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 | Cardio | Day 15 | Cardio |
| Day 2 | Workout One | Day 16 | Cardio |
| Day 3 | Cardio | Day 17 | Workout Two |
| Day 4 | Cardio | Day 18 | Cardio |
| Day 5 | Workout Two | Day 19 | Workout One |
| Day 6 | Cardio | Day 20 | Cardio |
| Day 7 | Rest | Day 21 | Rest |
| Day 8 | Workout One | Day 22 | Cardio |
| Day 9 | Cardio | Day 23 | Workout Two |
| Day 10 | Cardio | Day 24 | Cardio |
| Day 11 | Workout Two | Day 25 | Workout One |
| Day 12 | Cardio | Day 26 | Cardio |
| Day 13 | Workout One | 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 20 reps of each exercise, followed immediately by the same 3 exercises with 15 reps, followed immediately with the same 3 exercises with 10 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 group 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 | 20 / 15 / 10 |
| Number of sets | 3 sets (perform each set twice through) |
| 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
AEROBIC / BURPEE
Stand with your feet hip width apart. Jump as high as possible and tuck your knees to your chest. As you land, place your hands on the floor and jump your legs back into a plank position with your body extended. Jump your feet back towards your hands and begin again. Keep the movement as fluid as possible.
ROW — Dumbbell
Begin in a long lunge position with the back leg extended, and hold a dumbbell in the opposite hand to front leg. Lean your torso forwards creating a straight line from head to toe. Bend the elbow and pull into a row. Keep the elbow close to the body then extend the arm.
PRESS-UP — Bosu
Begin in a press-up position with 1 hand on a bosu (dome side up). Engage your core and keep your body straight. Perform a press-up, then step the hands laterally across the bosu so the opposite hand is on the top and repeat.
Block Two
OBLIQUES – Cable
Begin side on to a low cable and take hold with both hands. Lean your body forwards from the hips with slight knee flexion and maintain neutral spine. Keep the arms extended as your pull the cable laterally whilst rotating the upper body. Allow the cable to return just past the midline of the body.
LUNGE — Box / Dumbbells
The leg curl is a great isolation exercise for targeting the hamstring muscles. These are the muscles located on the back of the legs. The hamstrings work in the same way that the biceps do on the arms. The leg curl exercise is to the hamstrings what the preacher curl is to the biceps.
DEADLIFT — Kettlebell
Stand on 1 leg and perform a single leg kettlebell deadlift. Ensure you hinge from the hips and keep the back in neutral as you lift the bell, do not round the lower back. Place the bell onto the floor, walk out on your hands and lower into a single leg plank position on your forearms. Keep the free leg off the floor as you push back onto your hands and walk them back to the supporting leg.
Block Three
AEROBIC / LUNGE JUMP
Begin with 1 foot forward in a lunge position, lean the body over the front leg and touch the floor with the opposite hand. Push through both feet and jump laterally changing legs and touch the floor with the other hand. Keep the movement continuous.
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. Lower the hips to the floor, immediately raise the hips then extend the leg.
PLANK – Kettlebell
Begin in a plank position with your core engaged. Alternately reach a hand forward to touch a kettlebell (or any object). Maintain your position, do not allow the hips to drop or twist.
RESISTANCE WORKOUT TWO
Perform this workout with the same exercise concept as workout one.
Group One
PRESS-UP — Box
Begin in a press-up position, feet raised on a box, hands just wider than shoulder width and arms extended. Engage your core and keep your body straight. Bend the arms, elbows flared to the side slightly and lower yourself until your chest is just off the floor. Extend the arms.
AEROBIC / BURPEE — Bosu
Stand with the bosu raised overhead. As you begin the exercise lower the bosu to the ground (flat side up) and jump the legs backwards into a plank position with the feet hip width apart. Jumps the legs forward and raise the Bosu overhead. Try not to round the lower back.
LUNGE - Kettlebell
Hold the kettlebell in 1 hand and swing it backwards, simultaneously take the same leg back into a lunge. As the bell swings forwards to shoulder height step together, change hands and repeat the movement to the other side. Be aware of knocking the knees with the kettlebell.
Block Two
SQUAT — Box
Stand with your feet hip width apart. Jump onto the box landing in a squat position. Jump backwards off the box into a squat and begin again. Keep the movement fluid and aim to maintain neutral spine throughout.
LEG RAISES – Swiss Ball
Lie on your back with your legs raised to the ceiling and a swiss ball held between the feet. Engage your core, maintain neutral spine and lower the ball towards the floor. Do not allow the lower back to over arch and keep the legs as straight as possible. Raise the legs.
SHOULDER PRESS — Kettlebell
Stand with a wide stance and hold a kettlebell in 1 hand at shoulder height. Perform a deep squat and as you extend the legs, press the bell overhead. Do not over arch the lower back and keep the chest open as you lower the bell.
Block Three
HIP THRUST — Swiss Ball / Dumbbell
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.
CHEST FLY — Bosu / Dumbbells
Support your head and shoulders on a bosu, raise your hips and squeeze your glutes. Hold the dumbbells above you with slight elbow flexion. Inhale as you open the arms out to the side until they are in line with the shoulders. Exhale as you raise the dumbbells. Use your core to stabilise the body.
PULL OVER – Swiss Ball / Dumbbell
Support your head and shoulders on a swiss ball, raise your hips and hold a dumbbell above you in one hand. With slight elbow flexion, lower the weight behind you on the inhale. Keep the arm lengthened and bring the weight back over the body as you exhale. Maintain neutral spine.
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. If you are training at home, take a look at the video and choose a combination of cardio exercises to perform.
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 |
| 18 | 20 sec | 20 sec |
| Lactic Acid Removal Phase - 12 minutes | ||
| 18 | 20 sec | 20 sec |
| Total Workout Time - 36 minutes | ||
SPRINT PHASE
This video shows examples of cardio exercises to use when performing the sprint phase of your interval training. Choose one thats suits your level.
REST PHASE
This is the recovery phase. Choose from marching on the spot, an easy jog or a combination of the two.
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.