don’t need to start the full 100 again

Sit-ups:  These have to be the full monty, not a crunch.  You can use your arms for momentum, but you have to hook your feet under something or have someone hold them so that they don’t come off the ground, and you have to get right up, not just half-way

Squats:  Go low!  Otherwise they can be done however you like.  I would not recommend a jump-squat unless you’re certifiable.

Burpees:  They have to be full burpees with a jump at the end of each one.  Sob.

Overall:  You can take absolutely as long as you like and you can take as many sets as you like to complete the moves, but the timer doesn’t stop until you’ve completed the full 400 reps.

I like this work-out for the following reasons:

1.  it absolutely knackered me out

2.  it can be done anywhere as it has no equipment

3.  you can work on it to improve your time

4.  you have measurable results so you can see yourself getting fitter

5.  you can easily modify it to fit your ability – so for example, you could do Forties (ten of each) if you were just starting out, or if you were Tony Horton you could do Four Thousands

However … it IS harder than it looks!  I thought it sounded relatively easy when Hiren first described it, but I didn’t actually think I was going to make it at one point, and I also am in some serious lactic pain today (it would be really nice if breathing were optional).  But secretly I quite like that … I’m obviously a complete masochist.

xxx

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