Tag: Workouts

30-Day Abs Challenge for A Rock-Hard Core

30-Day Abs Challenge for A Rock-Hard Core

Most decent fitness information revolves around building good long-term diet and workout habits. This makes a lot of sense, as fitness and health should be life-long pursuits. Sadly, you cannot store fitness, and your strength and conditioning will soon decline if you stop working out or eating healthily.
There is a reason that ex-athletes often look so out of shape – they stopped training.
So, in most cases, long-term consistency will always beat short-term fitness fixes. That said, there is a time and a place for workouts and diets that are only meant to last a few weeks. Things like 30-day push-up challenges or 14-day diets can help restore lost momentum and bust through plateaus.
Short-term workout challenges and diets can also test and develop your willpower and intestinal fortitude, or guts. You’ll undoubtedly feel a sense of satisfaction on reaching the end of one of these challenges, which can be a reward in its own right.
This 30-day abs challenge will give you a hard, strong core and could even take you a few steps closer to developing a shredded six-pack.
Abs Anatomy Basics

So, what muscles will you be working during this 30-day abs challenge? Rather than focus just on those at the front of your abdomen, this workout is designed to work all the muscles that encircle your waist and make up your core:

Rectus abdominis – located at the front of your abdomen, this is your six-pack muscle, although you’ll need to be pretty lean to see it. The functions of your rectus abdominis are flexion and lateral flexion of your spine. It also plays a part in compressing your abdominal contents.
Obliques – there are two sets of oblique muscles: internal and external. They work together to laterally flex and rotate your spine. The obliques are basically your waist muscles.
Transverse abdominis – encircling your midsection like a weightlifting belt, the TVA compresses your abdominal contents to produce intra-abdominal pressure, or IAP for short. This pressure helps stabilize your lumbar spine from within.
Erector spinae – the erector spinae is a group of three muscles that run up either side of your back. Together they extend and stabilize your lower and upper spine.

30-Day Abs Challenge – Program Overview
This is an abs specialization program. That means you’ll be working your abs more frequently than usual and with more volume and intensity than you’re probably used to. However, you won’t be training your abs every day, which could lead to injury and overtraining. Instead, you’ll be hitting your abs four days a week for one month straight.

It’s up to you on which days you train, but it’s generally best to avoid doing all your abs workouts in a row. We don’t want you to work your abs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Instead, separate at least a few of your abs workouts with a different form of training or a rest day. For example:

Monday – Abs Workout
Tuesday – Cardio/Strength Training
Wednesday – Abs Workout
Thursday – Abs Workout
Friday – Cardio/Strength Training
Saturday – Abs Workout
Sunday – Rest

Each workout contains four exercises so that you work all your core muscles equally. Each week involves different, more demanding exercises to ensure your core strength increases over the coming 30 days. The workouts themselves are also progressive, and the volume/intensity builds up over the course of the month.
In terms of equipment, you don’t need much to complete this 30-day abs challenge. In fact, you can do this challenge at home with a few items of basic workout gear.
However, you will need:

Exercise mat
Ab wheel or a barbell and weight plates
Resistance bands
Stability ball
Pull-up bar/captain’s chair
Medicine ball or dumbbell/kettlebell

Finally, this 30-day workout challenge is not designed for beginners. Instead, it’s aimed at intermediate or advanced exercisers looking to take their core conditioning to a new, higher level. Beginners should follow a less intense workout plan that focuses on building basic core strength.
30-Day Abs Challenge – Week One
Week one of our 30-day abs challenge starts with some fairly basic exercises and a moderate level of volume and intensity. Think of this as your warm-up week. Do three sets of each exercise, resting 60-90 seconds between efforts. However, regarding reps, continue each set until the target muscles start to fatigue. The reps quoted in the chart below are for guidance only.

#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Recovery

1
RKC plank
3
20-30 seconds
60-90 seconds

2
Stability ball crunch
3
15-20
60-90 seconds

3
Reverse crunch
3
15-20
60-90 seconds

4
Side plank
3
15-20
60-90 seconds

1 – RKC Plank  
Unlike regular planks, RKC (Russian kettlebell challenge) planks are designed to fatigue your abs as fast as possible. Brace and contract your core as hard as you can; seek failure, and don’t wait for failure to come to you! If you feel that you can go for more than 30 seconds, you weren’t bracing hard enough.
Steps:

Lie on the floor and rest on your elbows and forearms. Clasp your hands together if you wish. Brace your core and pull your shoulders back and down.
Lift your hips up so your body is straight. Contract your hands, arms, chest, shoulders, legs, and glutes.
Without holding your breath, contract your core as hard as possible.
Hold for as long as you can but, if you can do more than 30 seconds, you weren’t bracing hard enough.

Tips:

Rest your elbows on a folded mat for comfort.
Imagine you are trying to drag your toes toward your elbows to maximally engage your abs.
Do not hold your breath, as doing so can cause your blood pressure to rise.

2 – Stability ball crunch  
While floor crunches are fine, they have a short range of motion, so they’re too easy for fitter, more experienced exercisers. Using a stability ball makes crunches much more challenging, especially now your abs are tired from the RKC planks.
Steps:

Sit on your stability ball. Walk your feet forward and lean back until the ball fills the curve of your lower back. Place your hands on your temples and brace your abs.
Press your lower back into the ball, curve your spine, and lift your upper back up to form a C shape.
Lean back, get a good stretch in your abs, and repeat.

Tips:

Make this exercise harder by holding a weight behind your head or across your chest.
Exhale as you lift your shoulders to maximally engage your abs.
Pause at the top of each rep for a more effective workout.

3 – Reverse Crunch
There is no such thing as upper abs vs. lower abs. Instead, your rectus abdominis is one long, flat muscle. That said, it is possible to use your abs to lift your shoulders or lift your hips by engaging different groups of muscle fibers. Reverse crunches tend to emphasize the lower fibers of the rectus abdominis, but the upper fibers are working, too.
Steps:

Lie on your back with your legs bent and feet in the air. Place your hands on the floor next to your hips.
Press your lower back into the floor and lift your hips off the floor. Pull your knees toward your shoulders.
Lower your hips and legs back down and repeat.

Tips:

Avoid pressing with your arms, which takes work away from the target muscles.
Exhale as you lift your legs to increase abs engagement.
Pause at the top of each rep to make this exercise more challenging and effective.

4 – Side plank
Where regular planks emphasize your rectus abdominis, side planks hit your obliques more. Most people find side planks harder than front planks, which makes sense given that the obliques are much smaller than the rectus abdominis muscle.
Steps:

Lie on your side so your body is straight and your hips and shoulders are square. Rest on your lowermost forearm and elbow. Brace your core.
Lift your hips and then hold them up for the required duration.
On completion, lower your hips to the floor, roll over, and repeat on the opposite side.

Tips:

Do not hold your breath, as doing so can cause your blood pressure to increase.
Lift your uppermost leg to make this exercise more challenging.
You can also do side planks with your supporting arm straight, like this:

30-Day Abs Challenge – Week Two
Week two of our 30-day abs challenge builds on what you achieved in week one. The exercises are slightly more difficult, so you should be ready to work a little harder. Your interset rest periods are also a little shorter. As before, reps are quoted for illustrative purposes only. Do as many reps as it takes to fatigue the target muscles.

#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Recovery

1
Stability ball stir the pot  
3
15-20
45-75 seconds

2
Serratus crunch   
3
15-20
45-75 seconds

3
Hanging knee raises  
3
15-20
45-75 seconds

4
Russian twist
3
15-20
45-75 seconds

1 – Stability ball stir the pot 
Planks on a stable surface are fine, but you’re probably ready for a more challenging abs workout. Stability ball stir the pot is a much more dynamic and challenging way to do planks. This is an exercise you’ll love to hate!
Steps:

Place your forearms on a stability ball and then walk your feet out and back so your body and legs are straight. Brace your core.
Without dropping your hips, make small circles with your arms, alternating between clockwise and counterclockwise.
Keep your body extended and your core braced throughout.

Tips:

The larger the ball, the less challenging this exercise becomes.
Make larger circles to increase instability and make this exercise harder.
Move your feet further apart to make stir the pots a little easier.

2 – Serratus crunch  
The serratus crunch is so-called because, as well as working your rectus abdominis, it also hits your serratus anterior muscles. While not strictly part of your core, these small but visually impressive muscles can add a lot to your appearance. Needless to say, this exercise also overloads your abs.
Steps:

Lie on your back with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor. Hold a weight in your hands (medicine ball, dumbbell, kettlebell) and extend your arms so they’re vertical. Press your lower back into the floor.
Contract your abs and lift your head and shoulders off the floor. Reach up with your arms as if you’re trying to touch the ceiling.
Lie back down and repeat.

Tips:

Exhale as you lift your shoulders to fully engage your abs.
You can also do this exercise with your legs raised.
Don’t go too heavy too soon; this exercise works best when you focus on the movement rather than the load.

3 – Hanging knee raises 
Like reverse crunches from last week’s program, hanging knee raises target the lower fibers of your rectus abdominis. However, lifting the entire weight of your legs makes this exercise much more challenging. On the downside, you will need a pull-up bar or captain’s chair to do this exercise.
Steps:

Hang from your pull-up bar with your arms straight. Alternatively, rest on your elbows on a captain’s chair station. Brace your abs.
Without using momentum to help you raise your legs, bend your knees and lift them up until they’re higher than your hips.
Lower your legs under control and repeat.

Tips:

Use lifting chalk or wrist straps if your grip fails before your abs.
Do not swing your knees up. Instead, move slowly and deliberately to keep the tension on your abs.
Too easy? Clamp a dumbbell between your feet to make this exercise more demanding:

4 – Russian Twist
It’s not really clear why Russian twists are so-called because they don’t have anything to do with Russia. Regardless, they’re a challenging and effective oblique and rectus abdominis exercise that most people love and hate in equal measure.
Steps:

Sit on the floor with your legs bent and feet flat.
Lean back until your body is inclined to about 45 degrees.
Extend your arms out in front of you at shoulder height.
Rotate your upper body as far as possible to the left and right. Do not lean back or lift your torso; keep the angle the same.
Continue for the specified number of reps.

Tips:

Hold a dumbbell or kettlebell to make this exercise more challenging.
Anchor your feet if necessary.
Maintain a neutral spine throughout. Do not round your lower back.

30-Day Abs Challenge – Week Three
Week three sees an increase in training volume as you progress from doing three sets of each exercise to four. There is also a slight increase in exercise difficulty. Don’t worry – you can handle it. And congratulations on reaching the halfway stage of this four-week challenge!

#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Recovery

1
Ab wheel rollout   
4
15-20
45-75 seconds

2
Bicycle crunch
4
15-20
45-75 seconds

3
Straight leg lifts   
4
15-20
45-75 seconds

4
Resistance band Pallof press
4
15-20
45-75 seconds

1 – Ab wheel rollout  
Ab wheel rollouts are a sort of moving plank. With this exercise, you extend your arms out in front of you to create a long lever which puts a lot of tension through your abs. This is a challenging core exercise, but after two weeks of intense core training, you are ready for it!
Steps:

Kneel down and place your ab wheel on the floor in front of your knees. Hold the handle with an overhand grip, arms straight, and core braced.
Push the ab roller away from you and lower your body toward the floor. Take care not to hyperextend your spine.
Use your abs and lats to pull the roller back to your legs and repeat.

Tips:

Shorten your range of motion if you feel this exercise in your lower back.
Kneel on a folded exercise mat or foam pad for comfort.
You can also do this exercise from standing. However, this is MUCH more demanding:

2 – Bicycle crunch
The bicycle crunch is a tough but popular abs exercise. It involves all your significant core muscles, as well as your hip flexors. Done slowly and through a full range of motion, this exercise will challenge even the strongest exerciser.
Steps:

Lie on your back with your legs straight and your hands on your temples. Press your lower back into the floor and lift your feet a few inches off the floor. Keep them up for the duration of your set.
Lift your head and shoulders and bend one leg. Twist and touch one knee to the opposite elbow.
Return to the starting position and then repeat on the opposite side.
Continue alternating for the duration of your set.

Tips:

Start with legs bent and feet on the floor to make this exercise more manageable.
Take care not to pull on your neck, which could lead to injury.
Try to touch the outside of your elbow to the outside of your knee to hit your obliques harder.

3 – Straight leg lifts  
Straight leg lifts are a low-tech but high-effect abs exercise. Like hanging knee raises, they target the lower fibers of your abs and hip flexors. Doing straight leg raises after bicycle crunches will be a special kind of core-training hell!
Steps:

Lie down and press your lower back into the floor. Lift your feet a few inches off the floor. Rest your arms on the floor next to your hips.
Without using your arms for assistance, raise your legs up until they’re vertical.
Lower your legs down until your feet are a few inches above the floor and repeat.

Tips:

Keep your lower back pressed into the floor throughout. Do NOT allow your back to arch.
If necessary, place your hands under your butt to help keep your back flat.
Bend your legs to shorten the lever and make this exercise easier. You can also try raising one leg at a time.

4 – Resistance band Pallof press
The Pallof press is an anti-core exercise, meaning it works your muscles without involving any movement. Don’t let this put you off; the Pallof press is still a great way to work your abs, especially your obliques.
Steps:

Attach a resistance band to a chest-high anchor.
Grip the end of the band and stand sideways onto your anchor point. Hold your hands in front of your chest.
Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.
Extend your arms in front of you, noting how the tension on your core increases. Do NOT allow your torso to twist.
Bring your arms back in and repeat.
Do the same number of reps on both sides.

Tips:

Stand further away from your anchor point to put more tension on the band and make this exercise harder.
You can also do this exercise with a cable machine.
You can also do this exercise in a half-kneeling position for variety:

30-Day Abs Challenge – Week Four
Week four is graduation week, and we’re going to finish strong! As well as introducing another four new core exercises, you’ll also get shorter rests between sets, turning the intensity up to the max. Keep pushing hard all the way to the end, and keep reminding yourself it’s the final week of workouts.

#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Recovery

1
Renegade row
4
15-20
30-60 seconds  

2
V-sit
4
15-20
30-60 seconds  

3
Flutter kick    
4
15-20
30-60 seconds  

4
Saxon side bend
4
15-20
30-60 seconds  

1 – Renegade row
Renegade rows were invented by NFL strength and conditioning expert John Davies. It is a plank variation that also involves an anti-rotation element. It’s a challenging exercise, so don’t go too heavy too soon!
Steps:

Adopt the push-up position with a dumbbell in each hand. Your arms, legs, and body should be straight. Brace your core, and pull your shoulders down and back.
Keeping your body tight and still, bend one arm and row the dumbbell off the floor and into your lower ribs.
Place the dumbbell back on the floor, swap sides, and repeat.
Alternate arms for the duration of your set.

Tips:

Use hex-shaped dumbbells if available, as they tend to be more stable.
You can also do this exercise with kettlebells.
Bend your legs and rest on your knees to make this exercise easier.

2 – V-sit
The V-sit is an old-school abs strength and conditioning exercise. This is a tough move, but after three weeks of prep work, you’re ready for it. The V-sit is so-called because your body makes a V-shape at the midpoint of each rep.
Steps:

Lie on your back with your legs straight and arms above your head. Press your lower back into the floor and brace your abs.
Lift your legs and upper body simultaneously and reach up toward your toes. At this point, you should be balancing on your butt, body making a V-shape.
Lie back down and repeat.

Tips:

Place a folded matt under your lower back for comfort.
Make this exercise harder by holding a medicine ball and touching it to your feet.
Bend your legs and pull your knees into your chest to make this exercise easier.

3 – Flutter kick   
Flutter kicks are a favorite abs exercise in the military. You’ll often see this exercise done by Navy SEALs, usually as they lie on a beach with waves breaking over them. Part punishment, part core strengthener, this challenging exercise will hammer the lower fibers of your rectus abdominis.
Steps:

Lie on your back with your legs straight, hands together, and under your butt.
Press your lower back into the floor and lift your feet a few inches off the floor.
Lift your head and shoulders a few inches off the floor.
Keeping your legs straight, kick your legs up and down like you are swimming. Four kicks equal one rep.
Continue for the prescribed number of reps.

Tips:

Stop your set if your lower back starts to lift off the floor.
The slower the tempo, the more challenging this exercise becomes.
Bend your knees slightly to shorten the levers and make this exercise easier.

4 – Saxon side bend
Saxon sidebands are named after old-school strongman and bodybuilder Arthur Saxon. Performing with his brothers, Saxon was known for his incredible feats of strength, which included lifting horses and pressing several times his body weight overhead. The Saxon side bend was one of his favorite abs exercises.
Steps:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Brace your core.
Raise and hold a weight (dumbbell, medicine ball) overhead.
Keeping your arms extended, lean to the left and then to the right for the prescribed number of reps. Only lean sideways, and not forward or backward.

Tips:

Take care not to twist your shoulders or hips.
Bend your arms and lower the weight to your head to make this exercise a little easier.
Because of the long levers involved, this is a challenging exercise, so don’t go too heavy too soon.

