HOW TO ….
This page contains your tailor made exercise plan, there are three workouts (two resistance and one cardio). All workouts follow specific concepts relevant to your body-type, goal and ability level. Video demonstrations will guide you through the technique of every exercise along with a written description detailing your specific number of reps, set and rest time. Your monthly workout schedule gives you the ideal structure of when and how often to perform your workouts, and the stretch plan targets all the main muscle groups worked within your session. Each month your workout plan progresses with a new set of exercises and concepts.
BODY-TYPE EXERCISE / INFO
You are an Ectomorph on a fat loss programme. Fortunately your body-type can lose fat easily but you may find that you lose muscle easily too, due to having predominately slow twitch muscle fibre. Therefore the focus for your body-type is to increase muscle tissue to keep your metabolism firing, which will in turn help you to lose fat. The more muscle you have, the more fat you burn.
The majority of your exercise plan is resistance training rather than cardio. It is a common thought process that when on a fat loss programme you should be doing lots of cardio, this is true for some body-types but for an Ectomorph this is the wrong approach. By overdoing the cardio element of your training you will break down too much muscle, which will slow down the rate at which you burn fat. You may have heard of the term skinny fat, this is the look of someone with your body-type who does too much cardio and not enough resistance training. Therefore a programme focussing on resistance training for an Ectomorph will gain the best fat loss results.
The type of movement you will be performing on a fat loss programme will consist of compound exercises. These are big movements which use lots of muscles at once therefore burning more calories, speeding up your metabolism and creating the correct hormonal response (boosting growth hormone and testosterone). We also keep the tempo and intensity of your workout higher and the rest periods shorter than any other goal, for the same reasons as previously mentioned. As an Ectomorph you will be working at a lower rep range than any other body-type, which avoids you depleting your glycogen stores and breaking down muscle.
At YBP we have researched and created the perfect ratio of resistance and cardio workouts for your body-type on a fat loss goal. We have specified how often to perform these workouts to get the best results. Every month the training concept will change (the concept is the way in which you perform your workouts). Within your concept we have tailored and specified the exact sets, rep ranges, duration, tempo, rest and intensity.
MONTHLY WORKOUT SCHEDULE
Below is our recommended order and number of workouts. Try to stick as close to this as possible. Always keep the order of the workouts the same even if you have to take days off. Ideally do not have more than one day off in a row.
| Day 1 | Workout One | Day 15 | Workout One |
| Day 2 | Cardio | Day 16 | Cardio |
| Day 3 | Workout Two | Day 17 | Workout Two |
| Day 4 | Rest | Day 18 | Rest |
| Day 5 | Workout One | Day 19 | Workout One |
| Day 6 | Cardio | Day 20 | Cardio |
| Day 7 | Rest | Day 21 | Rest |
| Day 8 | Workout Two | Day 22 | Workout Two |
| Day 9 | Cardio | Day 23 | Cardio |
| Day 10 | Workout One | Day 24 | Workout One |
| Day 11 | Rest | Day 25 | Rest |
| Day 12 | Workout Two | Day 26 | Workout Two |
| Day 13 | Cardio | Day 27 | Cardio | Day 14 | Rest | Day 28 | Rest |
DYNAMIC WARM-UP
The warm-up is to mobilise and prime your body, it should be specific to the exercise you are about to perform. We recommend 5 mins of gentle cardio to increase body temperature and blood flow to the muscles. Follow this with movements that mimic your exercises but at a slower pace with reduced intensity.
Try our basic warm-up or advanced version with a medicine ball.
RESISTANCE WORKOUT ONE
This concept has a descending rep range. You will perform 3 exercises back to back with 12 reps of each exercise, followed immediately by the same 3 exercises with 10 reps, followed immediately with the same 3 exercises with 8 reps. This completes a set. Rest for 2.5 minutes then repeat the same set again. Rest for 2.5 minutes then move to the next block of 3 exercises. Continue with the same format. Remember to keep the weights heavy and challenging to elicit the correct hormonal and metabolic response.
