Skinny Rebel Workout

This is one of those posts where I’m not sure where to begin…

One rainy Saturday morning, I woke up unusually early and was ready to partake in an epic physical challenge. I (somehow) completed the Skinny Rebel workout.

A hop and a skip on the tube line brought me to St. James’ Park where you’ll find the luxurious Conrad Hotel. Walking in with my workout gear and slightly damp trainers, I certainly looked out of place amongst the marble floors, plush sofas and shiny chandeliers. But it was no matter, I was there to visit Dean, the incredibly personable athletic trainer decked out in workout gear and a beanie. He’s a cool guy. But don’t let his friendly demeanor fool you, for the next 45 minutes, his workout routine quite literally kicked my ass.

I began the workout in good spirits.

The workout is all about incorporating ‘the mask.’ The Skinny Rebel mask simulates high altitude breathing, aka it’s painful, it’s challenging, and it feels like someone has their hand over your mouth while you workout. Fun.

I’m always up for a challenge, so this sort of exercise task had me wanting to succeed. Ambitiously, I thought I could complete the workout with the mask for 45 minutes. I probably ended up having it on for about 15-20 minutes total (including me ripping it off my face in between to get ALL the air). Lately, I’m not terribly athletic. I used to be. I’ve ran a half marathon, I used to be lighter, slimmer and in overall better shape. Right now I’m working on getting back into the swing of things.

The Skinny Rebel workout is all about quick, fast circuit training moves. Dean’s got his eye on the clock and has you running in place, getting your cardio up before launching into the routine. I found myself doing squats, jumps, burpees, planks and lifting weights. Oh, and quite literally, crawling on a treadmill (there are photos, and no, I’m not publishing them).

It’s a high intensity workout designed for people who want to maximize their efforts in minimal time. I know in the mornings before work, if I get to the gym, I have a solid 30-45 minutes of exercise before dashing off to get ready.

In the end, I managed to get the mask on and train. It feels like your lungs are being squeezed, it’s a definite challenge but one I’d absolutely do again. Dean had great tips for breathing, repeatedly reminding me, “In through your nose, out through your mouth” as well as further words of encouragement.

I stole a couple of more technical points from their website about the added benefits of a Skinny Rebel workout.

FITNESS BENEFITS:

• Improved aerobic performance

• Enhanced power output and speed

• Improved strength and endurance

• Increased exercise-till-exhaustion (ETE)

• Reduced recovery time after exertion

• Faster rehabilitation and injury recovery

PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS:

• Decreased resting heart rate

• New blood cell production

• New blood capillary growth

• Improved antioxidant balance

• Promotion of health and wellness

• Improved physiological function

I think it’s a great combination of benefits all around. The workout left me sweating, exhausted and yet somehow completely refreshed. As a side note, I didn’t make it to the gym for an entire week after this… it’s that challenging. I really enjoyed the Skinny Rebel workout. Dean is a fantastic trainer and really knows how to keep you motivated, so I’d highly suggest if you’re interested to pick up a training session with him. You can sign up or ask about Skinny Rebel sessions here… info@skinnyrebel.com.