FAQs
Do you have a question about our 30-day abs challenge or core training in general? No sweat Boba Fett, because we’ve got the answers!
1. Will this challenge give me a six-pack?
Getting a six-pack is as much about your diet as it is your workout program. This 30-day abs challenge will definitely strengthen and harden your abs, but you won’t be able to see them unless you carve your body fat down to under ten percent for men and less than 15 percent for women.
Because of this, it’s often said that abs are built in the kitchen, although the saying should really be that abs are revealed in the kitchen.
Getting leaner invariably means eating less and exercising more to create a calorie deficit, so your body has no option but to burn stored body fat for fuel.
Read more about eating for ripped abs here.
2. Can I change the exercises in the 30-day abs challenge workouts?
If there are any exercises that you cannot do or that cause pain, feel free to do something else instead. However, try and use similar exercises so that you stay true to the spirit of the program. For example, you could do cable crunches instead of stability ball crunches, as they are basically the same movement. However, sit-ups and hanging leg raises are too dissimilar to be interchangeable.
If you are thinking of changing an exercise because you find it hard – don’t! This is a CHALLENGE, and it’s the hard exercises that will deliver the best results. Even if you can only do a few reps, stick with the hard moves. Your efforts will be rewarded in the end.
3. XYZ exercise hurts my back – what should I do?
If any of the exercises cause back pain, you should stop immediately and revisit your technique. Make sure you are doing the movement correctly. If it still causes pain, replace that exercise with something similar that doesn’t cause you problems. While exercise is good for everybody’s body, some movements may not suit your body type or fitness level.
4. How do I know if I’ve done enough reps?
One of the reasons that prescribing a rep range for a workout is so hard is that we have no way of knowing how strong you are. For some, 15 reps of leg raises will be too easy, but for others, it’ll be way too hard. If we tell you how many reps to do, we’d just be guessing.
So, instead, do as many reps as you can, stopping 2-3 short of failure. At this point, you should feel your muscles working (love that burn!), and your movements will probably noticeably slow down.
Push yourself close to failure, and your muscles will respond by getting stronger. But stop too soon, and your workout won’t be as effective as it could have been.
That said, try to do more reps workout by workout. This is called progressive overload, which is one of the cornerstones of effective training.
5. Will doing abs exercises help me lose belly fat?
Many people believe that doing exercises for a particular body part will melt fat from that area. This is called spot reduction. Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest that spot reduction happens, so it’s probably best to forget about this much-loved myth. The same is true for “sweating off fat” – that’s impossible, too.
Your body stores and burns fat globally, i.e., all over. While exercising, healthy eating and a calorie deficit will force your body to burn fat for fuel, you cannot influence from where that fat will come. It MAY be your abs, but it could also be your arms, butt, or chest.
So, while you can lose belly fat, we cannot guarantee that abs exercises will help give you a slimmer stomach. Forget about spot reduction, and focus on your entire body for the best fat-loss results.
30-Day Abs Challenge – Closing Thoughts
Sometimes, the best way past a fitness plateau is to smash through it! Sticking with your regular workout program is not the answer. Instead, you need to push the volume and intensity up a notch and get Hulk-mad, going beyond your normal limits.
This 30-day abs challenge might not give you a six-pack, but after four weeks, your core will be harder and stronger than ever before. Dial in your diet, and, who knows, you may even start to see your abs.
And the best part? You can do these workouts at home, so it’s virtually excuse-free.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!

28 Day Workout Challenge: Get Fit, Feel Powerful, and Unlock Your True Potential

28 Day Workout Challenge: Get Fit, Feel Powerful, and Unlock Your True Potential

Irrespective of your experience level, fitness challenges are a great tool for leveling up. Beginners can use challenges to kickstart their fitness journey and build healthy habits, whereas more advanced athletes can use them to break through plateaus.
However, there are a few common problems with most fitness challenges. Some challenges are so overly ambitious that people detect a hint of deception and refrain from embracing them; ‘Build six-pack abs in seven days’ is one example of such a fitness challenge. On the other hand, some fitness challenges are so excessively fixated on results that they repel exercisers; for instance, no beginner (in their right mind) will ever sign up for a “Learn to squat 315 pounds in 30 days” challenge.
Process goals should be the way to go for most people, especially beginners. Process goals are milestones that comprise smaller, controlled accomplishments that help you achieve a larger objective. “Hit the gym six days a week for 28 days” is a process goal. Most beginners will be more receptive to this objective as there are no overwhelming expectations here. We will focus on a process goal in this program.
The 28 day workout challenge will help you kickstart your transformation journey and get fitter, faster, and healthier. This training program includes a balance of strength, hypertrophy, and conditioning exercises to help you get in the best shape of your life and improve your overall functioning.
The following 28-day workout regime is broken into four weeks. The programming for each week will change to help you build a well-rounded physique. You will require a pair of light dumbbells and an iron grit for this program.
Although this is a challenge, the objective here is not to bench 225 pounds or run 5K at the end of these 28 days. The test is to stick to the workout regimen for 28 days and do your best. The results will follow. I promise.
Prerequisites For The 28 Day Workout Challenge

The benefits of an exercise program go far beyond improved aesthetics. Following a training regime can boost your overall health and mental well-being, enhance your daily functioning and heighten your productivity. [1]
Since this is a beginner-friendly workout challenge, the barriers to entry are shallow. Here are a few requirements of the 28 day workout challenge: 
Experience
You don’t need to know every exercise in the Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding to start this exercise program. That said, it would make a world of difference if you knew how to perform some of the most basic compound movements correctly. 
If you are a rookie, I recommend turning this four-week program into a five-week program and using the first week to learn the exercises in this program. I will link each exercise to a detailed guide. Please feel free to explore those guides to drill the movements. Learning the correct exercise technique improves your exercise form and significantly reduces your risk of injury. 
Basic Equipment
Don’t worry; I won’t ask you to drop a bundle on a squat rack or a treadmill. This 28 day workout challenge requires minimum training equipment, such as a pair of dumbbells and a resistance band. You can also switch the dumbbells with kettlebells if you have a few lying around your house. 
People that lack the budget to buy new training equipment can use water jugs, backpacks, and suitcases. Think outside the box and use anything in your home to challenge yourself. 
Diet and Recovery

Although training is a crucial aspect of building muscle and losing fat, it is not the be-all and end-all of a transformation program. You must focus on your nutrition and recovery program to make the needle budge in the right direction.
Begin by determining your daily calorie goal and using an appropriate macro intake target to help you move toward your body recomposition objective. Further, you must sleep seven to eight hours each night to allow your body enough time to rest and recuperate from your workouts. 
Remember, you cannot outwork a bad diet, and you break muscle tissue while training. Your muscles grow back bigger and stronger when you are resting. 
28 Day Workout Challenge Program Outline
Burning workouts are one of the most common reasons why people give up on their transformation journey without achieving their objective.
This 28-day workout program is different. This training regimen is programmed to ensure the exercises deliver enough stimulus to build strength and muscle mass and boost fat loss and will keep you on your toes with consistent volume and intensity changes over the four weeks.

Outline of the 28 Days Workout Program
Although the exercises will remain the same in this four-week workout challenge, you will perform a different number of reps and sets and use different weights (if possible) to boost muscle fiber stimulation. It will help you drill the form of these exercises, which will set you up for better performance down the line.
If you are a rookie, you should spend the first week, let’s call it “Week 0,” learning the correct exercise form and building a foundation. Although one week will probably not be enough to drill the movements, it will be enough to make you feel comfortable. Since you’ll not be using heavy weights in this 28 day workout challenge, these four weeks will also help you master the exercises without putting you at risk of injury.
Without any further ado, here is a brief outline of this four-week workout challenge:
Week 1: Build a Foundation
We will use the first week to ease into the 28 day workout challenge. Week one is not the time to go pedal to the metal. You want to keep muscle soreness to a minimum, as you don’t want to sit out of a workout because of restricted joint and muscle range of motion due to stiffness. Avoid lifting heavy and focus on familiarizing yourself with the exercises.
Week 2: Increase the Reps
You will increase the intensity slightly in the second week by ramping up the number of reps you perform in each exercise. Limit the rest time between sets and exercises to 60 seconds to keep your heart rate up. Doing more sets with the same weights as week one should result in better muscle pumps.
You will remain in the 8-12 rep range in the first, third, and fourth weeks. However, you must bump up your reps to 15-20 in the second week. You might have to use lighter weights to achieve the new rep goal.
Week 3: Lift Heavier
Two weeks of training will improve your form and develop muscle memory, making it the right time to go heavier. If you train at home and want to purchase dumbbells, I recommend getting adjustable ones, as they are more versatile and take up less space. Folks that do not have heavier weights can get creative with resistance bands to make the exercises more challenging.
Beginners can go up to 20% heavier in the third week. Ensure you don’t compromise your form while chasing bigger weights. Use a weight that allows you to complete eight reps with perfect form. Feel free to reduce the reps to six as fatigue starts to set in.
Week 4: Boost the Volume
Three weeks of training will condition your muscles enough to handle more volume. For the fourth week, you will increase the training volume by doing an additional set of each exercise. Plus, we will be adding one exercise to each workout. Following the same training program for too long can lead you to a plateau. Programming progressive overload into your training regimen ensures you are making consistent gains.
28 Day Workout Challenge: Weekly Split
Here is the weekly split of this training challenge:

Day 1: Upper Body Strength
Day 2: Full-Body HIIT
Day 3: Lower Body Strength
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Full-Body Strength
Day 6: Cardio and Core
Day 7: Mobility and Skill / Rest

This 28 day workout challenge involves training six days a week. Although the seventh day of the week is reserved for mobility and working on developing new skills, you can also use it as a rest day if you feel sore.
Workout Plan
Although the exercises will remain the same week-over-week, keep an eye on the sets and reps and adapt your workouts according to the weekly outline described above. 

Day 1: Upper Body Strength
You can swap the dumbbells with resistance bands in each exercise in this workout. Furthermore, if you don’t have access to a flat bench, you can swap the first exercise of this workout with the dumbbell or resistance band floor press. 

Day 2: Full-Body HIIT
After the upper body strength workout, you will perform a full-body HIIT workout focusing on increasing your heart rate and burning calories. This will be a 14-minute bodyweight workout. Complete three circuits of these seven exercises. You are allowed a 15-second rest between exercises and a 60-second rest after completing each circuit. 

Feel free to break up your sets if you cannot perform an exercise for the stipulated time. For example, take a five-second breather if you cannot perform pull-ups continuously for 30 seconds. 
Perform four circuits of this full-body HIIT workout in the fourth week. 
Day 3: Lower Body Strength
Spend 5-10 minutes warming up before each workout. It will get your blood flowing, improve your range of motion, and significantly reduce your risk of injury. Your warm-up routine should include a combination of static and dynamic stretches.

Day 4: Rest
Rest days on this 28 day workout challenge are not a free pass to becoming a couch potato. You must keep your body moving on your rest days as well. Go for a 20-30 minute walk, bike ride, or hike on your off days. 
Day 5: Full-Body Strength
Most exercises in this workout program are compound movements, which demand greater energy input than single-joint exercises. However, you must limit your rest duration between sets to 60 seconds to maintain a high intensity. 

Day 6: Cardio and Core
You’ll be doing a 15-minute HIIT cardio session and five core exercises on day six of this training program. Training your core will help develop a six-pack, improve your overall functionality, and reduce your risk of lower back pain and injury. 

Day 7: Mobility and Skill / Rest
The seventh day of each week is reserved for mobility drills. Working on your flexibility will improve your range of motion, leading to greater muscle stimulation. You can also use this day to drill exercises you have difficulty performing. CrossFitters can work on their Olympic lifts or gymnastics techniques on day seven. Feel free to take this day off if you feel sore and tired. 
Tracking Progress
Twenty-eight days is a relatively short time to see any significant improvement in your physique. However, you must track your progress weekly to ensure you are on the correct path. Recording body weight, anthropometric measurements, workout performance (sets, reps, and weights used), and taking physique photos are the most popular ways of tracking your progress. Seeing the needle budge in the right direction can boost your motivation and push you to work harder. 

Common Obstacles
These are the most common problems faced by people on a transformation program:
Diminishing Motivation
Many people lose their motivation to train and eat healthy when they do not see progress within a few weeks. To avoid this, set measurable short-term objectives. For example, you can set a new goal to do 20 sit-ups in a set by the end of two weeks if you can only do 15 right now. Routinely ticking off goals will keep you excited about your workouts. 
Lack of Support
The importance of a support system is often overlooked in a training program. A support system can keep you accountable and motivated. A support group consisting of individuals who share common goals can be invaluable. Your friends and family can also be a part of your support group. 
Unplanned Events
Major life events, emergencies, and other unplanned events can disrupt your workout program. Some of these events are unavoidable. However, you must ensure that you return to your transformation program after dealing with the situation at hand. 
Frequently Asked Questions
How to lose weight?
Losing weight boils down to calories in vs. calories out. You must be in a calorie deficit to lose weight, meaning you must burn more calories daily than you consume. According to the CDC, you can lose 1-2 pounds weekly by cutting 500-1,000 calories from your daily diet. [2]
Can I build a six-pack in 28 days?
Technically, yes, you can. If you have a low body fat percentage, you can improve the definition of your six-pack by performing ab exercises. However, folks with a body fat percentage of 20% or more usually require more than a month to build washboard abs, as they must first lose the excess fat by running a calorie deficit. 
Is it possible to spot-reduce belly fat?
No. You cannot spot-reduce fat from your abdomen. Most people lose fat in a generalized manner across their entire body while in a calorie deficit. Genetics can also play a role in your fat loss pattern. 
Note: The content on Fitness Volt is for informative purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice to diagnose, prevent, or treat health problems. If you’re suffering from a health issue, are pregnant, or are under 18 years old, you should consult your physician before starting any new supplement, nutrition, or fitness routine.
Wrapping Up
Congratulations on seeking a challenge. Following a 28 day workout program requires you to leave your comfort zone, try new things, and test your limits. You should be proud of yourself for making this decision to explore your potential and work toward your best self. 
Remember, the challenge here is not to build a six-pack in record time or maximize your VO2 performance. This 28 workout challenge has just one goal — hit the gym for four weeks and complete your workouts. Give yourself a pat on the back after you complete this challenge. On the other hand, don’t hang your head low if you can’t achieve this objective for some reason. Shake off the unpleasant emotions and try again. Best of luck!
References

Ruegsegger GN, Booth FW. Health Benefits of Exercise. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2018 Jul 2;8(7):a029694. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a029694. PMID: 28507196; PMCID: PMC6027933.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Losing Weight. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html

How To Get Ripped Quick: 12 Tips To Blast Away Body Fat and Unleash Your Perfect Abs!

How To Get Ripped Quick: 12 Tips To Blast Away Body Fat and Unleash Your Perfect Abs!

Has this happened to you?
You stand in front of a mirror, turn to your side, grab your belly bulge between your hands, and wonder how you could turn this into a six-pack.
It most likely has because you wouldn’t be reading this article if it didn’t. 
Most people get a gym membership to get ripped, and they want the results quickly. However, their results are generally so slow that it makes a snail on vacation look like an Olympic sprinter. It’s no surprise that most of these folks end up hanging their sprinting shoes before achieving their training objectives. 
To be honest, losing body weight isn’t easy. It requires tedious planning and meticulous execution. Falter on any of the fronts, and you’ll see your progress halt or, worse, enter a downward spiral. 
In this article, we will go over everything you will ever need on your fat-blasting and muscle-building journey, including what it really means to be ripped and the body fat percentage you should have, and factors that affect the time it takes for you to get in the best shape of your life. 
Besides unveiling the 12 best tips to get ripped in a record time, we also cover a general timeline of the changes you can expect by following these tips. Finally, we summarize the article with the most frequently asked questions about shredding. 
We have a lot to cover, so sit tight, grab your protein shake, and read on. 
What does ‘getting ripped’ mean?

The fitness world has its fair share of jargon. So, before we get into the nitty-gritty of getting ripped, let’s ensure we are on the same page. 
Getting ripped can mean different things to different people. For a bodybuilder, it could mean gaining muscle conditioning; for an overweight individual, it could mean losing weight; and for a motorcyclist, it could mean falling off his bike without protective gear. You are certainly in the wrong place if you are a rider. The bikes we’ll be riding in this program are stationary. 
For the scope of this article, getting ripped refers to shedding body fat while preserving and building lean muscle mass. Getting ripped involves maintaining a low body fat percentage so that you have crisp muscle conditioning, separation, lines, and striations. It is the process of sculpting your physique into a masterpiece worthy of gracing the cover of fitness magazines. Lean, diced, shredded, peeled, cut, and whittled are other gym terms for getting ripped. 
The optimal body fat percentage that makes it look like your muscles are tightly wrapped around your muscles will vary for different individuals. Furthermore, men achieve a more defined physique faster as they hold a lower body fat percentage than women. 
Different Body Fat Percentages

Although many lifters tirelessly chase a lower body fat percentage, only a few truly understand the subject. Your body fat percentage is the proportion of fat your body carries compared to its total weight. It is calculated by dividing your total fat mass by your total body mass, multiplied by 100. It includes essential body fat and storage body fat.
According to the American Council on Exercise, the percent body fat norms for men and women are as follows:

Description
Men
Women

Essential Fat
2-5%
10-13%

Athletes
6-13%
14-20%

Fitness
14-17%
21-24%

Average
18-24%
25-31%

Obese
>25%
>32%

Essential fat is required to maintain life and reproductive functions; essential fat stores in women generally lie in the 10-13% range. On the other hand, they are considerably lower in men and lie between 2-5%. 
Athletes engaged in physical sports usually have the lowest body fat percentage. Female athletes have 14-20% of body fat, whereas men are in the range of 6-13%. On average, ladies that work out regularly have a body fat percentage between 21-24%, whereas the males have 14-17%. 
An average untrained female has a body fat percentage between 25-31%, and for an average male, it lies in the range of 18-24%. Anything over this is considered obese. 
Body Fat Percentage and Ab Visibility
The average body fat percentages don’t necessarily dictate when you’ll be able to see your abs. Here is a rough estimate between the body fat percentage and ab visibility in men:

20%+: In the ‘average’ body fat percentage stage, you will be soft around your midsection, and your abs will not be visible. 
14-17%: The ‘fitness’ stage can be considered healthy, but it is unlikely that you will see any ab definition. People at the lower end of this range might have their abs peeking through in perfect lighting. 
6-13%: The ‘athlete’ range of body fat is considered lean, which means your abs will be visible.
5-9%: You will be peeled AF. However, staying in the ‘essential’ body fat range for a prolonged period is unhealthy. 