EXERCISE CONCEPT – DESCENDING
| Exercises in each set | 3 |
| Reps | 12 / 10 / 8 |
| Blocks of exercise | 3 (repeat each block twice) |
| Total sets | 6 |
| Rest between sets | 2.5 mins |
Before commencing your workout click here for technique advice on some of the big exercises.
Block One
CLEAN AND PRESS — Kettlebell
Take a shoulder width stance and hold a kettlebell in 1 hand with the arm extended to the floor in front of you. Bend the knees and hinge from the hips with a neutral spine. Lift the bell by extending the legs and as the bell passes the knees extend at the ankles, knees, and hips forcefully, similar to a jumping motion. Use the momentum to lift the bell as high as possible in a straight line close to the body with the elbow out. At the height of this movement your feet should clear the floor. Bring the bell to the shoulder and press overhead. Lower under control.
PRESS-UP — Dumbbells
Begin in a press-up position, hands on dumbbells placed just wider than shoulder width and angled inwards slightly. Engage your core and keep your body straight. Bend the arms, elbows flared to the side slightly and lower as far as possible maintaining your position. Extend the arms.
LUNGE — Dumbbells
Stand with 1 foot forward and the other foot back behind you with the heel raised. Hold dumbbells in both hands. Lower into a lunge position until the back knee is just off the floor and both knees are at right angles. Keep the pelvis slightly tucked under so you do not over arch the lower back. Straighten the legs.
Block Two
CRUNCH
Lie on your back with your hands to head. Curl up into a crunch, keep a slight gap under the chin and simultaneously bring your knees to nose. Lower the body as you extend the legs towards the floor.
LAT PULL — Cable
Perform a plank on your forearms. Without shifting your bodyweight take hold of a low cable in 1 hand. The cable should be positioned forward of your head. Begin with the arm extended and pull, bringing your elbow into your side. Maintain neutral spine throughout.
SWING — Kettlebell
Stand feet slightly wider than shoulder width and hold a kettlebell in both hands. Squat and swing the bell through the legs maintaining neutral spine, do not round the lower back. Allow the momentum to lift the bell up to shoulder height, do not lift with the arms. Keep the core engaged.
Block Three
DOWNWARDS WOODCHOP — Cable
Stand facing a high cable with your feet shoulder width apart. Hold the handle in both hands with your arms extended. Engage your core and rotate the torso to 1 side, pulling the cable in a downwards motion. Return to centre with the arms raised, alternate sides.
LAT PULL – Cable / Bosu
Kneel on the bosu (dome side up) with your feet raised and hold high cables in both hands. Engage your core with the arms extended. Maintain neutral spine and alternately pull with one arm drawing the elbow into your side. Keep the chest lifted.
HAMSTRING CURL — Swiss Ball
Lie on your back with 1 foot on a swiss ball (leg extended) and the other raised above you. Lift your hips and place your arms by your side for support. Bend the knee as you roll the ball towards you, do not allow the hips to lower. Extend the leg.
RESISTANCE WORKOUT TWO
Perform this workout with the same exercise concept as workout one.
Block One
ROW — Block / Dumbbell
Perform a plank on 1 hand (placed onto a block) and hold a dumbbell in the other. Engage your core to maintain stability and pull into a single arm row. Make sure your wrist is placed directly under your shoulder and do not rotate the hips.
STEP-UP — Box / Dumbbells
Stand side-on to a high box or bench box with 1 foot placed on top and dumbbells held at your side. Step up by pushing through the heel of the foot and maintaining neutral spine. Lower under control. Do not use the underneath foot to aid the movement.
PRESS-UP
Begin in a press-up position, hands just wider than shoulder width and arms extended. As you bend the arms, raise your right knee and place it on top of your right elbow. Turn your head to the same direction. Extend the arms as you place feet together and repeat with the left.
Block Two
LUNGE – Dumbbells
Stand in a lunge position with a heavy dumbbell held in the same hand as front leg and a lighter dumbbell in the other hand pressed overhead. Lower into a lunge until the back knee is just off the floor and simultaneously lower the dumbbell to shoulder height. Keep the pelvis slightly tucked under and the body upright. As you extend the legs press the weight overhead.
