Each year we wrapped up the swim team season at our annual awards ceremony. When I was 10 years old my coach handed me my participation trophy at the banquet along with a button that read:

“The more you complain the longer God lets you live.”

I think this was his subtle way of saying I was an absolute joy to coach.

I have to admit, my joy for cardio induced workouts has not improved over the years, because I’m still complaining. Put a barbell or a dumbbell in my hand and I’m happy, but put me on a treadmill and the 10 year old girl in me emerges and she’s usually whining.

Yesterday’s workout called for 30 minutes of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). To shake things up a bit, instead of hitting the cardio equipment, I made a detour to the weight room. I knew I could get my heart rate up using light weights and body weight movements if I put my mind to it.

I ended up breaking my workout into three 10 minute segments. Here’s what I did:

ROUND 1: 10 Minutes
I grabbed an empty 45 pound barbell and did the following barbell complex:

10 Deadlifts
10 Overhead presses
10 Squats
30 Seconds rest

I repeated this sequence 1 time through (without putting the bar down between movements) and repeated the set 4 more times.

ROUND 2: 10 minutes
10 Pushups
10 Weighted step-ups to a bench (10 steps-ups per leg)
25 Jumping jacks
30 Seconds rest

I repeated this set 4 more times.

ROUND 3: 10 minutes
30 seconds jump rope
30 seconds reverse lunges
30 seconds skipping
30 seconds rest

I repeated this set 4 more times.

Before I knew it I knocked out 30 minutes of HIIT, completed a full body workout, and worked up a great sweat…all without complaining. I completed my workout and I actually enjoyed it. The next time you’re dreading a workout, you are more than welcome to borrow this one, or find a way to incorporate things you love into your session to help you get the most out of your training.

Now, I’m hoping to live a long and healthy life, so if the saying on my button is true, that God really let’s complainers live longer, then I best be on my merry way to find something else to complain about.