Factors That Influence How Long It Can Take To Get Ripped
Several factors can play a role in determining how long it takes for you to get ripped. You can tweak some of these factors, but you have to adjust to the others. 
Genetics

You are in for a rude shock if you thought you could replicate your cousin’s weight loss transformation results by following his fitness regimen. Genetics plays a crucial role in how your body adapts to your training and diet routine. 
Some folks might be better positioned to get ripped quickly because of a favorable fat distribution and faster metabolism. That said, some people use poor genetics as an excuse and go easy on themselves. Don’t be this person. 
Even if you did not hit the genetics lottery, you could still achieve a ripped physique by adhering to the 12 transformation tips mentioned in this article. Remember, genetics can slow you down and limit your growth, but it won’t stop you dead in your tracks. You must keep pushing yourself to achieve your dream physique.
Related: Bad Chest Genetics and How To Build a Barrel Chest
Starting Point
How fast you can achieve your training objective depends on where you start. For example, a person with 19% body fat will get to 15% body fat faster than an individual starting at 24%. 
However, beginners initially experience quick results, and their progress tapers off as they gain more experience and their bodies adjust to their training and diet programs. You must constantly challenge your body to avoid hitting a plateau. 
Also, you shouldn’t compare your progress with others, as it can lead to frustration and burnout. Many people also increase their risk of injury while training by pushing themselves too hard while trying to keep up with others. 
Your lifestyle also plays a crucial role in how long it will take you to achieve your dream physique. People who are very active (train 5-6 days a week or have a physically-intensive job) will get ripped faster than those with a sedentary lifestyle. Plus, your sleep quality, stress levels, and overall health can also affect how quickly you shed your body weight and build muscle mass. 
The Trifecta
An optimal training, diet, and recovery program is the holy trifecta of a transformation program. You must nail all three aspects of your fitness regimen to achieve your dream physique. Neglecting any department will lead to suboptimal results. 
You must follow personalized training, diet, and recovery regimen to fast-track your gains. Many people make the mistake of following a vanilla transformation program. However, they never get too far with it as it is designed around someone else’s strengths and weaknesses. 
For example, folks with a lagging lower body will increase their muscle imbalances by following a training program focusing on building upper body strength.
Gender

Men generally find it easier to lose body fat and shed weight due to higher testosterone levels. Testosterone is the male sex hormone responsible for the development of muscle mass and strength and for producing male sex characteristics. 
High natural testosterone production is why the ladies cannot build the same amount of muscle mass and strength as the gents. Nonetheless, women can still achieve a ripped physique in a short period by following the right training and diet protocols. 
Metabolism
The process by which your body changes food and drink into energy is known as metabolism. Metabolism constantly provides your body with energy for essential bodily functions like breathing and digestion. 
Your body needs a minimum number of calories to sustain these functions; this category of calories is known as the basic metabolic rate (BMR). Do you want to know your BMR? Check out this neat BMR calculator. 
Factors like age, sex, muscle mass, and physical activity affect metabolism or BMR. Some folks have a naturally high metabolic rate, which can help them burn more calories throughout the day. Most of us have a friend that eats like a pig but can easily be mistaken for a pole. That’s a classic case of someone with a high metabolic rate. 
Furthermore, your metabolic rate improves through regular exercise, strength training, and maintaining muscle mass. Stay active throughout the day to burn more calories. 
Age
Since the natural testosterone levels drop with age, humans of both genders find it more difficult to lose body fat and build muscle mass. Furthermore, our metabolic rate takes a dip too, which adds to the complexities. 
We tend to lose muscle mass with age. However, following a balanced training, diet, and recovery program can help slow down muscle atrophy. Don’t get us wrong; we, by no stretch of the imagination, mean to say that you cannot lose body fat as you grow older. You can reach your goal weight at any age. You will just have to work a little harder. 
Consistency

You can only achieve your transformation objective with consistency and dedication toward your goal. Most cutting programs require a long-term approach, especially if you are doing it for the first time. 
You must stick to your training and diet program even when the going gets tough; believe me, it will get tough, very tough. You must have the grit and commitment to get your head down and work with all your might, even when you do not see immediate results.
Even after you achieve your training objective, you must stay consistent with your training and diet program to maintain your ripped physique. Staying in photoshoot-ready shape throughout the year is a full-time job. The sooner you realize this, the less friction you will face in your transformation journey. 
Furthermore, the 12 tips mentioned below to get ripped quickly revolve around these factors and managing them better. The better you can control these factors, the better results you will see. 
Timeline For Getting Ripped
Let’s address the elephant in the room. “How long will it take for me to get ripped?” This is usually the first question asked by beginners starting their fitness journey. Although many fitness experts get annoyed with this question, we think it is a fair thing to ask since a body transformation demands significant time, energy, effort, commitment, and cash. 
Knowing how long it takes to achieve your dream physique will give you a timeline. You can use it to assess your progress and make necessary adjustments if and when required. A timeline can also act as motivation to stick to your guns. A transformation timeline is like a ticking time bomb; you are a bomb defuser trying to cut the correct wire before the big bang. 
How much weight should I expect to lose?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cutting your daily calorie intake by 500-1,000 kcal. Doing so will help you shed 1-2 pounds weekly. Conversely, adding 500-1,000 calories to your diet will result in gaining 1-2 pounds weekly. 
According to JAMA, you must burn 3,500 calories to lose a pound of body fat. Sticking to these calorie increases and cutting limits will keep your physique transformation journey gradual, steady, and sustainable. [1][2]
Here are a few weight loss estimates as per these recommendations:

Time
Expect Weight Loss Results

1 Day
0.14–0.28 pounds

1 Week
1–2 pounds

1 Month
4–8 pounds

3 Months
12–24 pounds

6 Months
24–48 pounds

12 Months
48–96 pounds

How ripped can I get in a week?
As per the JAMA findings, you can expect to lose 0.14 pounds daily if you cut 500 calories from your diet. Notably, you won’t see the results from the first day you cut your calories. You will start seeing results after your body starts adjusting to the new regimen. This process usually takes up to a week. 
Sticking to the 500-1,000 daily calorie cut will help you lose 1-2 pounds weekly. Some people try to lose too much weight too soon by following a much bigger calorie deficit, such as a 1,500-2,000 kcal shortfall. Not only is such a large calorie deficit unsustainable, but it can lead to chronic health conditions. Furthermore, the weight lost by following such a significant deficit usually returns just as fast. 
How ripped can I get in a month?
There are three ways of entering a calorie deficit. You could enter a deficit by cutting your calorie, starting exercising, or using a combination of the two methods. We recommend using a combination of both approaches to achieve your weight loss goals. 
You can lose 4 pounds of body weight in a month by maintaining a weekly deficit of 3,500 calories. However, since a month usually has a little more than four weeks, you can expect to shed around 6 pounds monthly. The number could increase to 10 pounds if you can manage a 1,000-calorie deficit. 
How ripped can I get in three months?
An intermediate exerciser can lose slightly more than 12 pounds in three months by sticking to a 3,500 weekly calorie deficit. You must account for your cheat meals in your weekly calorie deficit. For example, if you eat 1,000 surplus calories in your cheat meal, you must adjust your calorie intake the following week to return to a weekly deficit. 
You should use a calorie-counting app to log all your meals so you are on top of your diet plan. Further, developing a habit of reading food labels while grocery shopping will help you avoid junk food and achieve your goal faster. 
How ripped can I get in six and 12 months?
Most people will start to see weight loss results after they stick to a controlled diet and training program for 6-12 months. You can expect to shed 24-48 pounds in six months and 48-96 pounds in 12 months by maintaining a 3,500-calorie weekly deficit. 
It doesn’t matter where you are starting at. Losing between 24-94 pounds in a year can lead to a total body transformation. 
Notably, the time it takes to transform your body will depend on your genetics, gender, starting point, consistency, and the other factors mentioned above. You can expect a slight variance from this timeline. 
Novices shouldn’t expect to lose 1-2 pounds weekly. You can expect to replicate these results after you have some training experience under your belt and know what you are doing. Noticeable changes start to appear after you have arrived at a diet and training program that works for you. 
12 Best Tips To Get Ripped Quickly
Here are the 12 best tips to get shredded in record time:
Start With a Goal
It sounds so basic, but it is where most people falter. While many do not set an objective goal for themselves before starting their transformation journey, others are either too aggressive or bleak.
You must set realistic expectations. Setting goals that are too ambitious will not only lead to disappointment but also increase your risk of injury, burning out, or giving up on your transformation dreams entirely. 
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your physique transformation will take time, effort, and grit, and you must be willing to commit to it for the long term. 
Have a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound; for example, ‘lose 4 pounds in a month.’
Assess Current Diet and Make Necessary Changes

Most people think that losing weight is like solving a Rubik’s cube. You must twist and turn your entire lifestyle up and down until you can create the right pattern. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. 
The only thing that you need to do to lose weight is to cut calories and enter a calorie deficit, meaning you must expend more calories in a day than you consume. Determine your daily average calorie intake, realign it according to your goals, and Bob’s your uncle. 
Many people go balls to the wall while cutting their calories. They limit as many calories as they possibly can and sometimes push it so much that they can hear guilt whispering in their ear every time they indulge in a cheat meal. Although going cold turkey cheat meals can be great for an obese individual, depending on your starting physique and training objectives, you might not have to do it. 
Following an unnecessarily severe diet can lead to a negative relationship with food, which can result in chronic health conditions. 
After determining your daily caloric intake goal, use a suitable macronutrient split (carbs, protein, and fats) to work toward your dream physique. Use a high-protein, low-carb, low-fat diet to shed body fat and build muscle mass. 
Do Cardio
Although cardiovascular training isn’t compulsory in a weight loss program, doing it can help speed up your weight loss progress. You should ideally perform two cardio workouts daily to fast-track your weight loss progress. 
The first sesh should be a 30-45 minute low-intensity steady state (LISS) session that you do on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Your second cardio workout should be a 15-20 minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session, preferably after your weight training session. 
Lift Weights
You must add weight training to your exercise regime to build a chiseled physique. Resistance training exercises will help you pack muscle mass, tone your physique, and improve your overall aesthetics. 
Your workouts’ frequency, intensity, and volume will depend on your experience level and training objective. Furthermore, your workouts should include a balance of compound and isolation exercises. Compound lifts help build strength and muscle mass, whereas single-joint movements improve your conditioning. 

Incorporate Progressive Overload Into Your Routine
You must progressively overload your muscles to ensure consistent progress. A progressive overload could include enhancing your training frequency, volume, intensity, or time under tension.
Advanced training principles, such as super sets, drop sets, and blood flow restriction (BFR) training, are also incredibly effective ways of shocking your muscles into growing. Remember, following the same workouts for too long can lead to weight loss and muscle plateau, which can delay your progress. 
Use Targeted Exercise
The concept of spot reduction is as fake as unicorns. However, both these myths live on because they are beautiful and ignite your fantasy and imagination. 
Although you cannot spot-reduce a trouble area, you can target it using resistance training exercises to help shape and improve your muscle aesthetics. For example, men with excess chest fat can improve the shape of their pecs using chest exercises after reducing body fat by staying in a calorie deficit. 
Track Your Progress
Tracking your progress ensures you are on the right path. Track your progress weekly by taking progress photos, body measurements, and weighing yourself. You can also record your heart rate and blood pressure for overall health tracking. 
Lifters can also track their training progress by noting their exercises, sets, reps, and weights in a daily journal. Tracking your improvement allows you to make quick and necessary changes in your fitness regimen whenever you feel you’ve derailed.
Work With a Personal Trainer
A personal trainer can give you a personalized training program that suits your abilities, makes the most of your strengths, and works on fixing your weaknesses. He can also teach you the correct exercise form, which can significantly reduce your risk of injury. 
You could also hire a dietician for a customized nutrition program. Availing the services of a trainer and a nutritionist might cost you a little money upfront, but it will pay you dividends in the long term.

Focus on Your Recovery
Many people become obsessed with losing body weight and do too much too soon. Doing this for a prolonged period can lead to overtraining. If you always feel sore, you must work on your recovery program. 
Sleep for seven to eight hours each night to give your body enough time to rest and recuperate from your workouts. Massages, self-myofascial release, and cold plunges are other incredibly effective ways of fast-tracking your recovery. 
Try New Things
You must be open to experimenting with different strategies to maximize your fat loss potential. Consider carb loading before a training session to increase your workout intensity and push yourself harder. 
Furthermore, if you are stuck on a weight loss plateau, you could try intermittent fasting to break through the overhead ceiling. Always be on the lookout for things you could do differently to maximize your returns. 
Improve Your Lifestyle
Getting shredded isn’t limited to the gym and kitchen; it is a lifestyle. You must manage your stress levels and be mindful of your choices throughout the day. For example, you should take the stairs instead of the elevator and bike to work whenever possible. 
Stay active throughout the day. Set a step goal for yourself and schedule walks throughout the day to achieve your objective. Beginners can start with a 5,000-step goal, whereas active folks can experiment with a 10,000-step goal. 
Supplements Can Help
Although supplements aren’t necessary for building a chiseled physique, they can help fill the void in your whole food diet and speed up your transformation. Whey protein, creatine, and BCAAs are a few effective supplements you can add to your fitness regimen. 
2 HIIT Workouts To Get Ripped Quickly

Contrary to what most people think, you don’t require fancy training equipment or need to spend a couple of hours in the gym to tone your body and shed excess fat. You can do it using bodyweight exercises within 30 minutes. Here are two HIIT workouts that will help you get ripped quickly:
Workout 1
Perform four rounds of the following circuit, resting one minute after the burpees in each round. This workout will last 18 minutes. 

Exercise
Time
Rest

Mountain Climber
60 seconds

Jumping Jacks
60 seconds

Burpee
60 seconds
120 seconds

Workout 2
Here is a lower-body dominant HIIT workout for getting ripped. Do four rounds of this circuit. This workout will take you 22 minutes to complete. 

