BODY-TYPE EXERCISE / INFO
You are a Mesomorph on a sculpt programme. Fortunately your body-type does not tend to store fat and it finds maintaining muscle relatively easy due to having a good mix of both slow and fast twitch muscle fibre, with the majority being fast twitch. This makes the job of sculpting fairly easy and having the ability to maintain a relatively low fat percentage will help to show muscle definition. You may have heard that performing high rep ranges and lifting light weights is the correct way to achieve definition. At YBP we believe this is the wrong approach, we focus on lifting the correct weight for your specific rep range to define and maintain muscle.
Your exercise plan will be an even mix of resistance and cardio workouts. The type of movement performed in your resistance workouts will be a combination of compound and isolation exercises. The compound exercises are big movements and help in creating the correct hormonal response (boosting growth hormone and testosterone). The isolation exercises will create muscle definition. Your cardio will be in the form of high intensity interval training to help increase mitochondria (where fuel is burnt producing energy). The more mitochondria you have, the more fat you burn. High intensity training will also have the effect of increasing your metabolism, which results in burning more calories over the next 24-36 hours. This is why it is important to keep up the frequency of your training sessions, so try not to have more than one consecutive day off.
At YBP we have researched and created the perfect ratio of resistance and cardio workouts for your body-type on a sculpting 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 Two |
| Day 2 | Cardio | Day 16 | Cardio |
| Day 3 | Workout Two | Day 17 | Workout One |
| Day 4 | Rest | Day 18 | Rest |
| Day 5 | Workout One | Day 19 | Workout Two |
| Day 6 | Workout Two | Day 20 | Workout One |
| Day 7 | Rest | Day 21 | Rest |
| Day 8 | Cardio | Day 22 | Cardio |
| Day 9 | Workout One | Day 23 | Workout Two |
| 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 concept is called Reverse pyramid. Perform the first set of 2 exercises for 8 reps (this constitutes a set) then take 1.30 min rest. Perform the second set for 10 reps, third for 12 reps, fourth for 10 reps and fifth for 8 reps. Remember to rest in between each set. Then move on to the next group of two exercises and follow the same rep pattern. The weight changes according to your rep range, therefore you should be lifting the heaviest weight first, then get lighter and end with the heaviest weight. There are 4 groups of 2 exercises. Remember to keep the weights heavy and challenging to elicit the correct hormonal and metabolic response.
EXERCISE CONCEPT – REVERSE PYRAMID
| Exercises in each set | 2 |
| Sets | 5 |
| Reps | 8 / 10 / 12 / 10 / 8 |
| Rest between sets | 1 min 30 sec |
Before commencing your workout click here for technique advice on some of the big exercises.
Block One
CHEST PRESS — Swiss Ball / Dumbbells
Support your upper back on a swiss ball and lower your hips towards the floor. Hold dumbbells above you with your arms fully extended. Inhale as you bend your arms bringing the hands towards the shoulders with your elbows flared to the side and exhale as you extend.
CHEST FLY — Swiss Ball / Dumbbells
Support your head and shoulders on a swiss ball, raise your hips and squeeze your glutes. Hold the dumbbells above you with slight elbow flexion. Inhale as you open 1 arm out to the side until it is parallel with the torso. Exhale as you raise the dumbbell. Alternate sides and use your core to stabilise the body.
Block Two
SQUAT — Barbell
Stand feet shoulder width apart and hold a barbell to your shoulders in front of you. Raise your elbows slightly so the bar can rest on your collar bone. Bend the knees into a squat, push the bottom backwards and maintain neutral spine. Press the heels into the floor and extend the legs.
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.
Block Three
TRICEP PRESS — Bench / Barbell
Lie on a flat bench and with a narrow grip hold a barbell above. Lower the bar towards your chest keeping your elbows in close to your body and shoulders pressing down. Maintain neutral spine and push the bar away as you extend the arms.
STATIC JACK — Medicine Ball
Sit upright with your knees bent then lean the body backwards and raise the feet off the floor. Hold a medicine ball in both hands with the arms slightly bent and engage the core. Rotate the torso taking the ball side to side, keep the chest lifted and navel drawn to spine.
Block Four
SHOULDER PRESS – Dumbbells
Stand feet hip width apart and hold dumbbells to your shoulders with the knuckles facing forward. Extend the arms as you press the weights overhead and simultaneously externally rotate the arms to bring the palms to face forward.
CALF PUSH — Leg Press Machine
Sit upright on the leg press machine with your toes placed on the bottom of the platform. Keep the legs straight but do not lock the knees. Flex the feet bringing the toes towards you then push through the balls of the feet and press away.
RESISTANCE WORKOUT TWO
Perform this workout with the same exercise concept as workout one.
Block One
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.
LAT PULL – Cable
Kneel on 1 knee and hold high cables in both hands. Pull your arms into your side whilst keeping your chest lifted. Extend the arms with control.
Block Two
HAMSTRING CURL — Cable / Bench
Lie forwards on a bench, supported on your forearms and place blocks or a towel under your pelvis to raise your hips slightly. Attach your feet to a low cable behind you with the legs straight. Bend the knees and bring your feet towards your bottom. Extend the legs.
BRIDGE — Dumbbell / Box
Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet placed onto a box or bench hip width apart and a dumbbell held on your hips. Push through your heels and lift your hips as high as possible (do not roll through the spine). Ensure to contract the glutes. Lower under control.
Block Three
ROW — Cable
Begin in a staggered stance with the cable in 1 hand at shoulder height (opposite hand to foot forwards). Pull the cable towards you, allow the body to rotate with the movement and keep the elbow raised. Extend the arm as you rotate the body back towards the cable.
BICEP CURL — Bench / Dumbbells
Sit on an incline bench and hold a dumbbell in each hand. Begin with the arms extended towards to floor, and as you bend the arms maintain the positions of the elbows, keeping them slightly behind the line of the body. Bring the weights to the shoulders then lower under control.
Block Four
SHRUGS – Dumbbells
Stand upright, feet shoulder width apart and hold dumbbells to your side. With your arms fully extended raise the shoulders as far as possible, squeeze and hold for a second then lower under control.
CRUNCH — Cable / Swiss Ball
Lie with your back extended over a swiss ball facing away from a low cable. Hold the cable (no handle attachment) to your head with both hands. Curl up into a crunch, keeping a slight gap under the chin and simultaneously tilt the pelvis under. Lower under control. The further back over the ball the harder the exercise.
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 |
| 10 | 20 sec | 30 sec |
| Lactic Acid Removal Phase - 22 minutes | ||
| 10 | 20 sec | 30 sec |
| Total Workout Time - 35 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.