PLANK — Swiss Ball
Begin in a hand plank position with your feet on a swiss ball, draw your navel to spine and create a straight line through the body. Make sure your hands are underneath your shoulders and rotate your lower body, rolling the ball from side to side.
SQUAT — Dumbbells
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and dumbbells in each hand, held to the shoulders. Squat and push through the feet into a high jump, land back into a squat position and continue the movement.
Block Three
DEADLIFT — Barbell
Stand feet shoulder width apart, bend the knees, hinge from the hips and take hold of a barbell with a wide grip. Perform a deadlift by pressing the feet into the ground and straightening the legs. Do not let the lower back round, maintain neutral spine. Lower under control.
JACKS
Sit upright, maintain neutral spine and raise the legs with the knees bent. Lean the body backwards slightly and lift the chest. With the arms extended in front of you, lower the torso to the floor and extend the legs until they are in inch off the floor. Return to the starting position, shoulder back, chest lifted.
CHEST PRESS – Cable
Begin standing in a staggered stance with your back to the cable machine. Hold the cable in 1 hand just above shoulder height with the elbow bent. Extend the arm pressing the cable forward and rotate the torso slightly. Keep the shoulders down and return under control.
CARDIO WORKOUT
The cardio workout is split into 3 sections: Intervals, lactic acid removal phase, followed by a repeat of the intervals. You can use any piece of cardio equipment such as the cross trainer, treadmill, rower, bike or skipping rope. You can also combine equipment rather than performing the entire workout on one machine.
Intervals (pre LAR phase) – perform the required number of intervals. The sprint phase should be performed at 100%, the highest intensity possible and the rest phase should be performed at a low intensity to recover. For example on a cross-trainer increase the speed for the sprint phase then bring it back down on the rest phase, allowing you to recover.
Lactic acid removal phase – work at a consistent pace, but to the maximum intensity possible (you should not be able to hold a conversation) yet able to sustain it for the required length of time. The time is stated in minutes below the first table.
Intervals (post LAR phase) – perform the intervals again with the same format as the first section.
Enjoy!
CARDIO CONCEPT
| Number of Intervals | Sprints | Rest |
| 6 | 20 sec | 40 sec |
| Lactic Acid Removal Phase - 18 minutes | ||
| 6 | 20 sec | 40 sec |
| Total Workout Time - 30 minutes | ||
CARDIO EQUIPMENT
This video shows examples of cardio equipment to use when perform your interval training.
STRETCHES
Hold each position for 1 minute and increase the length of time on particularly tight muscles.
GLUTES & BACK
Lie on your back with your arms stretched out wide, take one knee across your body and apply gentle pressure drawing the knee towards the floor.
GLUTES
Lie on your back and place your foot onto the opposite knee. Press the top knee outwards as you clasp the underneath leg and draw it towards you.
BACK
Sit back onto your heels and simultaneously reach your hands forward with your forehead resting on the floor.
ABDOMINALS
Lie prone (on your front) and place your hands beneath your shoulders. Press into the floor, straighten your arms and raise your body.
HIP FLEXOR
In a half kneeling position tuck your pelvis under, squeeze your glutes and press your hips forward.
QUADS
Draw your foot towards your bottom. Squeeze your glutes, tuck your pelvis under and keep your knees together.
HAMSTRINGS & CALF
Raise your foot onto a surface and lean your body forward. Flex the foot bringing the toe towards you.
CALF
Lean into a wall, extend the back knee and press the heel into the floor. Ensure both feet are in a parallel position.
LATERAL
Place one foot behind the other and reach the same arm (as back leg) overhead. To increase the stretch lean laterally.
UPPER BACK
Place your hands together and reach forward. Drop your head between your arms and curve your upper back.
CHEST
Place your forearm onto a wall, creating right angles at the shoulder and elbow joints. Apply pressure into the wall and turn your torso away.
TRICEP
Take one arm overhead and bend at the elbow. Apply pressure with the opposite hand and keep the head raised.
ALTERNATIVE EXERCISES
Use this section to replace specific exercises in your programme which do not work for you. This may be due to not having the correct equipment, the exercise being too challenging / not challenging enough, or possibly due to an injury. Click on the links below to find alternative exercises for the same body part or movement.