Exercise
Time
Rest

Sprint
30 seconds

Squat Jump
60 seconds

Lunge
60 seconds

Standing Calf Raise
60 seconds

Inch Worm
30 seconds
120 seconds

Next Read: How Many Abs Can You Have? 4-Pack vs. 6-Pack vs. 8-Pack
How To Structure Your Weight Loss Program
Learning about all these 12 steps to get ripped quickly can be overwhelming and lead to analysis paralysis. If you are a beginner and have no idea where to start, don’t fret; we have got you covered. 
Beginners will probably not lose 1–2 pounds weekly. You can expect these results after you’ve been following the fit lifestyle for at least a couple of months. For this timeline, we are assuming you have a few months of training experience under your belt. 
Here is an over-simplified six-month transformation timeline that you can use to kickstart your weight loss journey:
Month 1: Establishing a Strong Foundation
Beginners should focus on getting their basics right. Assess your current diet and make necessary adjustments according to your objectives. Begin by creating a caloric deficit through balanced nutrition and portion control. Your goal is to lose 4–8 pounds in the first month. 
Start your training journey by engaging in regular cardiovascular exercises (e.g., running, cycling, swimming) for fat burning. You can also start strength training to improve your physique aesthetics. However, your goal here will be to learn the correct exercise form instead of chasing big weights. 
Ensure you take weekly progress measurements and photos during your weight loss journey. It will keep you accountable and motivated and ensure you are on the correct path. 
Month 2-3: Accelerating Fat Loss and Muscle Development
While maintaining your objective of losing 1–2 pounds weekly, in the second phase, you must refine and optimize your nutrition plan, increase the intensity and duration of cardiovascular workouts, implement progressive overload in your strength training routine, and incorporate HIIT (high-intensity interval training) in your cardio and strength workouts for efficient fat burning.
Your goal will be to lose 12–24 pounds by the end of three months. Make necessary adjustments to your fitness regimen if you are far from this objective. 
Month 4-6: Focus on Muscle Definition and Strength
As you gain more experience, you can gun for improving your muscle definition and strength while pushing your cardiovascular endurance and stamina. In this phase, increase the frequency, intensity, and volume of your workouts. 
You should see a considerable improvement in your physique by the end of six months. Your weight loss should be in the range of 24–48 pounds. Consider hiring a training and diet coach if you are unsatisfied with your progress.
Read also:

FAQs
Can you spot-reduce body fat?
Most people want to shed belly fat and are always looking for ways to spot-reduce their tummy. Sadly, this is not possible. Maintaining a calorie deficit and engaging in cardio exercises leads to overall fat reduction and body weight loss. However, you can tone a particular muscle group through targeted training. For example, men can build a six-pack by doing ab exercises after their body fat percentage falls below 15%. 
Do I need to take supplements to lose fat and build muscle?
Absolutely no! You can shed body weight and achieve the physique of your dreams by eating nutrient-dense whole foods. However, supplements can help folks that cannot meet their daily caloric needs through whole foods. 
Is it possible to lose fat without hitting the gym?
Yes, you can lose weight without training. You must maintain a calorie deficit to lose weight and can expect to lose 1 pound weekly by cutting 500 calories from your diet. That said, exercising regularly can speed up your weight loss progress. 
Note: The content on Fitness Volt is for informative purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice to diagnose, prevent, or treat health problems. If you’re suffering from a health issue, are pregnant, or are under 18 years old, you should consult your physician before starting any new supplement, nutrition, or fitness routine.
Wrapping Up
Following the 12 explosive tips mentioned in this article to get ripped quickly will set you on a fat-obliterating and muscle-building adventure that will have you rocking a body so ripped that you’ll have people wondering if you were sculpted by Michelangelo himself. 
Starting a transformation journey might feel like a daunting task. You might feel unequipped and unprepared even to begin, but with these 12 tips by your side, you aren’t. Losing the flab might feel like an uphill battle, but it isn’t. 
Are you feeling too overwhelmed to take your first step? Cut one serving from any of your meals, and you’ll have begun the journey to becoming totally unstoppable. Best of luck!
References

Wishnofsky M. CALCULATION OF DIETS. JAMA. 1957;163(5):384–385. doi:10.1001/jama.1957.02970400056024
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Losing Weight. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html

Jeremy Buendia Looks Jacked in Recent Physique Update, Crushes a Push-Day Workout

Jeremy Buendia Looks Jacked in Recent Physique Update, Crushes a Push-Day Workout

Four-time Men’s Physique Olympia champion Jeremy Buendia is ready to rock the stage again. The 32-year-old will make his competitive comeback at the 2023 Olympia. The event is set to take place from Nov. 2 to 5 in Orlando, FL.
Buendia is a pioneer and one of the most accomplished competitors of the IFBB Pro League Men’s Physique division. He earned his pro card in 2013, the year when the Men’s Physique division was incorporated into the Olympia competition. Buendia returned to the drawing board after a runner-up finish at the 2013 Olympia and came back stronger the following year.
He dethroned the champ Mark Anthony Wingson to secure a victory at the 2014 Olympia and went on a dominant run that saw him defend the top spot at the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Olympia. Buendia last competed at the 2018 Olympia, where he finished second.
The 32-year-old never stopped working and teased a comeback multiple times during a long hiatus. However, the prospects of him competing were put on ice on each one of those occasions.
Having got the fire back in his belly, the California native announced his return a few weeks ago. As a former Olympia champion, Buendia holds a lifetime invitation to compete at Olympia, and he will use this benefit to grace the stage again in 2023.
Buendia will routinely post his workouts on YouTube to keep his fans updated on the progress. Recently, he went through a chest, shoulders, and triceps workout and posted the video on his YouTube channel. So let’s check out how the former champ is gearing up his off-season training to make a solid comeback.

Jeremy Buendia goes through a push-day workout
Buendia shared his thoughts on what prompted him to make a comeback. He also spoke on the plan of action to ease his way into hard training. 
“Took some time to mentally prepare myself to get to where I need to be to be back at this point where I can do the prep and be competitive again. I’m back there now. I like to really warm up as good as possible before I jump into heavier weights, and I really gotta check my ego during this prep. I know I’m gonna start feeling good and getting really strong again but making sure that I look smart and prevent injury. One bad rep, and it puts this whole prep to an end.”
With that, he warmed up his muscles sufficiently and jumped into his intense workout.
Incline Dumbbell Press
Buendia kicked off the workout with the incline dumbbell press. This variation of the dumbbell chest press emphasizes the upper pecs (sternal head of the pectoralis major muscles) and imparts a fuller look to the chest. Buendia pushed through several sets using incrementally heavier weights and moved on to the next exercise.

Cable Crossover
For most people, it is just another pump-inducing chest exercise that makes for a perfect finisher. However, cable crossover is a lot more than that. According to an ACE-sponsored study, cable crossover is the third most effective exercise for pectoral muscle activation (after bench press and pec deck flyes). (3) It helps increase the adduction strength of the upper body and helps bring about hypertrophy.
The four-time Men’s Physique Olympia champion utilized this as his second training exercise. He added more stimulus to the pectoral muscles before taking up the next exercise in the routine. While speaking about how the competitive scene has evolved in his absence, Buendia said:
“The divisions have evolved a lot. I’m well aware of that. I can’t bring the same physique I had in 2017-2018 to the Olympia stage and expect to place well. The division’s gotten bigger; it’s gotten better. The guys are really good. I’m gonna give them all the respect in the world… But all I know is I am better now than I was in the past. I’m a lot bigger, I’m working harder, and I’ve got my eyes set on November. We’re going after it; no backing down. Nobody outworks me,” Buendia said about his competition after cranking out a solid set.

Smith Machine Bench Press
The bench press is the king of upper body exercises when it comes to strength and muscle gain. Very few exercises come even remotely close to the benefits this exercise offers in terms of pushing strength gain. Employing a Smith machine for the exercise eliminates the need to control the weight and enables the person to focus more on the target muscles.
Buendia cranked out some heavy sets of Smith machine bench presses and shed light on his recovery methods.
“I’m getting massage therapy, soft tissue therapy twice a week. Chiropractic work twice a month, depending on how I am feeling. Now I will probably start going to a senior physical therapist…”
Following the Smith machine bench press, Buendia took to another flying movement.
Pec Deck Fly
Buendia performed pec deck flyes next to isolate the pectoral muscles. Performing the exercises unilaterally helps remove strength imbalances and achieve complete development. He did the last few reps of every set unilaterally and went on to do a little bit of shoulder work next.

Single-Arm Cable Lateral Raise
Cable machines keep the muscles under tension throughout the range of motion, bringing about muscle hypertrophy more effectively. (1) Buendia performed the single arm cable lateral raises next to work the medial deltoids. He maintained a controlled pace and utilized a full range of motion to make the muscles work optimally.
Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Buendia took to this free weight variation of the previous exercise to fire up the medial delts further and cranked out solid sets.
Cable Triceps Pushdown
Triceps pushdowns work the triceps muscle from a neutral position and stimulate all three triceps heads. It is one of the most common tricep exercises in gyms around the world. Buendia pushed through a few sets of the exercise with slow and controlled movements to pump the triceps and jumped into the day’s final exercise.

Close-Grip Push-up
The good ol’ push-up is the simplest yet among the most effective upper body strength exercises. It does not require any setup and can be done anywhere. Your hands are placed close together in the close-grip push-up variation. This puts far more emphasis on the triceps and the center of the chest than most other push-up variations (Similar to the close-grip bench press). (4)
Buendia wrapped up the training session with a few sets of close-grip push-ups executed with perfect form.
Overall, the workout consisted of the following exercises:

The returning former champ looks stage ready in his recent physique update
It’s been four weeks since Buendia started his Olympia prep. The diet and training routine has started showing results as the four-time Men’s Physique Olympia champion now prepares to capture the title again. In a short video posted on Buendia’s Instagram account, he flaunted his sculpted physique.
Although only the upper half of his body is seen in the video, it is enough to deduce that Buendia is clearly on the way to bringing an impressive package on stage. The broad shoulder, fuller chest, and wide back tapering down into a narrow midsection appear to have the perfect aesthetic package. You can see the video below:

“4 weeks back on my diet complete ??

Looking forward to a cheat meal tonight…any guesses what I’m gonna eat?” The caption to Jeremy Buendia’s post read.
Professional sports are evolving faster than ever due to the advent of technology, training methods, and vast stores of knowledge. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the old guard to fend off the hungry up-and-coming talent, especially after long layoffs. It will be a rare and extraordinary achievement if Buendia can turn the clock back and emerge victoriously at the 2023 Olympia.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Buendia’s YouTube channel:

References:

Are Free Weights Better Than Machines for Strength Training? (Author – Lauren Bedosky)
Bench Press Ultimate Guide: Muscles Worked, How-To, Benefits, and Alternatives (Author – Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine)
Top Three Most Effective Chest Exercises [Authors – Whitnee Schanke (B.S.), John P. Porcari (PH.D.), Emmanuel Felix (PH.D.), Charles Hendrix (M.S. ED.), Carl Foster (PH.D.)]
Close Grip Push Up: How To Do, Muscle Worked, Benefits

Published: 1 June, 2023 | 11:08 AM EDT

Fat Loss Workout Plan For Females: Burn, Sculpt, and Slay

Fat Loss Workout Plan For Females: Burn, Sculpt, and Slay

A glance at the cardio section of your gym will tell you that most women join a gym to lose weight. However, only a few ladies achieve their weight loss ambitions before losing motivation and dropping off their fitness regimen. 
Most ladies follow a cookie-cutter workout plan for weight loss, which includes doing 30-40 minutes of cardio and finishing their training session with a couple of ab exercises. Although you must start somewhere, sticking to a vanilla fat-loss workout plan will not get you too far. 
Women generally find it harder than men to lose weight. It is mostly because of years of misinformation and poor training and diet routines. Plus, several dietary and training myths have cropped up over the years, which significantly limit a woman’s physique transformation progress. 
Fat loss can feel like an uphill battle, especially with contradicting fitness advice and generic workout plans that overlook the unique needs of women blasted at you from all angles. 
In this article, we go over everything you need to know to build the figure of your dreams, including the basics of fat loss, the most common problems faced by women, the factors to consider for building a personalized fat loss workout plan and debunking some age-old weight loss myths. We will also go over the two best fat loss workout plans for females, the role of diet and recovery, the importance of tracking your progress, the best supplements to help you achieve your weight loss objective, and the safety precautions you must take. So, without any further ado, let’s get going. 
The Holy Grail of Weight Loss

Calories in vs. calories out is the holy grail of weight loss. You must enter a calorie deficit to shed the excess body weight, meaning you must burn more calories in a day than you consume. 
You could enter a calorie deficit by burning calories through exercise or lowering your daily caloric intake. Although you could maintain a negative calorie balance just by limiting your food intake or increasing your exercise frequency or intensity, you should ideally maintain a balance of the two. 
Besides entering a calorie deficit through limiting food intake and exercising, you must also make significant lifestyle changes to achieve your dream figure. For example, you should take the stairs instead of the lift, bike to work instead of using your car and cook healthy meals at home instead of eating at your favorite fast food joint. 
Although entering a calorie deficit sounds like something anyone could do at the drop of a hat, it is not that easy. The truth is that most people usually take two to three weeks to settle into their new routine. 
Furthermore, since each person has a different weight loss objective and a starting weight, they must follow a personalized training and diet program for optimal results. You must embrace a long-term lifestyle that supports weight management and promotes overall vitality.
How Much Weight Should You Expect To Lose?
Most people quit their weight loss journey before achieving their objective as they are unsatisfied with their progress. However, this could be prevented if they were taught what to expect. 
Setting big hairy audacious goals might give you an initial kick. It will, however, make you feel overwhelmed soon enough and increase your odds of cutting short your transformation journey due to subpar results.
Your physique transformation goal should be SMART:

S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Attainable
R: Relevant
T: Time-Bound

For example, “lose 50 pounds” does not meet the ‘SMART’ criteria. Instead, your weight goal could be along the lines of “shed 16 pounds in two months.”
Now, let’s get to how much weight you can expect to lose safely. As per the JAMA, you must burn 3,500 calories weekly to lose a pound of body fat. Breaking this into a daily target gets you to cut 500 calories from your diet. [1]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cutting your daily caloric intake by 500-1,000 calories can result in a weekly weight loss of 1-2 pounds. Sticking to this caloric restriction range will keep your physique transformation journey gradual, steady, and sustainable. [2]
You must adjust your caloric intake depending on your experience level to get the best results. Although the CDC green lights cutting 500-1,000 daily calories from your diet, you don’t necessarily have to do it. Beginners should start with a more conservative objective. For example, a newbie should aim to maintain a 200-300 calorie deficit in the initial phase of her weight loss journey until she adjusts to her new lifestyle. Conversely, more experienced individuals can flirt with the 1,000-calorie shortfall. 
Reasons Fat Loss Can Be Difficult For Women
Most of the literature on the internet about weight loss is geared towards men. This, however, can be a bottleneck for women trying to get rid of the spare tire. It’s no secret that men and women are built differently. What works for men for weight loss might not necessarily work for the ladies. Here are a few factors that can make fat loss more difficult for women:
Hormonal Fluctuations
Girls experience monthly hormonal fluctuations because of the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, there are major hormonal shifts during pregnancy and menopause. Hormonal changes can impact your metabolism, appetite, energy levels, and fat storage patterns, making fat loss more challenging. 
Some ladies might also fall off track during menstruation, which is perfectly fine. Although losing weight requires strict adherence to your diet and training, you must listen to your body and step off the gas when necessary. 
Furthermore, you must not feel guilty for missing a training session or eating your favorite pizza during your menstrual cycle. Negative feelings and emotions can make you feel overwhelmed, which is never good for a physique transformation. 

Higher Body Fat Percentage
Women usually have a higher body fat percentage than men. It is primarily because of the differences in the hormonal structure. The ladies store more fat in their hips, thighs, and breasts, which can be more resistant to fat loss.
Until you are a professional bodybuilder, you shouldn’t be too fixated on your body fat percentage. Instead, you should aim to achieve a healthy body fat percentage according to your height, weight, and age. 
Not sure what your ideal body fat percentage should be? Use our convenient online body fat percentage calculator to find out.
Lower Lean Muscle Tissue
Men generally have more lean muscle tissue mass than the ladies. For the uninitiated, muscle tissue is metabolically more active than fat tissue, meaning it burns more calories than fat. According to research, 1 pound of muscle burns seven to 10 calories daily, whereas 1 pound of fat burns only 2 to 3 calories. Since a pound of muscle burns at least two times more calories than the same amount of fat, men are at an advantage since they burn more calories throughout the day, even at rest. [3]
Furthermore, this also results in a slower metabolic rate in women. Hence, the ladies must work harder and smarter to make up the difference through exercise and a well-balanced diet.
Work and Family Responsibilities Hinder Exercise Regimens
Besides equal responsibility and workload in the office, women generally play a more prominent role in the household. Managing their professional and family obligations can leave no time to work out for most women.  
If you are too busy to hit the gym, you must find an effective home workout program to help you shed the extra kilos. Adding more deliberate activity throughout the day is an excellent way to burn extra calories. 
Check Out: At-Home Workouts And Exercises
Too Many Myths
“Don’t lift,” “Don’t eat too much protein,” and “Avoid supplements” are a few of the bad advice that is consistently thrown at women. Notably, most of this ill advice comes from insecure men that do not want women to outlift them or broscientists that cannot back themselves with scientific evidence. 
Whenever someone tells you something that doesn’t sound correct, it probably isn’t. Also, you should develop the habit of crosschecking everything someone tells you about health and fitness. It will save you a lot of trouble in the long term.

