Dear burpees, thank you for the stamina, weight loss, and toned legs
I was first introduced to burpees by Roadies, the MTV reality show. I know it sounds absurd, but today burpees and I are truly, madly, and deeply in love. Such is our relationship, that even my periods don’t stop me from attempting at least ten of these. And not to mention that my weight loss journey wouldn’t have transpired the way it did if burpees weren’t there.
I know I am being melodramatic, but this is how we both feel for each other. True love you see! But it wasn’t that rosy initially. Burpees hit me really hard when I first started doing them. But I didn’t abandon them because it turns out that I was doing them wrong–duh!
But when I struck the right chord with this intense exercise, there was no looking back. Now it’s been almost a year-and-a-half since I’ve stepped on a treadmill because what burpees can offer me, no amount of stationary running can.
And what’s that? Well, it’s not just one but five things that burpees did for my weight loss regimen. Here they are…
1. Burpees made me stronger than ever
Yes, they made me feel like an Ultrawoman. Why? Because now I can beat the s#^t even out of any guy when it comes to push-ups. Burpees is a functional exercise and it works on arms, chest, quads, glutes, hamstrings, and abs–basically on your full-body. The result? Every day I felt stronger and leaner.
2. It offered me mega weight loss
For close to two years I was stuck at 55 kilos. I had made my peace with it, but then my trainer Dinesh Negi introduced me to Burpees and helped me lose almost 10 kilos more. And BTW, all this weight loss is minus any cardio on the treadmill.
3. It gave me a well-sculpted body for the first time in my life
While I had lost a tremendous amount of weight before I took up burpees, my body wasn’t toned and my weight plateauing. But thanks to this exercise my muscles started getting tighter and more toned. |
4. Burpees boosted my stamina too
Yes, burpees are the secret to my energy. I can say that because ever since I’ve started doing them, I busted my own notions of what I can and cannot do. I always thought that lifting a five during biceps curl was the limit for me. I always thought that doing lat-pulley push down by 15 kilos is enough.
But the simple truth was that I just didn’t have enough energy to pull off more weight. Today, a bicep curl with a 10-kilo weight and a 40 to 45 kilos lat-pulley push down is a regular affair for me. Burpees are also the reason why I was able to pull off my first marathon without any training.
5. Burpees made my legs leaner and stronger
Frankly, I dread leg day at the gym. And when I bunk them, I compensate with burpees–because they work wonders when it comes to toning your legs. Basically, when you jump and come down, you are doing three exercises–a jump, a squat, and a jump squat. Jump squats are the magic remedy for toned legs. I used to have cellulite too but thanks to this exercise, I can barely see any.
So, that was the beginning of my love saga with burpees. Sure, I was scared in the beginning but I am glad that I met them!