SWEATFEST! Sounds like 4-day music festival where everyone wears spandex and throws around glitter in the middle of the sweltering desert. As much as I know you’d love to go, sweatfest is actually a 20-minute stair stepper circuit.
This workout had me dripping you guys – hence the title. But what I loved about it is that my LOATHE of the stair stepper machine quickly turned to an appreciation of the intense workout I got in such little time. And since I get bored easily, breaking the monotonous climb with a few pushups and planks kept me interested, focused, and of course, sweaty.
Now if you’ve never been on a stair stepper/StairMaster, read the below paragraph. Before I start, let me just make a shoutout to my mom – please don’t disown me for this one.
The first time mom attempted the stair stepper, my sister and I accompanied her at a new gym she had joined. Unfamiliar with many of the machines, she wanted us to show her how certain ones worked. After our Q&A session, we all dispersed to get a quick workout in before heading home. I can’t remember if I was mid kettlebell swing or grabbing water, but I looked over at my mom to see her on the stair stepper, pushing with all her MIGHT to drive her heels into the ground, one after the other, then releasing her knees up to her chest to get the ‘stair’ pedals back to the top. It looked like a robot was trying to walk in a pool of tar. I.almost.died.
SO, that’s wrong (if you hadn’t figured that out). When you are working out on the stair stepper machine, the goal is the keep your feel OFF the ground. The higher the level, the harder that will be. And if you feel so inclined to practice tar walking like a robot after this sweatfest stair stepper circuit, be my guest.
After each stair stepping interval, carefully step off the machine to execute the pushups and planks, then step back on and continue. To modify, lower the levels and increase by the same amount as the guide below. Pushups and planks can also be done on your knees. If you are looking for an extra challenge to this workout, keep your hands off the side or front bars of the machine as you are stepping.
Sweatfest Stair Stepper Circuit
Sweaty yet? Your thighs, bum, and arms may be a little jello-like too. If so, you KNOW you worked just the right areas!
Enjoy circuits like this? Then try this 20 minute elliptical cardio workout, the advanced treadmill workout, or this warm-up treadmill workout.
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The stair climber was something I could never get to ….work….hahahaha! I’m pretty sure, just like the treadmill, that machine was not made for me!
Hahahaha you aren’t missing much! But sometimes I just do it to mix up the routine 😉
That machine is SO brutal! We actually don’t even have one at my current gym. I can imagine that 20 minutes is MORE than enough with this workout! 🙂
It IS! Gosh I hate it, yet it’s such a great workout! Luckily the planks the pushups totally break it up!
oh man this sounds brutal! Great when theres not a lot of time though. Thats so hilarious about your mom hahaha
It’s kinda brutal, but dang it feels good when you are done! Yeah I hope my momma isn’t too mad at me. Thanks Heather!
This sounds like a great workout. I used to like the machines, but then I got really bored with them too. Now, I take a lot of classes. But, this sounds like a great alternative when I can’t find a class I like. Thanks!
I LOVE classes. So I can totally relate to how you feel about getting bored on machines. That’s why I try to mix it up when I’m on a machine. At least try to keep things fresh and fun! Thanks Shann!
I friggin’ LOVE the stair stepper! I remember when I belonged to a 24 Hour Fitness… I would do the step mill for 80 minutes! Friggin hard but it was AWESOME at the same time. I might that machine for sure!
80 minutes?! Are you like the energizer bunny?!?!? WOAH!
Stair steppers are intense! This looks like a great workout to get the sweat pumping!
So intense! I definitely need to get in the right state of mind before I hop on one of these things!
Hahahha if Sweatfest was a music festival i would DEFINITELY be the headliner 😉 I think it needs to happen?!?
I don’t use the stairmaster enough. I always want to do it after a leg workout, but after a leg workout, i’m just too pooped! i think i gotta start OFF with it. next time 🙂
You would ROCK Sweatfest. No doubt! There’s no way I could do the stair stepper after one of your leg workouts – I don’t blame you! Next time for sure 😉
Chrissa, this is a great workout! I am saving it for the future
Thanks so much Siniciliya!