Emotional Eating
Emotional triggers such as stress, sadness, or anxiety are often associated with binge eating. Many women turn to junk food as a coping mechanism, seeking comfort and relief. However, this can put their weight loss progress on a downward trajectory. 
Emotional eating can build a negative relationship with food, leading to eating disorders and other chronic health conditions. Furthermore, binge eating often results in a caloric surplus that can sabotage weight loss goals. 
You must follow a nutrient-dense, balanced whole-food diet to lose excess weight. Getting most of your calories through junk food can lead to macro and micronutrient deficiencies that can hamper your overall health, energy levels, and metabolism and make the weight loss progress more complex. 
It doesn’t end here. Frequent emotional eating can disrupt your natural hunger and fullness cues, and you can expect a disruption in your daily eating pattern. Binge eating can frequently make you feel hungry at odd times throughout the day, increasing your chances of overeating. Snacking late at night causes you to store most of that food in the form of visceral fat. 
Although weight loss might be a little more complex for women than their counterparts, it isn’t impossible. The ladies might have to work a little harder than their male counterparts to achieve the same results. 
Problems With Fat Loss Workout Plans For Females
Knowing the most common weight loss workout problems for women will help you avoid these pitfalls and put you on a fast track to achieving your dream figure.
Lack of Personalization 
As mentioned earlier in this article, most ladies make the mistake of following a generic workout program. Ladies that start on the wrong foot will have subpar results and will have to refocus their energies down the line, which will cost them much more time and effort. 
No two people are the same. They will react to different exercises uniquely. Furthermore, a fat loss program might help an individual lose belly fat, but if your primary objective is to fix your bat wings, you will face disappointment in the end. 
You must follow a personalized training program that caters to your unique needs. It should also consider your experience level. Punching above your weight class will limit your performance and significantly increase your risk of injury while training. 
Remember, there is more than one way to skin the cat. Contrary to what most people think, you don’t have to die on the treadmill to lose weight. The main objective is to lose weight by entering a calorie deficit, which can be achieved while engaging in your favorite physical activities like swimming, dancing, biking, or lawn mowing. You do you. 
Check out: Calories Burning Calculators
Too Much Cardio and Avoiding Weight Training

It is not a coincidence that the cardio section in gyms around the world is flooded by women. It is the result of years of misinformation. Women have been made to believe that lifting weights can make them look manly. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
Women do not produce enough testosterone naturally to build the same muscle mass and definition as their male counterparts. On the flip side, lifting weights can help women build a toned and perfectly carved figure. 
Overemphasizing long-duration steady-state cardio can result in a loss of muscle mass, which can be counterproductive in women, especially those with a normal BMI. Doing too much cardio will make you skinny. However, it is the hourglass figure that most ladies are chasing. 
Overlooking Progressive Overload
Resistance training should be a part of your exercise routine, as building muscle mass can improve your calorie-burning rate. However, sticking to the same training regimen for an extended period can lead to a muscle and strength plateau. 
You must progressively overload your muscles to ensure you make consistent progress. Progressive overload can be achieved by increasing the frequency, volume, intensity, duration, or poundage of your workouts. You could also incorporate advanced training principles like super sets, drop sets, and intraset stretching into your training regime to challenge yourself. 
Using HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts is another effective way of moving toward your training objective. Ensure you incorporate suitable progressive overload techniques for fat loss into your training regimen as per your experience level. 
Following a Boring Routine
Getting bored of your exercise regimen is one of the fastest ways of dumping your weight loss goal and the fitness lifestyle and returning to your old ways. You must keep things interesting by adding new variables. 
For example, if you started your fitness routine by running outdoors five days a week, you could switch two of those days into a strength training session. Once you master some of the exercises, add more complex movements like the snatch and clean and jerk into your regimen. 
After you get decent at weight lifting, add a gymnastics day to your workout program. Remember, monogamy is best limited to intimate relationships. Incorporating diverse exercises, training methods, and workout formats into your exercise regime will enhance your skill set without making you feel overwhelmed. Furthermore, you could sign up for competitions like a half marathon in your city to challenge yourself. 
You Must Rest
In contrast to what pop culture has been feeding us, rest is not for the weak. Even the strongest of the strong ensure they get a good night’s sleep each day. Rest is when your body recovers and rebuilds. Get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to give your body enough time to rest and recover. 
Additionally, advanced lifters that follow an intense training regimen should take two to three rest days a week to allow their muscles to recover from the brutality they put them through. So, sit back, grab your protein shake, and relax. You don’t have to kill it every day in the gym to lose weight and achieve your dream figure.

Back It Up
No, we aren’t going Prince Royce on you. 
You must back up your workout routine with a solid diet and recovery program. You break down muscle during your workouts. They grow back bigger and stronger outside the gym. Determine your daily caloric objective and use an appropriate macronutrient split to ensure optimal recovery. 
Furthermore, you must keep your stress levels under check as they can wreak havoc on your weight loss journey. Too much stress can increase cortisol production in your body, which can make your body hold onto excess body fat. Addressing lifestyle factors holistically alongside exercise is crucial for comprehensive and sustainable fat loss.
Hire a Trainer and a Nutritionist
Most people try to do everything on their own. Not only does it return poor results, but it also significantly increases their risk of injury. Hiring a trainer will ensure that you are following a personalized training program that caters to your unique needs. A trainer will also teach you the correct exercise form, helping you get the best bang for your buck while reducing the odds of injury. 
Getting your trainer and nutritionist to work together will do wonders for your weight loss journey. It will help you enter a calorie deficit while adhering to your lifestyle, which will help you stick to your fitness routine. Seeking a professional’s help might cost you a little money upfront, but it will pay dividends in the long run. 
Factors To Consider While Designing a Flat Loss Workout Plan For Females
If the process is correct, your chances of success increase by manifold. Here are the factors to keep in mind while creating a fat-loss workout plan for females to increase effectiveness and suitability:
Individual Goals and Fitness Level
We cannot stress this enough. So many ladies leave so much on the table by sticking to a vanilla training program. You must choose a fat loss workout program as per your experience level, current physique, and objectives. 
Furthermore, you must break down your objective into smaller goals. Small wins every week will keep you motivated and moving in the right direction. As you progress through your training program, you will gain experience, skills, strength, and endurance. You must readjust your training program every few weeks to ensure you constantly challenge yourself. 
Tracking your progress will keep you accountable. Maintaining a training and diet journal and taking body measurements and pictures weekly will keep you focused on your transformation journey. Share your training objectives with your friends, family, and trainer for better accountability. Telling your loved ones about your fitness goals will also make you push harder toward your goals. It might also motivate your near and dear ones to join you on your transformation journey.

Metabolic Rate and Hormonal Influences
Women generally have a lower metabolic rate than men. Hence, a fat loss workout plan for females must include high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts and strength training to speed up their metabolism and, ultimately, their fat loss progress.
Women’s training programs should also account for their hormonal fluctuations. You cannot expect a girl to crush a workout on a heavy-flow day. Hormonal changes caused by menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause, can affect performance, energy levels, and recovery.
You should also be open to modifying and adjusting your training program on the fly to account for your menstrual cycles. Although online fitness influencers might tell you to push through the pain and leave it all on the gym floor, it is not always worth it. Listen to your body and retreat when your body is telling you to.
Also, feel free to switch your strength training sessions with lighter physical activity, like going for a 20-30 minute walk during menstruation, if you can handle it.
Training Frequency
Your training frequency will depend on your schedule, availability, and fitness level. Beginners should start their training journey with three to four weekly training sessions. They can up the ante as they gain more experience and do six workouts weekly. 
Interestingly, as a lifter gets more experienced, they usually lower their training frequency as they can get much more work done in a single workout. An advanced lifter can need two to three recovery days to allow their muscles enough time to recover between workouts. 
Also, feel free to cut back on your training frequency if you feel too beat up after a workout. You must be nimble with your training regimen and modify it according to how you feel. However, you must not use this as an excuse to skip workouts. Following a balanced training regime is like walking a tightrope. Do too much too soon, and you risk losing your balance and falling off. Conversely, analysis paralysis leads to no progress. 
Workout Intensity and Volume
You must program your training intensity and volume as per your experience level. Initially, you should focus on compound movements and learn the correct exercise form. 
Feel free to step on the gas and ramp up your workout intensity and volume as you gain more experience. That said, you should aim for consistency and a balance between challenging workouts and adequate recovery for optimal fat loss progress. 
Use HIIT workouts and advanced training principles to spike your training intensity and volume. However, ensure you are not sacrificing your exercise form to do more, as it can increase your risk of injury. 
Remember, you don’t always have to do more to lose weight. Going all out in each workout can lead to overtraining, which can result in a weight loss plateau. Pull back your training intensity and volume if you feel sore and need more time to recover. 
Also, since you must cut your calories to lose weight, you shouldn’t increase your training volume and intensity significantly simultaneously, as it can put your body under major stress. Use linear progression in everything you do in your weight loss journey.

Exercise Selection
Each exercise requires a different technique. You must always design your workout program considering the exercises you can do with the perfect form.
If you are a beginner, you should first focus on spending a few weeks learning the correct training technique before starting a workout program. Learning exercise techniques during a workout can hamper your training intensity.
Beginners should always start with compound exercises as they help work multiple muscle groups and can improve your mind-muscle connection and build a solid foundation. Multi-joint lifts are also more effective at burning body fat than single-joint exercises.
Nonetheless, a balanced training regimen should include a balance of compound and isolation exercises for muscular training and an adequate amount of cardiovascular training for optimal weight loss progress. Incorporate steady-state cardio and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your training regimen to optimize fat burning.
Progression
Progressive overload is the name of the game in any workout program, whether you are trying to build muscle mass and strength or lose body weight. Following the same rep and set scheme or using the same weights for a prolonged period will lead to stagnation.
Sticking to the same routine also leads to boredom. An uninspiring training regimen is one of the most common reasons why most people quit their training regimen before achieving their goals.
Your workout program should include a variety of exercises, training methods, and workout formats to keep things interesting. Aim at using slightly heavier loads or doing more reps, sets, or exercises in each workout to challenge your muscles constantly.
Flexibility, Mobility, and Adaptability
Flexibility and mobility are often overlooked in weight loss and strength training regimens. Working on your mobility can improve your overall functionality and your performance in daily activity. On the flip side, neglecting it can increase the risk of injury.
You could work on your mobility by incorporating static and dynamic mobility exercises in your warm-up and cool-down routines. A 10-minute warm-up can prepare you for your workout and help improve your range of motion, whereas a 10-minute cool-down improves your blood flow and kickstarts your recovery process. Yoga is a great way to work on your flexibility and mobility and reduce your stress levels.
Besides physical flexibility, you should also program flexibility into your training regimen. You should be able to adapt your workout routine according to different settings, such as home workouts, gym sessions, or outdoor activities. Being on the road should never be an excuse to skip a training session.
Recovery
Recovery isn’t limited to a rest day. It is much more than that. Recovery also involves the rest duration between sets, the days you must wait before training the same muscle group again, nutrition, and supplementation.
You must check all the boxes to make the necessary progress in your fat loss journey. Recovery is crucial for muscle repair, growth, and overall progress. Plus, you must avoid overtraining, as it can lead you to a plateau, increase your risk of injury, and hamper your overall health and well-being. You should consult a healthcare professional if you sense lackluster recovery even after giving your ample time off training.
Debunking Common Myths About Female Fat Loss

Here are some of the undying myths about female fat loss:
You Can Spot-Reduce Belly Fat
Most people have some trouble areas. Some gain excess fat in their bellies, whereas others gain underarm fat, known as bat wings. While some fitness influencers are big on selling herbal teas, tummy-cut gels, and sauna belts, you must know that spot-reducing fat from a specific body part isn’t possible. 
That said, you can target specific muscle groups to improve their aesthetics. For example, after you have shed the excess belly fat by maintaining a calorie deficit, you can build a carved six-pack by performing your favorite ab exercises. 
Lifting Weights Will Make A Girl Look Manly
Women do not naturally produce enough testosterone to build the same muscle mass as men. On the contrary, lifting weights can help women build toned and shapely figures. Plus, it will make them stronger, which will improve their performance in daily tasks. 
Cardio is the Best Way To Lose Fat For Women
Weight loss ultimately depends on calories in vs. calories out. As they say, you cannot out-train a bad diet. You must maintain a calorie deficit to lose weight. Exercise can help expedite your weight loss progress by helping you burn more calories, but it isn’t necessary. You can also burn the same amount of calories in a strength training workout as cardio. 
Check Out: Calories Burned Weight Lifting & Bodyweight Exercise Calculator
You Must Skip Meals To Lose Body Fat
Many ladies skip meals in hopes of losing weight. Missing meals or severely restricting calories is not a sustainable or healthy approach to fat loss. It can lead you to develop a negative relationship with food, which could result in eating disorders. Contrary to what most people believe, you can maintain a calorie deficit by eating small 4-5 meals spread out evenly throughout the day. Eating small and regular meals will prevent nutrient deficiencies, muscle loss, slowed metabolism, and negative effects on overall well-being that are caused by missing meals. 
Next Read: 26 Exercises For Flabby Arms and Bat Wings (Workouts and Diet Tips Included)
The 2 Best Fat Loss Workout Plans For Females
Given below are two high-intensity workout programs to help you lose weight. The first training routine focuses on strength training exercises, whereas the other mainly includes bodyweight cardio exercises that can be done at your home. 
You could alternate between the two workout regimens every week or stick to one training routine for 12 weeks before moving on to the next. 
HIIT Strength Training Fat Loss Workout Plan For Females

Use an appropriate weight for each exercise that allows you to perform the recommended reps with a picture-perfect form. As you gain more experience, you can make these workouts more challenging by using advanced training techniques, such as drop sets and super sets. 
Day 1: Full Body Workout

S. No. 
Exercise
Set
Reps
Rest

1
Air Squat
3
15-20
30-sec

2
Barbell Bench Press
3
15-20
30-sec

3
Lat Pulldown
3
15-20
30-sec

4
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
3
15-20
30-sec

5
Biceps Curl
3
15-20
30-sec

6
Crunch
3
15-20
30-sec

7
HIIT Cardio
1
15 minute

Day 2: Upper Body and Core

S. No. 
Exercise
Set
Reps
Rest

1
Push-Up With Knee Tuck
3
15-20
30-sec

2
Dumbbell Bench Press
3
15-20
30-sec

3
Lat Pulldown
3
15-20
30-sec

4
Arnold Press
3
15-20
30-sec

5
Dumbbell Biceps Curl
3
15-20
30-sec

6
EZ Skull Crusher
3
15-20
30-sec

7
Plank
3
30-60 secs
30-sec

8
High Knee
3
60 secs
30-sec

9
HIIT Cardio
1
15 minute
30-sec

Day 3: Rest
Day 4: Lower Body and Cardio

S. No. 
Exercise
Set
Reps
Rest

1
Barbell Back Squat
3
15-20
30-sec

2
Walking Lunge
3
15-20
30-sec

3
Leg Extension
3
15-20
30-sec

4
Leg Curl
3
15-20
30-sec

5
Romanian Deadlift
3
15-20
30-sec

6
HIIT Cardio
1
15 minute

Day 5: Full Body

S. No. 
Exercise
Set
Reps
Rest

1
Jump Squat
3
15-20
30-sec

2
Machine Cable Fly
3
15-20
30-sec

3
Seated Cable Row
3
15-20
30-sec

4
Side Lateral Raise
3
15-20
30-sec

5
Dumbbell Hammer Curl
3
15-20
30-sec

6
Cable Rope Crunch
3
15-20
30-sec

7
HIIT Cardio
1
15 minute

Day 6: Cardio
On this day, you must perform two cardio workouts. The first will be a 30-45 minute low-intensity steady state (LISS) workout that must be done first thing in the morning fasted, and the second cardio workout will be a 15-minute HIIT session in the evening. 

LISS Cardio: 30-45 minutes (Morning)
HIIT Cardio: 15 minutes (Evening)

You can use your favorite cardio equipment for the cardio workouts. We recommend switching your cardio routine weekly to make your workouts more enjoyable. If you hit the treadmill in the first week, consider going for a hike in the second week. 
Day 7: Rest
Feel free to scale these workouts according to your experience levels. Beginners can reduce the number of sets and reps they perform for each exercise, whereas advanced athletes should aim to complete the workout as prescribed. 
HIIT Cardio Fat Loss Workout Plan For Females

These cardio HIIT workouts require you to push the intensity as hard as possible. Stick to the recommended rep and rest time for optimal results. 
Also, you should not become a couch potato during your rest days on either of these fat-loss workout plans. Go for a 20-30 minute walk, or use your favorite cardio machine. Active recovery days help speed up your recovery process and prepare you for your next workouts. 
Day 1
This HIIT circuit includes seven exercises, and you must complete two rounds. Perform each exercise for 60 seconds. You are allowed a 30-sec rest after completing each movement. Rest for two minutes after completing the first round. You must complete this HIIT cardio circuit within 22 minutes. 

S. No. 
Exercise
Time
Rest

1
Burpee
60-sec
30-sec

2
High Knees
60-sec
30-sec

3
Plank Jack
60-sec
30-sec

4
Air Squat
60-sec
30-sec

5
Mountain Climber
60-sec
30-sec

6
Rope Jump
60-sec
30-sec

7
Push-Up
60-sec
120-sec

Day 2
This is a killer 10-minute HIIT workout for folks on a tight schedule. Go all-out in this workout and leave nothing in the tank. The day two workout involves 60 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest. Put the pedal to the metal in this one!

S. No. 
Exercise
Time
Rest

1
Bear Crawl
60-sec
10-sec

2
Box Jump
60-sec
10-sec

3
Push-Up
60-sec
10-sec

4
Mountain Climber
60-sec
10-sec

5
Jump Squat
60-sec
10-sec

6
Ball Slam
60-sec
10-sec

7
Bicycle Crunch
60-sec

Day 3: Rest
Day 4: Tabata
Tabata consists of eight rounds of 20 seconds of work, followed by 10 seconds of rest, for a total of four minutes. This workout will take you 26 minutes to complete. Remember, Tabata circuits should be an all-out effort. 

S. No. 
Exercise
Time
Rest

1
High Knee
20-sec
10-sec

2
Rest
60 seconds

3
Jumping Lunge
20-sec
10-sec

4
Rest
60 seconds

5
Lying Leg Raise
20-sec
10-sec

Day 5: EMOM
Every minute on the minute (EMOM) is a HIIT workout that will get your heart racing. EMOM workouts involve one-minute exercise sets with built-in rest. You must complete the exercise as quickly as possible without compromising your form and use the remainder of the minute to rest. 
Do two rounds of the following workout:

Minute 
Exercise
Reps

1
Push-Up
10

2
Squat
10

3
Crunch
15

4
Jumping Jack
20

5
Diamond Push-Up
10

6
Jumping Lunge
16

7
Burpee
10

8
Box Jump
10

9
Lying Leg Raise
20

10
Russian Twist
20

Day 6: AMRAP
As many reps as possible, popularly known as AMRAP, is one of the most brutal forms of HIIT workouts. You are racing against yourself in an AMRAP workout. Push your workout intensity to perform as many reps as possible in a given period. Then, you must try to beat your previous record when you do this workout the next time. 
There is no designated rest time in an AMRAP workout. You do as much work as possible in a single go and then take a breather. Most exercisers limit their rest to the time taken to transition between exercises.
Do as many rounds as possible in 12 minutes:

S. No. 
Exercise
Reps

1
Burpee
10

2
Jump Squat
15

3
Crunch
20

4
Push-Up
15

5
Hanging Leg Raise
10

6
Jump Rope
10

7
V-Up
10

Day 7: Rest
The Role of Diet
Simply put, there is no way that you can achieve your dream figure without controlling what you put in your body. You must be mindful of your diet and ensure you are maintaining a calorie deficit. 

