EXERCISE MONTH 4

 

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 is called Circuits. Perform 8 exercises back to back (15 reps), with minimal rest between each exercise. This constitutes a set, at the end of the set rest for 2 mins. Perform 5 sets in total. Remember to keep the weights heavy and challenging to elicit the correct hormonal and metabolic response. 

EXERCISE CONCEPT – CIRCUITS

Exercises in each set 8
Reps 15
Sets 5
Rest between sets 2 min
 

 

Before commencing your workout click here for technique advice on some of the big exercises.

SQUAT — TRX

Stand facing the TRX. Hold both handles with the arms straight and lean back slightly. Extend 1 leg out in front of you and perform a single leg squat. Take the free leg behind you and perform a second single leg squat. Keep the arms straight throughout.


 

AEROBIC / BREAKDANCE

Begin on all 4s with the knees raised just off the floor. Take your weight onto 1 hand and the opposite foot and simultaneously twist the body and pass the free leg under the body. Straighten the leg then return to centre and repeat side to side. Keep the movement continuous.


 

CHEST PRESS — TRX

Start in a press-up position with the TRX attached behind you. Take your weight onto your toes and walk your feet further underneath you to make the exercise more challenging. Maintain core stability and bend the arms lowering yourself into the press-up, keeping the hand position still, then extend the arms.


 

SQUAT — Barbell

Stand feet shoulder width apart and hold a barbell to your shoulders. Bend the knees into a deep squat, push the bottom backwards and maintain neutral spine. As you straighten the legs, press the bar overhead. Make sure your knees track inline with your toes.


 

CALF RAISE — Box / Dumbbell

Stand with the toe of 1 foot placed onto a box or step. Hold a dumbbell in the same hand as supporting leg and hold onto a stable surface. Keep the foot in parallel and lower the heel to the floor then raise up onto the ball of your foot.


 

ROW — TRX

Turn the TRX into a single handle. (Info on technique page) Start feet hip width apart, hold the TRX in 1 hand and step forwards so your body is leaning back slightly. Extend the arm and rotate the torso away, then pull into a single arm row and continue the movement to rotate the body towards the TRX.


 

LUNGE — Dumbbells

Stand feet hip width apart and hold dumbbells to your side. Lunge forwards until the back knee is just off the floor and both knees are at right angles. Keep the pelvis slightly tucked under and the body upright. Step together and repeat with the same leg.


 

LUNGE — TRX

Stand facing the TRX and hold both handles. Take one leg behind you and bend your supporting leg to a backward lunge position keeping the back foot off the ground. Push through the front leg and hop. Pull slightly with the arms to help the movement.


 

RESISTANCE WORKOUT TWO

Perform this workout with the same exercise concept as workout 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.


 

LEG RAISES — Bosu

Lie with your back over a bosu (dome side up). Raise your legs and hold onto a stable surface behind you. Engage your core, maintain neutral spine and lower the legs towards the floor on the inhale. Do not allow the lower back to over arch and keep the legs as straight as possible. Exhale as you raise the legs.


 

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. As you straighten the legs, press the dumbbells overhead. Make sure your knees track inline with your toes.


 

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.


 

LATERAL FLEXION — Wall / Swiss Ball / Weight

Lie laterally with your hip supported on top of a swiss ball and your feet wedged against a wall to maintain balance. Hold a weight to your chest, engage your core then lower and raise your body over the ball.


 

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.


 

PRESS-UP — Medicine Ball

Begin in a press-up position, feet balanced on a medicine ball, 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 your chest towards the floor. Extend the arms.


 

AEROBIC / TUCK JUMPS

Begin standing with your feet hip width apart, bend the knees and jump as high as possible bringing your knees up to your chest. Land then prepare again.


 

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 20 sec
Lactic Acid Removal Phase - 18 minutes
12 30 sec 20 sec
Total Workout Time - 38 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.