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 | Workout Two |
| Day 3 | Cardio | Day 17 | Cardio |
| Day 4 | Rest | Day 18 | Rest |
| 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 | Workout Two |
| Day 9 | Cardio | Day 23 | Cardio |
| Day 10 | Workout Two | Day 24 | Workout One |
| Day 11 | Rest | Day 25 | Rest |
| Day 12 | Cardio | Day 26 | Cardio |
| Day 13 | Workout One | Day 27 | Workout Two | 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 programme consists of 9 exercises performed consecutively for 45 seconds each with 15 seconds to move into the next exercise. This constitutes a set. Rest for 2.45 minutes in between each set. Perform 4 sets in total.
EXERCISE CONCEPT – 45's
| Exercises in each set | 9 |
| Time of each exercise | 45 sec |
| Sets | 4 |
| Rest between sets | 2.45 min |
Before commencing your workout click here for technique advice on some of the big exercises.
SQUAT — Wall
Lean your back against a wall with your feet hip width apart and slightly forward of your body. Lower into a squat position until your thighs are parallel to the floor and. Keep your chest lifted and hold this position.
LEG RAISES — Bench / Dumbbell
Lie on a flat bench with your legs raised and a dumbbell held between the feet. Hold onto the bench beside your head, engage your core and inhale as you lower your legs. Take the legs below the level of the bench with slight knee flexion. Exhale as you bring your legs back over head and raise your hips.
DEADLIFT — Kettlebell
Stand feet shoulder width apart, bend the knees, hinge from the hips and take hold of the kettlebell in both hands. 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.
PRESS-UP
Begin in a press-up position, hands just wider than shoulder width and feet together. Perform a press-up then take 2 step laterally, using the opposite hand to leg. Repeat the press-up and reverse the lateral move.
LUNGE — Dumbbells
Stand feet hip width apart and hold dumbbells to your side. Alternately lunge backwards 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 back. Keep the body in an upright position.
ROW – Band
Stand with the opposite leg forward to working arm. Hold a band in 1 hand with the other end attached at chest height. Pull the band towards you keeping the elbow flared to the side. Rotate the torso as you pull.
SHOULDER PRESS — Kettlebell
Stand feet slightly wider than shoulder width and hold a kettlebell in both hands. Hinge from the hips with slight knee flexion and swing the bell through the legs maintaining neutral spine, do not round the lower back. Allow the momentum to lift the bell and bring it to your chest. Press the weight overhead and begin the next swing.
HORIZONTAL WOODCHOP — Dumbbell
Stand with feet apart and hold a dumbbell in both hands at chest height with the arms extended. Engage your core, keep your arms lengthened and rotate the torso in a smooth motion from side to side.
AEROBIC/BURPEE
Jog on the spot 8 times as fast as possible with high knees. 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.
RESISTANCE WORKOUT TWO
Perform this workout with the same exercise concept as workout one.
SQUAT — Dumbbells
Stand feet shoulder width apart and hold dumbbells to your shoulders. Bend the knees into a deep squat, push the bottom backwards and maintain neutral spine. Press the heels into the floor as you extend the legs. Make sure your knees track inline with your toes.
PRESS-UP
Begin in a press-up position, hands just wider than shoulder width and arms extended. Bend the arms, elbows flared to the side slightly and lower yourself until your chest is just off the floor. Extend the arms and raise 1 knee to the opposite elbow twisting the torso, repeat with the other knee and continue back to the press-up.
BACK EXTENSION
Lie face down on the floor with your arms extended in a V position overhead. Engage your core and raise opposite arm and leg together. Aim to lift your head and chest off the floor. Ensure your shoulder blades are drawn down your back and keep the head in line with the spine. Lower and alternate sides.
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.
PLANK
Place your weight onto your forearms and toes, raise the body. Engage your core and create a straight line from head to feet. Alternately push up onto your hands and lower back onto your forearms. As you push up the hands should replace to position of the elbows.
BURPEE
Stand with your feet hip width apart and jump as high as possible. As you land, place your hands on the floor and jump your legs back into a plank position with your body extended. Perform a press-up. Jump your feet back towards your hands and begin again. Keep the movement as fluid as possible.
HAMSTRING CURL -Swiss ball
Lie on your back with your legs straight, feet on a swiss ball, hips lifted and arms crossed to your chest. Bend the knees as you roll the ball towards you, do not allow the hips to lower. Extend the legs.
SIDE DROP — Swiss Ball
Lie on your back, arms extended to the side and both legs raised with a swiss ball held between the ankles. As you inhale allow the legs to lower to one side under control. As you exhale draw your navel to spine and bring the legs back to centre. Aim to keep your shoulders in contact with the floor. Alternate sides.
AEROBIC / FROG JUMP
Squat in a frog position, feet and knees turned out and your hands on the floor between your legs. Reach forward with your arms and take your weight onto your hand. Jump the legs forward and reach your arms up to shoulder height. Reverse the movement jumping backwards.
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 |
| 12 | 30 sec | 30 sec |
| Lactic Acid Removal Phase - 20 minutes | ||
| 12 | 30 sec | 30 sec |
| Total Workout Time - 44 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.