How to maintain a calorie deficit?
There are two main ways to ensure you are in a calorie deficit. First, you could use an online today daily energy expenditure (TDEE) calculator to estimate how many calories you should consume each day to reach your body transformation goal.  
You could also track your daily calorie intake using a calorie-tracking app like MyFitnessPal. Log your food intake in the app for five days; that will be your average daily calorie intake. As per the CDC guidelines, deduct 500-1,000 calories from your daily intake to shed 1-2 pounds weekly. 
It doesn’t end here. You must divide your new average calorie intake into a suitable macronutrient goal to lose body fat and build muscle mass. 
These are the acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDR) for weight loss:

Carbs: 45–65% of your daily calories 
Fats: 20–35% of daily calories
Protein: 10–35% of daily calories

Each individual will react uniquely to different macronutrient splits. Try variations of different macronutrient ranges and figure out which one works best for you. 
Furthermore, you should get your calories from nutrient-dense whole foods. You must avoid empty calories like sugar-laden carbonated drinks or alcohol, as they will be stored in your body as visceral fat. 
Tracking and Realigning Your Weight Loss Progress
You must be proactive throughout your weight loss journey to achieve your desired results. Slacking on any front can lead to subpar results. You must track your physique changes weekly from the day you start your transformation journey. Here are some ways to track your progress every week:

Take your body measurements (shoulder width, chest, biceps, thighs, hips, arms, etc.)
Weigh yourself
Check your body fat percentage
Click photos from different angles
Maintain a workout journal where you note down your exercises, reps, sets, and weights used
Maintain a record of your 1RM on different exercises

Keeping track of all these parameters helps you analyze if you are on the correct path. Furthermore, tracking your progress allows you to make quick adjustments when you realize you have drifted off your transformation journey. 
However, you must give the fat loss workout plan for females at least 8-12 weeks to work its magic. Changing your training program too often can lead to ineffectiveness. If you don’t see any favorable changes in this period, you should be quick to make the necessary changes to your workout program. 
How Long Should a Weight Loss Program Last?
A weight loss program involves maintaining a calorie deficit. You should stay in a calorie deficit for 12-16 weeks at a time. This duration should be enough to help you budge the needle in the right direction. 
That said, sticking to a calorie deficit for too long can lead to a plateau. After the 16-week period, you should switch to a maintenance phase and give your body some time off. You can then begin the next phase of your weight loss journey by entering a new calorie deficit. 
Supplements To Help Females With Weight Loss

Although supplements are not necessary to lose weight, they can help you fill the voids in your whole food diet and charge you up for your training regimen. Here are the supplements that can help you with your weight loss program:

Whey Protein: Protein supplements improve satiety and help preserve muscle mass. They will keep you from feasting on junk food. 
Caffeine: It is an effective stimulant that increases energy levels and metabolism. Further, it can suppress appetite and help you get the most out of your workouts. 
CLA: It is a type of fatty acid that has been suggested to support fat loss by increasing fat metabolism and reducing fat storage. 
Fiber Supplements: These can help promote feelings of fullness, reduce appetite, and support healthy digestion. 
Fat Burners: These supplements increase your metabolic rate and can help you burn calories throughout the day. 

Safety Precautions and Listening to Your Body
These are a few safety precautions to help you with your weight loss journey:
Listen To Your Body’s Cues and Adjust Your Workout Plan Accordingly
Even after you design a personalized training program, there is no guarantee that you will get the desired results. You will learn a lot about your body after starting your weight loss journey. You must always be on the lookout for signs and signals that can make your transformation journey smooth and seamless. 
Check For Signs of Overtraining or Potential Injuries
Many people push themselves too hard during a weight loss program, which can lead to overtraining. Not making necessary adjustments to your training plan can increase your risk of injuries. 
Consult a Healthcare Professional
Each individual needs personal assessment and guidance before starting a transformation journey to improve their probability of success. A healthcare professional can provide personalized guidance tailored to your unique needs and limitations. They can also evaluate potential risks and help you understand any precautions you must take.
FAQs
Can women use the same workout plans and exercises as men for weight loss?
Yes. All exercises work the same for all genders. That said, since women have a lower natural metabolic rate than men, they should use a high-intensity workout program to optimize their fat loss. HIIT circuit training works best for women trying to get rid of the spare tire. 
Do I need to take supplements to help with weight loss?
No. You can achieve your dream figure by switching to a healthy and balanced diet and effective training regimen. However, most people cannot meet their daily nutrient goals through whole foods. In this case, supplements can help you fill the voids. 
Can I lose weight without working out?
Absolutely! You can lose weight without starting an exercise program. Entering a caloric deficit should be your primary goal for shedding weight. According to the CDC, you can lose 1-2 pounds weekly by cutting 500-1,000 calories a week. Although not mandatory, working out can help burn more daily calories, which can speed up your weight loss progress. 
Note: The content on Fitness Volt is for informative purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice to diagnose, prevent, or treat health problems. If you’re suffering from a health issue, are pregnant, or are under 18 years old, you should consult your physician before starting any new supplement, nutrition, or fitness routine.0
Wrapping Up
Congratulations on getting this far and taking the first step towards a stronger, healthier, and more confident you. Since you have read this article till the end, rest assured that you are equipped with all the necessary knowledge to transform your figure. 
Use the two high-intensity training regimens explained in this article to kickstart your transformation journey. Remember, a fat loss workout plan for females requires you to embrace a balanced and personalized strength training program, follow a suitable diet and recovery program, stay in tune with your body, and stay consistent and patient. So, what are you waiting for? Lace-up your shoes and get to work. Best of luck!
References

Wishnofsky M. CALCULATION OF DIETS. JAMA. 1957;163(5):384–385. doi:10.1001/jama.1957.02970400056024
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Losing Weight. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html
Cava E, Yeat NC, Mittendorfer B. Preserving Healthy Muscle during Weight Loss. Adv Nutr. 2017 May 15;8(3):511-519. doi: 10.3945/an.116.014506. PMID: 28507015; PMCID: PMC5421125.

The Summer Beach Workout to Get You Jacked

The Summer Beach Workout to Get You Jacked

Most people head to the beach to laze around, take an easy dip and work on their suntan. But you’re not like most people. You’re an athlete, and you know that the beach offers the ideal venue for a kick-ass workout. For one thing, training on the sand is a lot easier on your joints than working out on the gym floor.
It also burns more calories because you need to work harder to take a step forward when the surface beneath your feet constantly shifts. Throw in the added elements of the sun’s rays and the awesome scenery, and it’s no wonder that summer beach workouts are a trending fitness innovation.
This article lays out a challenging beach workout to get you jacked for summer.
Beach Workout Benefits

There has been some interesting research on the benefits of working out on the beach. More precisely, those benefits come from the surface beneath your feet when you exercise in front of the waves — sand. 
A 2014 study by Binnie et al. found that, when compared with grass, exercising on sand offered a higher energy cost (meaning greater calorie burn). The low-impact forces experienced on sand also limited muscle damage and muscle soreness. This study was mainly focused on team sports and strongly recommended that teams introduce sand training to the workout protocols. [1]
A 2020 study found that sand workouts added the benefit of being more functional than those done on a hard surface. In this study, 120 elderly subjects were divided into three groups of 40 to perform Thai dance workouts for fifty minutes per day, three times per week for six. The difference was the training surface. One group trained on a hard surface, another on a soft surface, and the third worked out on sand. 
All three groups showed functional outcome improvements. However, the sand group’s functional movement improvements were significantly greater than the other two groups. [2]
Another 2020 study looked at the effects of walking on sand in terms of body mass index, waist circumference, and overall quality of life in people who are obese. Over a study period of 16 weeks, a sand walking group was compared to a control group that walked on a hard surface. The researchers found that sand walking was reported to be more enjoyable and more challenging than working on a hard surface. The reduction in BMI and waist circumference reduction was also more significant in the sand walking group. Perhaps most significantly of all, the joint reaction force was much less in the sand walking group. [3]
Other research has focused on the general benefits of working out outdoors. A 2022 study by Wicks, et al. found that ‘physical activity undertaken outdoors in natural environments is more beneficial for a range of psychological outcomes than urban environments’. [4]
Beach Workout Structure
As a personal trainer, I’ve used the beach as a workout venue for decades. I just live 10 minutes away from one of the world’s most stunning beaches — Mount Maunganui in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island, so it would almost be a crime not to use it. I especially love putting my advanced and elite athletes through a sand workout. The workout I’m about to lay out here is pretty intense, so be warned. However, it can also be modified for less experienced trainers. 
The workout follows a high-intensity interval structure combined with circuit training. That means you’ll be doing plenty of intense bouts of work, followed by short rest periods. Rather than the traditional multi-set method of doing an exercise, you will also follow a sequence of exercises where you do a single set of each move to complete a round. You then get two minutes of recovery before repeating the round. 
Best Beach Exercises
This HIIT Circuit beach workout consists of 11 exercises done back to back. They’ve been selected to provide an ideal balance of full-body muscle activation, functional fitness, and cardiovascular challenge. Here’s an overview of the exercise you’ll do:

1. Shoulder Tap Push-Up
The shoulder tap push-up is an advanced version of the regular push-up that targets your delts and pecs. Doing the exercise on the shifting sand surface adds an extra element of intensity.

Get down in the top push-up position with your hands directly under your shoulders. Your feet should be together, and your body should form a straight line from the head to the ankle. Do not lift your butt.
Bend your elbows until your chest touches the sand.
Explode back to the start position.
Bring your right hand up to tap your left shoulder.
On the next rep, tap your left hand on your right shoulder.

2. Squat Jump + Pulse
This squat variation adds a pulsing movement in the bottom squat to put the focus on the adductors. The jump that ends each rep also makes this a cardio exercise.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Clasp your hands together in front of your chin.
From this starting position, descend into a parallel squat position.
In this position, pulse your thighs apart twice and then jump directly into the air. That is one rep.

3. V-Up
The V-Up is an effective ab-isolator that works the upper abdominals to produce an extremely satisfying mid-section burn.

Lie on an exercise mat on your back with your legs extended and arms by your side.
Hinge at your hips to bring your straightened legs up until they are perpendicular to your torso.
Straighten your arms up toward your legs.
Begin pulsing up toward your toes by contracting your abdominals. Bring your head up on each pulse.

4. Sumo Squat to High Knees
This squat variation works the outer thighs and hamstrings and even hits the obliques as you drive your knee to the opposite elbow.

Stand with feet about a foot wider than shoulder-width apart, and toes pointed slightly outward. Clasp your hands in front of your chin.
Hinge at the hips to descend into a full squat.
As you come out of the squat, lift your right knee to touch the corresponding elbow.
On the next rep, lift the left knee.

5. Superman
The Superman does a great job of targeting your erector spinae muscles. 

Lie face down on an exercise mat with your body in an arched position so that your arms and feet are extended off the ground.
Arch up to full extension to raise your arms and feet as high as possible.
Lower and repeat.

6. Crab Walk 
The crab walk is a functional compound movement that engages the triceps, deltoids, glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and abdominals. This is also an effective move to increase hip mobility.

Get down on the floor on your butt and assume a tabletop position with your hands at your slides and fingers pointing away from your body. Your hands should be stacked below your shoulders and your feet below your knees.
Keep your core up, and walk your right hand and left foot forward. Repeat with the opposite sides to continue the movement.

7. Burpees
The burpee is another functional compound movement that works nearly every muscle in your body. At the same time, it provides an effective cardio workout to churn through the calories. 

Start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Lower yourself into a squat and place your hands on the ground before you.
Quickly jump your feet back into a plank position, keeping your core engaged and your back straight.
Lower your chest down to the ground for a push-up.
Push yourself back up to the plank position.
Jump your feet back towards your hands, landing in the squat position.
Quickly jump up as high as you can, extending your arms overhead.
Land softly in the starting position and repeat steps 2-7 continuously.

8. Plank Jacks
The plank jack is a core-centric exercise that will strengthen your abdominal wall. By incorporating the ‘jack’ component of the exercise, it also becomes a cardio movement. 

Get down on all fours in a basic plank position. The points of contact should be your forearms and your toes, and your feet should be together.
Kick your feet apart as wide as possible.
Kick your feet back in together.
Repeat this action in a smooth, continuous manner.

9. Sprints
Sprinting on sand is much more challenging than on a hard surface like grass. That’s because sand represents an unstable surface, meaning you can’t get the firmness and grip you take for granted on a hard surface. There’s also more friction between your feet and the ground, so you must generate more force and energy to advance. Your glutes, calves, and hamstrings all have to work harder when you are running at the beach.

Set a marker 10 yards away.
Begin in the traditional runner’s stance, with your lead foot slightly in front of the other, weight evenly distributed, and knees slightly bent.
Drive off the front leg by pushing into the sand.
Propel yourself forward with explosive, long strides, driving your arms to provide extra momentum.
Sprint to the marker, pivot, and return to your start position.

10. Tuck Jumps
The tuck jump is a demanding cardio exercise. This is a classic plyometric move that will get your pulse racing. Doing it on sand significantly reduces the joint impact of this exercise. 

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hands spread at chest level with palms down.
Hinge at the hips to lower into a quarter squat, then explode off the floor.
Bring your knees up to touch your palms in mid-flight.
When you land, go directly into the next tuck jump.

11. Bear Crawls
The bear crawl is a functional move that increases agility, proprioception, and strength, especially in the deltoids and core. 

Get down on all fours. With your hands stacked under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
Simultaneously bring your right arm and left leg forward, planting them on the ground.
Repeat with the left arm and right leg. This is one rep.

Putting It All Together
The key to the effectiveness of this beach workout isn’t just the exercises but how they are woven together to produce a challenging butt-kicker of a workout. As with every workout, you need to begin with a proper warm-up. 
The Warm-Up 
Your beach workout warm-up should consist of both an aerobic and an anaerobic component. For the anaerobic part, your goal is to warm up your muscles for work. You can do this with these five dynamic stretches:
Bodyweight Squats

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hands clasped together in front of your chest.
Looking directly ahead, hinge at the hips to drop to a parallel squat position. Be sure to keep your lower back naturally arched.
Now push through your heels to return to the start position.

Arm Circles

Stand with your arms by your sides and rotate them together in windmill fashion to make large circles.
Do not bend your arms, with the motion occurring at the shoulder joint.

Chest In & Out

Stand with your arms outstretched at your sides, elbows slightly bent.
Bring your arms in to ‘hug’ your chest. Feel for a contraction of the chest.
Now extend the arms back out to stretch the pectorals and the latissimus dorsi.

Cat-Cow Stretch

Get down on all fours, with hands and knees on the floor. Keep your lower back in a naturally arched position.
Look directly ahead as you sink your belly toward the floor and arch your torso downward.
Reverse the motion to come back up, rounding your back as you do so. As you do so, tuck in your tailbone and suck in your stomach.

The Summer Beach Workout
Follow this workout for a jacked physique:

Cooldown
Performing static stretching after your workout will help you cool down and recover from your session. Research indicates that static stretching will increase blood flow to the muscles, allowing for a greater supply of nutrients and oxygen to speed recovery and regrowth. Static stretching also helps the central nervous system calm down after the workout.
Here are six effective static stretches to conclude your beach workout:
Lunging Hip Flexor Stretch

Kneel on your right knee with your hands on your hips. Your left knee should be bent with that foot flat on the ground.
Lean forward to stretch the right hip flexor.
Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
Repeat on the other side.

Hamstring Stretch

Keeping your chest lifted and your stomach taut, take a step forward with your left leg, keeping the knee straight.
Bend your right knee and lean forward from the hips, lowering your chest towards your right thigh.
When you feel the pull behind your thigh and knee of the straight leg, hold for 15 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

Repeat this stretch five times on each leg. Read more on hamstring stretches.
Overhead Stretch

Stand with your feet hip-width apart, your back straight, and your head in line with your spine.
Lift your arms above your head as far as possible with your palms touching.
Hold for five seconds.
To extend this stretch further, ease your arms back slightly.

Repeat this stretch five times on each leg. 
Standing Calf Stretch

Stand facing a wall and place your palms on it in line with your chest.
Step your right leg back so that it is fully extended with your left knee slightly bent.
Lean forward, keeping your back foot completely on the floor. You should feel the stretch through your calf muscle. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, then repeat on the other leg.

Repeat this stretch five times on each leg.
Arm Stretch

Stand with your arms at your sides, your stomach pulled in, your chest expanded, and your spine in a neutral position (not rounded).
Clasp your hands behind your back and slowly lift your arms up, keeping your elbows straight. Hold for five seconds.

Repeat this stretch five times.
Triceps Stretch

Stand in a neutral position with your arms at your sides.
Place your left hand behind your back so that your palm sits between your shoulder blades and your elbow points upward.
Bring your right hand up behind your back and try to join hands.
Hold for a count of five, then repeat with the other arm.

Repeat this stretch five times. Read more triceps stretches.
Wrap Up
This summer beach workout is going to challenge every fiber of your being. It is not for beginners, but it can be modified to make it easier. If you’ve been training for less than 18 months, cut the reps to eight on each exercise and bring the sprint marker back to 5 yards. 
Advanced athletes should aim to complete three rounds of this workout. Limit yourself to two minutes of recovery between rounds but be sure to drink plenty of water so you don’t dehydrate. Finally, I recommend keeping this beach workout as your weekend challenge, sticking to your regular gym workouts throughout the week. 
References

Binnie MJ, Dawson B, Pinnington H, Landers G, Peeling P. Sand training: a review of current research and practical applications. J Sports Sci. 2014;32(1):8-15. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2013.805239. Epub 2013 Aug 22. PMID: 23968257.
Kaewjoho C, Thaweewannakij T, Mato L, Nakmaroeng S, Phadungkit S, Amatachaya S. Effects of Exercises on a Hard, Soft, and Sand Surface on Functional Outcomes of Community-Dwelling Older Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Aging Phys Act. 2020 Jun 2:1-8. doi: 10.1123/japa.2019-0246. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32485663.
Seyam M, Kashoo F, Alqahtani M, Alzhrani M, Aldhafiri F, Ahmad M. Effect of Walking on Sand with Dietary Intervention in OverweightType 2 DiabetesMellitusPatients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2020 Sep 29;8(4):370. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8040370. PMID: 33003313; PMCID: PMC7712869.
Wicks C, Barton J, Orbell S, Andrews L. Psychological benefits of outdoor physical activity in natural versus urban environments: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2022 Aug;14(3):1037-1061. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12353. Epub 2022 Mar 8. PMID: 35259287; PMCID: PMC9544808.

Three Leg Day Workouts for Women

Three Leg Day Workouts for Women

A lot of guys, especially younger lifters, tend to skip leg day. Instead, they focus all their energy on training their pecs, lats, delts, and arms. This creates a very unbalanced physique, which is why many men are happy to be seen shirtless but keep their legs covered with long pants.  
In contrast, many women are overly focused on training their lower bodies, especially their glutes. Some even train their legs every day, combining their lower body workouts with hours of leg-centric cardio.
So, why are so many women unhappy with the shape and condition of their legs?
In many cases, the reason is quantity over quality. In other words, some women’s leg workouts are high in volume and frequency but low in effective exercises. So instead of using a targeted approach, it’s more of a kitchen sink affair, with workouts containing so many exercises that many of them are actually redundant.
While such enthusiasm and dedication are to be applauded, there are better ways to use your training time and energy. These are valuable commodities that should be invested wisely and not wasted on unproductive or unnecessarily long workouts.
Get better results from your training time with these three tried and tested leg day workouts!
Leg Anatomy Basics  
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of effective lower body training, let’s take a moment to look at the muscles you’ll be working. That way, you’ll be able to name the parts of your body you can feel during each workout.

The main muscles that make up your lower body are:
Gluteus maximus
Located on the back of your hips, the gluteus maximus (glutes for short) is the largest muscle in the human body and potentially the most powerful. The main role of the glutes is hip extension, but it’s also involved in external rotation and abduction of the hip.
Hamstrings
The hamstrings are a biaxial muscle that crosses the back of your knees and hips. As such, it has two main functions – knee flexion and hip extension. There are three hamstring muscles: biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus. You can develop the hamstrings by performing leg curls and hip hinging exercises.
Quadriceps
The quadriceps extend your knee and flex your hips. There are four quadriceps muscles: the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius. Known as the quads for short, these muscles are located on the fronts of your thighs.
Hip abductors
The hip abductors are located on the sides of your hips and thighs. They are responsible for lifting your legs out and away from the midline of your body. The hip abductors are the gluteus maximus and medius and tensor fascia latae.
Hip adductors
Located on the inside of your thighs, the hip adductors are responsible for drawing your legs in toward the midline of your body. The three hip adductor muscles are longus, brevis, and magnus, meaning longest, shortest, and biggest.
Triceps surae
Triceps surae is the collective name for the muscles of your calves – the gastrocnemius and soleus. These muscles work together to point your foot in a movement called plantar flexion. In addition, gastrocnemius, the uppermost calf muscle, also works with the hamstrings to flex your knees.
Six Benefits of Leg Training for Women
Most women don’t have to be told to train their lower bodies. After all, sculpted, toned legs are a common training goal. That said, in case you are unsure about the benefits of leg training for women, here is a list of six reasons why you should work your lower body hard and often!
Increased functional strength
Almost all strenuous activities involve your legs. A stronger lower body will make these activities easier and less tiring. For example, walking upstairs, running, and lifting heavy items off the floor are less demanding when you’ve got strong legs.
More shapely legs
While lower body-centric cardio can help increase muscle tone and endurance, if you want your legs to look their best, you need to include direct leg training in your workouts. You can use strength training to target each muscle with laser-like precision, sculpting your legs to create the lower body of your dreams.

Stronger bones and healthier joints
Lower body strength training is not just good for your muscles but also for your bones and joints. Like your muscles, your bones get stronger with training. Load-bearing exercises trigger the release of bone-building cells called osteoblasts. Increasing bone strength and density can help ward off age-related bone loss (osteopenia) and may prevent osteoporosis.
Strength training is also good for your joints, namely the hips and knees. Lifting weights makes your joints more mobile and stable and can help prevent or reduce knee and hip pain.
Increased calorie and fat burning
Your lower body contains about 40% of your total body muscle – possibly more, depending on your build and genetics. Powering these muscles through a workout requires a lot of energy, which is measured in calories. Leg workouts use far more energy than most upper-body workouts. Training your legs can help increase your weekly caloric expenditure, leading to fat and weight loss.
Better balance and coordination
Balance is your ability to keep your center of mass over your base of support. In contrast, coordination is your ability to move your limbs in a controlled, harmonious way. Freeweight and bodyweight leg exercises enhance both of these fitness qualities. Better balance and coordination mean that you won’t just look more athletic but will feel it, too.

Improved posture
Long periods of sitting can cause havoc with your posture and leave you with weak legs. Poor glute muscle tone, for example, can affect your lower back, leading to pain and poor posture.
Leg training, especially when you do standing exercises, can improve your posture so you can sit and stand more upright. Good posture makes you look slimmer and younger and takes pressure off your muscles and joints.
Leg Day Workouts for Women
Here are your three leg day workouts for women. But, before doing any of them, you must prepare your joints and muscles for what you’re about to do by warming up. Start with 5-10 minutes of easy cardio, e.g., air bike, rower, jogging, or jumping rope, followed by dynamic mobility and flexibility exercises for your lower body.
A ten-minute warm-up can save you months of lost training caused by an otherwise avoidable injury, so don’t skip it.
Ready? Then let’s get to work!
Home Leg Day Workout for Women
No gym? No problem! You can get a GREAT leg workout almost anywhere. All you need is a little space and an exercise mat. Do this workout at home, in your hotel room, at the park – anywhere you want!

#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Recovery

1
Glute bridge
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

2
Plie squat
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

3
Side leg raises
2-4
12-20 per leg
60-90 seconds

4
Alternating lunges  
2-4
12-20 per leg
60-90 seconds

5
Standing calf raise
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

1. Glute bridge
Target muscles: Gluteus maximus, hamstrings.
Steps:

Lie on your back with your legs bent and feet flat. Brace your core and press your lower back into the floor.
Drive your feet into the deck and lift your hips up so your body forms a straight line.
Pause for 1-2 seconds.
Lower your butt to the floor and repeat.
Make this exercise harder by using one leg at a time.

2. Plie squat
Target muscles: Adductors, quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus maximus.
Steps:

Stand with your feet about 1.5 shoulder-widths apart. Turn your toes outward. Brace your core and pull your shoulders down and back.
Bend your legs, push your knees outward, and descend until your thighs are roughly parallel to the floor.
Stand back up and repeat.

3. Side leg raises
Target muscles: Hip abductors.
Steps:

Lie on your side so your body is straight. Rest your head on your outstretched arm.
Lift your uppermost leg up to about 45 degrees. Turn your hip slightly inward to maximize glute and adductor engagement.
Lower your leg and repeat.
On completion, roll over and do the same number of reps on the other side.
Make this exercise more challenging by putting a booty band around your knees.

4. Alternating lunges 
Target muscles: Quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus maximus.
Steps:

Stand with your feet together and your arms by your sides.
Take a large step forward, bend your legs, and lower your rearmost knee down to within an inch of the floor.
Push off your front leg and return to the starting position.
Do your next rep leading with the opposite leg.
Alternate legs for the duration of your set.

5. Standing calf raise
Target muscles: Calves
Steps:

Stand on the edge of a step, using your hands for balance.
Point your toes and rise up onto your tiptoes.
Lower your heels down and get a stretch in your calves.
Alternate between these two positions for the required number of reps.
Make this exercise harder by using one leg at a time.

Dumbbell Leg Workout for Women
Dumbbells are the perfect training tool for home exercisers, and gyms have them too. Use dumbbells to overload your muscles and build more strength. Choose weights that fatigue your muscles within the prescribed rep range.

#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Recovery

1
Dumbbell Romanian deadlift
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

2
Dumbbell goblet squat
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

3
Dumbbell leg curl
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

4
Dumbbell lateral lunge
2-4
12-20 per leg
60-90 seconds

5
Dumbbell swing
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

6
Seated dumbbell calf raise
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

1. Dumbbell Romanian deadlift
Target muscles: Gluteus maximus, hamstrings.
Steps:

Stand with your feet together and a dumbbell in each hand, arms by your sides. Bend your knees slightly, brace your core, and pull your shoulders down and back.
Hinging from your hips, lean forward and lower the weights down toward the floor. Do not round your lower back.
Stand back up and repeat.

2. Dumbbell goblet squat
Target muscles: Quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus maximus.

Hold a dumbbell in front of your chest, just below your chin. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, core braced, and shoulders back and down.
Bend your knees and squat down until your thighs are roughly parallel to the floor. Take care not to round your lower back.
Stand back up and repeat.

3. Dumbbell leg curl
Target muscles: Hamstrings.
Steps:

Lie on an exercise bench so your knees are on the edge. Clamp and hold a dumbbell between your feet. Secure it using a yoga strap or resistance band if necessary.
Bend your legs and curl the weight up until your knees are bent to 90 degrees.
Extend your legs and repeat.
You can also do this exercise lying prone on the floor.

Dumbbell lateral lunge

Target muscles: Quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus maximus, abductors, adductors.
Steps:

Stand with your feet together and a dumbbell in each hand, arms by your sides. Brace your core and set your shoulders back and down.
Take a large step to your left, bend your left knee, and descend until your left thigh is close to parallel to the floor. Keep your right leg straight.
Push off your left leg and return to the starting position.
Repeat this movement to your right side.
Alternate sides for the specified number of reps.

5. Dumbbell swing
Target muscles: Gluteus maximus, hamstrings.
Steps:

Hold a single dumbbell in both hands and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Brace your core, pull your shoulders back and down, and bend your knees slightly.
Hinge forward from your hips and lower the weight down between your knees. Do not round your lower back.
Drive your hips forward and use this momentum to swing the weight forward and up to shoulder height.
Lower the weight and repeat.

6. Seated dumbbell calf raise
Target muscles: Calves
Steps:

Sit on an exercise bench or sturdy chair, so your knees are bent to 90 degrees and your shins are vertical. Rest the balls of your feet on a low step, e.g., a thick book, wooden block, or weight plates.
Rest and hold a dumbbell on each knee.
Extend your ankles and rise up onto your tiptoes.
Lower your heels down, get a stretch in your calves, and repeat.

Gym Leg Workout for Women
Access to a well-equipped gym means you’ve got everything you need to easily target your leg muscles. However, don’t get distracted and try to do every exercise you see. Instead, pick the best movements for each lower body muscle group. Remember – quality is always better than quantity!

#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Recovery

1
Smith machine donkey kick
2-4
12-20 per leg
60-90 seconds

2
Leg press
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

3
Cable hip abduction
2-4
12-20 per leg
60-90 seconds

4
Cable hip adduction
2-4
12-20 per leg
60-90 seconds

5
Barbell hip thrust
2-4
12-20
60-90 seconds

6
Tiptoe farmer’s walk
2-4
40-60 seconds
60-90 seconds

1. Smith machine donkey kick
Target muscles: Gluteus maximus, hamstrings.

Set the bar on a Smith machine to around waist height.
Kneel on the floor beneath the bar and place the sole of one foot against it.
Extend your hip and drive the bar upward, taking care not to hyperextend your lower back.
Lower the bar and repeat.
Do the same number of reps on both sides.

2. Leg press
Target muscles: Quadriceps, gluteus maximus, hamstrings.

Sit on the leg press machine and place your feet on the footplate so they’re roughly shoulder-width apart. Release the weight catchers.
Bend your legs and lower the weight down until your knees are bent to at least 90 degrees. Do not round your lower back.
Extend your legs and repeat.
Reengage the weight catchers and then rest.

3. Cable hip abduction
Target muscles: Hip abductors.  

Put an ankle strap around your lower leg and then attach it to a low pulley machine.
Stand sideways onto the machine, your working leg furthest from the weight stack. Hold the machine for balance.
Keeping your leg straight, raise your foot out and away from the midline of your body.
Lower your leg and repeat.
Do the same number of reps on both legs.

4. Cable hip adduction
Target muscles: Hip adductors.

Put an ankle cuff around your lower leg and then attach it to a low pulley machine.
Stand sideways onto the machine, your working leg closest to the weight stack. Hold the machine for balance.
Keeping your leg straight, cross your foot in front of you.
Return to the starting position and repeat.
Do the same number of reps on both legs.

5. Barbell hip thrust
Target muscles: Gluteus maximus, hamstrings.

Sit on the floor with your upper back resting against a sturdy bench. Rest a barbell across your hips. Bend your legs and put your feet flat on the floor.
Drive your feet into the floor and lift your hips to form a straight line with your knees and shoulders.
Lower your butt back to the floor, and then repeat.

6. Tiptoe farmer’s walk
Target muscles: Calves.

Stand with a dumbbell in each hand and your feet together. Brace your core and pull your shoulders down and back.
Rise up onto your tiptoes and then start walking around your training area.
Continue for the designated distance or until you are unable to keep your heels off the floor.

Leg Day for Women – FAQs
Do you have a question about these workouts or leg training for women in general? No problem, because we’ve got the answers!
1. How often should I train my legs?
It’s generally accepted that it takes 48-72 hours for a muscle to recover from training. This means you can work your legs every 2-3 days or 2-3 times per week. More workouts could lead to overtraining, while just one workout per week may not produce the results you want.
So, hit your legs 2-3 times per week, e.g., Monday and Thursday or Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This will create a good balance between work and rest.
2. Can I change the exercises in these workouts?
While you are free to make changes to these programs, avoid using exercises that are too different. For example, while doing machine leg curls instead of dumbbell leg curls is fine, doing leg extensions instead of leg curls is not, as the replacement movement uses an entirely different muscle group.
So, make changes if you wish, but make sure you switch “like for like” and don’t use completely different movements. However, avoid changing the exercise order, as doing so can unbalance your entire workout. 
3. Do I have to stick to the 12-20 rep range?
Unless you are training for pure strength, it really doesn’t matter all that much how many reps you do per set. Studies suggest that you can perform 5 to 35 reps per set and still make progress (1). Almost any rep count will work if you take your set close to momentary muscular failure.
However, if you want to build strength, you need to use heavy weights and do lower reps, typically 1-5. However, this is a very specialist type of training and not something many women (or men) need to do.
So, if you want to do eight, ten, twenty, or thirty reps per set, you are free to do so.
4. How do I make my thighs thinner?
Reducing the circumference of your thighs is usually more about your diet than your workout program. Invariably, big thighs are the result of excess fat storage rather than muscle mass. So if your thighs are bigger than you want and you’re not a weightlifter or bodybuilder, you probably need to adjust your diet and shed the excess fat.
However, it’s worth noting that no amount of dieting guarantees you’ll develop a “thigh gap” or achieve any other Instagram body standard, as your shape is primarily determined by your genetics.
So, don’t compare how you look to anyone else; just be the best you can be.
5. What is the best diet to use with these workouts?
Healthy eating and regular exercise go hand in hand – or they should! Eating right will make your workouts more productive, while an unhealthy diet could undermine your progress. However, there is no single perfect diet that’s right for everyone, and what you eat will depend on your fitness goals, likes and dislikes, cooking skills, and grocery budget.
So, rather than follow a cookie-cutter diet, why not take a shot at creating your own healthy eating plan? It’s actually easier than you think!
Check out this guide to overhauling your diet in six weeks. It could be the last diet you ever need.
Closing Thoughts
Friends don’t let friends skip leg day, or so the popular meme goes. That’s true for men AND women. Leg workouts offer a lot of benefits, including increased functional strength, better endurance, greater bone density, and enhanced fat burning.
In fact, leg training is so good for you it’s hard to think of many reasons not to do it.
Sure, leg training is demanding and can leave you tired and sore. But you’ll soon learn to love it when you see and feel how good it is for you.
So, give one of these leg day workouts for women a try. You’ll soon be on the way to leaner, shapelier, stronger legs.  
References:
1 – Lasevicius T, Ugrinowitsch C, Schoenfeld BJ, Roschel H, Tavares LD, De Souza EO, Laurentino G, Tricoli V. Effects of different intensities of resistance training with equated volume load on muscle strength and hypertrophy. Eur J Sport Sci. 2018 Jul;18(6):772-780. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2018.1450898. Epub 2018 Mar 22. PMID: 29564973. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29564973/

10 Best Core Exercises For Beginners (Killer Workout Included)

10 Best Core Exercises For Beginners (Killer Workout Included)

Core exercises are like a tough-love friend; they push you to be your best self even though you sometimes hate them for it. You might grumble and groan through the workout and even experience an ab cramp during one of those dreaded crunches, but in the end, you can’t help but love the results they bring.
Besides improving your physique aesthetics, core exercises can help improve your overall strength, balance, and stability, which can boost your performance in functional exercises and daily activities.
Contrary to what most people think, all core exercises are not the same. Some core exercises are more complex than others. For example, the front lever, back lever, L-sits, and toes-to-bar are best left to advanced lifters. 
Before you move on to advanced core exercises, you must build a solid foundation by drilling the more basic movements. The best core exercises for beginners are versatile exercises that can be included in various training regimens and programmed according to your goals. 
In this article, we cover the best core exercises for beginners, an ab workout that will help you achieve a ripped six-pack, tips for making the most of your training regimen, and the benefits of training your core. 
What are Core Exercises?
Whether you want to perform a crunch, handstand, deadlift, or clean and jerk, you need a solid core. In contrast to the prevailing view, your ‘core’ isn’t limited to your abdominal muscles. It also includes your lower back, hips, and pelvis. Since your core includes multiple muscles, you must perform different exercises in your core workout to train the target muscles from several angles for optimal results. 

The exercises in this article help boost the strength, stability, and flexibility of the core muscles, which are essential for proper body mechanics, balance, and posture. 
Core exercises can be done in all three planes of movement:

Frontal Plane: Dumbbell side bend and hyperextension oblique crunch
Saggital Plane: Crunch and hanging leg raise
Transverse Plane: Russian twist and windshield wiper

We will include exercises in all three planes to ensure overall core development. To make the core workout for beginners more accessible, we have only included bodyweight exercises. It also allows you to perform them anywhere. 
10 Best Core Exercises For Beginners
These are the most effective core exercises for beginners:

Plank
The plank is one of the most popular core exercises. It is an isometric exercise that allows for optimal muscle contraction without visible movement. This exercise is a must-have in every ab training regimen.
Steps:

Lie face-down on the floor.
Your body should be in a straight line from head to heels throughout the exercise.
Position your elbows under your shoulders and your forearms parallel to each other.
Get up on your toes.
Hold this position for the recommended time while contracting your glutes and abs.

Pro Tip: You could also perform a high plank variation of this exercise, which is considered more challenging. The high plank variation involves staying in a push-up position. 

Check out our complete plank guide here!
Side Plank
Obliques are often overlooked in an ab workout; however, we are not leaving any stone unturned in this article. The side planks are a frontal plane exercise that will work your obliques and the rectus abdominis muscle.
Steps:

Lie on your left side on an exercise mat.
Your legs should be stacked, and your right arm should rest on your side.
Plant your left elbow under your shoulder.
Brace your core and glute and drive your left elbow into the floor to lift your hips off the floor. Your body, from head to toe, should be in a straight line.
Hold this position for the recommended time.
Repeat on the other side.

Pro Tip: Make the exercise harder by performing hip dips while holding the plank. Ensure that you keep your shoulders pulled back and down throughout the exercise. 

Check out our complete side plank guide here!
Sit-Up
The sit-up is a staple in most ab training workouts. It works your rectus abdominis muscle with a focus on the upper abs. 
Steps:

Lie supine on the floor with your knees bent and feet planted flat on the floor.
Hold your hands in front of your chest or at the sides of your head.
Lift your upper back off the floor by driving your lower back and hips into the floor.
Your torso should be a few inches away from your quads at the top.
Slowly lower to the starting position.
Repeat for recommended reps.

Pro Tip: Avoid interlacing your fingers behind your head, as it can strain your neck. Keep your reps slow and controlled, and avoid using momentum during the concentric (upward) motion.

Reverse Crunch
The reverse crunch is an incredibly effective exercise for the more stubborn lower abs. It might look easy, but it will smoke your core in no time. 
Steps:

Lie on your back on the floor. Bend your knees and plant your feet on the floor.
Extend your arms at your sides.
Lift your feet off the floor and bring your thighs to your chest.
Pause and contract your abs.
Return to the starting position.
Repeat for reps.

Pro Tip: Extend your legs at the bottom of the movement to bump up the intensity of this exercise. 

Check out our complete reverse crunch guide here!
Dead Bug
The dead bug is one of the best core exercises for beginners. Getting into the dead bug is easy, and it helps achieve optimal core activation. 
Steps:

Lie flat on the floor while facing the ceiling.
Extend your arms so they are perpendicular to your torso.
Lift your legs off the floor; your legs should be at a 90-degree angle.
Slowly extend your right arm overhead while extending your left leg. At the bottom of the movement, both should be a few inches from hitting the floor.
Return to the starting position.
Repeat on the other side.
Alternate between sides for the recommended reps.

Pro Tip: Make the exercise harder by using ankle weights and dumbbells. You could perform this exercise for reps or time. 

Check out our complete dead bug guide here!
Hollow Hold
The hollow hold is a variation of the dead bug. It is excellent for building a rock-solid core, which will translate to better performance in functional movements. The hollow hold is one of the best core exercises for CrossFit beginners. 
Steps:

Lie face up on the floor with your body in a straight line from head to toe.
Extend your arm overhead.
Brace your core and glute, and lift your head, upper back, and arms off the floor. Your arms should be at a 45-degree angle with the floor.
Simultaneously, lift your legs until your body resembles a “V.”
Hold this position for as long as possible.

Pro Tip: Holding your hands together makes the exercise a little easier. On the flip side, you can hold onto dumbbells or a weight plate to make it harder. 

Check out our complete hollow hold guide here!
Superman
The Superman exercise is the mirror opposite of the hollow hold. This exercise targets your lower back and glutes and can help improve your mobility. 
Steps:

Lie face down on the floor with your arms extended overhead.
Lift your head and chest off the floor so that your arms are a few inches off the floor.
Contract your core, glutes, and lower back, and lift your knees and thighs off the floor.
Hold the position for as long as possible.

Pro Tip: Maintain a neutral head throughout the exercise to avoid straining your neck. Lift your arms and legs as high as possible. 

Check out our complete Superman guide here!
Russian Twist
The Russian twist works your core in the transverse plane. It will help develop your obliques and six-pack. After mastering the movement, hold onto a kettlebell, dumbbell, or weight plate for better muscle stimulation. 
Steps:

Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
Lean back so your torso forms a 45-degree angle with the floor, and lift your feet off the floor.
Extend your arms straight in front of you. Your palms should be over your knees.
Keeping your pelvis stable, turn to your right side.
Slowly return to the starting position.
Repeat on the left side.

Pro Tip: Perform this exercise on a decline bench for greater core engagement. Adjust the angle of the bench according to your experience level. 

Check out our complete Russian Twist guide here!
Lying Leg Raise
This exercise works your middle and lower abs. Keep your knees locked out and pull your toes toward your torso while performing the lying leg raise for optimal lower ab engagement. 
Steps:

Lie face up on the floor with your body in a straight line.
Keeping your knees locked, lift your legs toward the ceiling until they are perpendicular to the floor.
Slowly return to the starting position.
Repeat for reps.

Pro Tip: Place your hands under your hips for leverage. You could also perform this exercise on an elevated platform like a flat bench for an extended range of motion. 

Check out our complete lying leg raise guide here!
Heel Tap
Think of heel taps as crunches for your obliques. Maintain a constant rep tempo on this exercise for optimal midriff engagement. 
Steps:

Lie supine on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground.
Your heels should be next to your hips.
Extend your arms at your sides.
Lift your shoulders, upper back, and head off the floor.
Turn to your right side and touch the side of your foot.
Return to the starting position.
Repeat on your left side.
Alternate between sides for recommended reps.

Pro Tip: Increase the distance between your hips and heels as you get better at this exercise. You could also aim for touching your toes instead of the side of your feet. 

Check out our complete heel tap guide here!
Best Core Workout For Beginners
Now that you know about the best core exercises for beginners, it is time to put the knowledge to work. We have programmed these 10 beginner-friendly core exercises into a HIIT workout, which can be completed within 15 minutes. 
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts are incredibly effective at annihilating your midsection quickly and helping you achieve washboard abs. 

In this workout, you’ll perform each exercise for 60 seconds. You are allowed a 30-second rest between exercises. Feel free to take a small breather (1-5 seconds) if you are unable to perform an exercise unbroken. 
Tips To Maximize Core Workout Results
Here are a few tips to get the best bang for your buck from your core workouts:

If your goal is to build a diced midsection, you must also focus on your diet. Furthermore, you must enter a calorie deficit to shed excess body fat.
As you get better at these exercises, you can make them more challenging by adding resistance using weight plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, or resistance bands.
Breathing plays a vital role during core workouts. You must exhale sharply during the concentric part of the motion to achieve optimal core activation. Breathe in as you return to the starting position.
Spend 5-10 minutes warming up your core with light dynamic and static stretches to reduce the risk of muscle cramps.
It is common to experience ab cramps (especially for beginners) during ab workouts. Spend 5-10 seconds between sets rubbing down your abs to reduce the risk of cramping.

Benefits of Core Exercises For Beginners
Given below are the advantages of adding core exercises to your training regimen:
Aesthetics 
Who are we kidding? Most people do the borning crunches because of the aesthetic benefits attached to them. A chiseled midsection makes you stand out and is one of the best indicators of physical fitness. 
Improve Functionality
Most compound exercises like the squat, bench press, deadlift, and Olympic lifts require a strong core. Doing core exercises can improve your performance in the gym and daily activities. [1]
Boost Balance, Stability, and Flexibility
Core exercises can improve your balance, stability, and flexibility as it works your midsection, lower back, hips, and pelvis. Perform core exercises regularly for at least 12 weeks to start noticing the difference. [2]
Improves Posture and Reduces the Risk of Lower Back Pain
Folks that spend most of their days hunched over a computer or phone are at a higher risk of developing poor posture and lower back pain. Performing core exercises can strengthen your spine-supporting muscles, which can help improve your posture and lower the risk of lower back pain and injury during training. 
Do Not Require Any Equipment
All the best core exercises for beginners in this article are bodyweight movements that can be done anywhere at your convenience. Plus, core exercises are incredibly versatile and can be squeezed into any workout. 
Wrapping Up
Adding core workouts into your training regimen helps you achieve more than a carved midsection. It improves your balance and stability, boosts your overall functionality, promotes a better posture, and reduces your risk of lower back pain and injury. 
This article covers the 10 best core exercises for beginners. Follow the 15-minute HIIT workout detailed above to set your midriff on fire in a short period. Pair these exercises and workout with a robust diet and recovery program to achieve a diced six-pack. Best of luck!
More Core Exercises and Workouts:

References

Okada, Tomoko; Huxel, Kellie C; Nesser, Thomas W. Relationship Between Core Stability, Functional Movement, and Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 25(1):p 252-261, January 2011. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b22b3e
Manjusha K, Nithya Narayanan Kutty, Shilpa Chandran. The Effectiveness of Core Strength Training to Improve Functional Mobility and Balance in Geriatric Population: A Literature Review. Ortho Res Online J. 9(1). OPROJ. 000701. 2021. DOI: 10.31031/OPROJ.2021.09.000701

The Best HIIT Ab Workout: Get Ripped Abs in Record Time

The Best HIIT Ab Workout: Get Ripped Abs in Record Time

Most people perform a few ab exercises at the end of their strength training session. It’s no surprise they are nowhere close to their six-pack goal. 
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) involves short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by brief periods of rest or lower-intensity exercise. HIIT workouts for your abs are an incredibly effective method of trimming down your waistline and shedding the excess fat to reveal your abs.
HIIT ab workouts will increase your heart rate, help burn fat, and improve your overall fitness level in a shorter period than traditional cardio workouts. It makes these workouts the perfect fit for people with a busy schedule who cannot afford to spend 45-60 minutes in the gym. 
In this HIIT ab workout, we will not only do the most intense abdominal exercises, but we will narrow down on the movements that will also increase your heart rate so that you are actively burning calories. 
12 Best HIIT Ab Exercises
Add these ab movements to your exercise arsenal to build a cover photo-worthy six-pack:

High Knees
We will kick off the HIIT ab workout with high knees. It will warm up your abs and get your cardiovascular system going. Think of this exercise as a unilateral variation of the hanging knee-to-chest. 
Steps:

Stand upright with a hip-width stance.
Hold your hands in front of your chest, palms facing down. 
Lift your right foot off the floor and bring your thigh as close to your chest as possible. Simultaneously, lift your left heel off the floor so that your left toes are the only point of contact with the floor.
Return your right foot to the ground.
Immediately repeat on the left side.
Alternate between sides for the recommended time.
Speed up the exercise to bump up your training intensity. Both your feet should be off the floor during the leg transition.

Pro Tip: You want to keep your core braced throughout this exercise for optimal midsection stimulation. 

Check out our detailed high knee exercise guide!
Mountain Climber
The mountain climber is a high knee variation; however, it places more tension on your core as you perform it in a high plank position. Perform this exercise for long enough, and it will also tax your shoulders and pectoral muscles. 
Steps:

Start in a high plank position. Your hands should be under your shoulders and your body, from head to heels, in a straight line.
Brace your core muscles, bend your right knee, and bring it toward your chest.
Return it to the starting position.
Alternate between sides for the recommended time.
Start slow and increase the tempo while maintaining your form.
Both your feet should be off the floor during the leg transition.

Pro Tip: Avoid forming a bridge with your hips or letting them drop during the exercise, as it removes tension from your core and puts in on your lower back. 

Check out our detailed mountain climber exercise guide!
Flutter Kick 
The flutter kick is an often overlooked exercise in most ab workouts. However, it is an excellent movement to target the more stubborn lower abs. 
Steps:

Lie on your back on the floor. Your body should be in a straight line from head to heels, and your legs should be placed together.
Place your hands under your hips for leverage.
Raise your legs and head off the floor. Keep your core braced throughout the exercise.
Lift your right leg as high as possible while keeping your left leg in place.
Return the right leg to the starting position while raising your left leg toward the ceiling.
Alternate between sides for the recommended time.

Pro Tip: Ensure your back is placed flat against the floor throughout the exercise. Arching your back will result in hip flexor stimulation and put unnecessary strain on your spine. 

Check out our detailed flutter kick exercise guide!
Sit-Up
The sit-up is a staple in most ab training routines. However, you’ll be performing this exercise with high intensity in the HIIT ab workout to fire up your midsection. 
Steps:

Lie supine on the floor. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor.
Hold your hands next to your ears throughout the exercise.
Take a deep breath and lift your torso off the floor by contracting your abs.
Your torso should be perpendicular to the floor at the top of the motion. Exhale sharply and squeeze your abs.
Slowly lower to the start position.

Pro Tip: Avoid interlacing your fingers behind your head as it can sprain your neck during the concentric motion. Alternatively, hold your hands in front of your chest during the exercise. 

Lying Leg Raise
The lying leg raise is one of those exercises that look super easy but will smoke your abs in no time. You must keep your legs straight for optimal lower ab engagement. 
Steps:

Lie with your back on the floor. Your body should be in a straight line.
Place your hands under your hips for leverage.
Lift your legs off the floor so your heels are a few inches off the ground. This will be your starting position.
Raise your legs as high as possible while driving your lower back into the floor.
Slowly return to the starting position.
Repeat for the recommended time.

Pro Tip: Perform this exercise on an elevated surface, such as a flat bench, for an extended range of motion. 

Check out our detailed lying leg raise exercise guide!
Bicycle Crunch
The bicycle crunch is an incredibly effective exercise that works your entire core, including your obliques and rectus abdominous. 
Steps:

Lie supine on the floor.
Place your hands at the sides of your ears.
Lift your legs off the floor so your ankles are a few inches off the floor.
Bend your right knee, and bring it as close to your chest as possible.
Simultaneously, perform a cross-body crunch and touch your right knee with your left elbow.
Return to the start position.
Alternate between sides for the recommended time.

Pro Tip: Exhale sharply and contract your abs at the static contraction point at the top for optimal ab stimulation. 

Check out our detailed bicycle crunch exercise guide!
Alternating Jackknife
This full-body exercise can help improve your flexibility and posture, besides giving you a shredded midsection. 
Steps:

Lie with your back on the floor.
Extend your arms overhead.
Lift your right leg off the floor as high as possible. Simultaneously, lift your torso off the ground and bring your arms toward your toes in a sweeping motion.
Return to the starting position.
Alternate between sides for the recommended time.

Pro Tip: Feel free to bend your knees if you cannot touch your toes with straight legs. 

Check out our detailed jackknife exercise guide!
Plank Jack
The plank jack will help you develop explosive lower body strength and a robust core. It involves jumping your feet out to the sides while holding a plank. 
Steps:

Assume a high plank position. Your hands should be under your shoulders and legs together and extended behind you.
Brace your core and jump both feet out wide to each side as if you were doing a horizontal jumping jack.
Jump back to the starting position.
Rinse and repeat.

Pro Tip: Keep your shoulder blades pulled back and down throughout the exercise and actively push into the floor with your hands to maintain balance. 

Side Plank Dip
This oblique exercise requires decent core strength to perform with a full range of motion. 
Steps:

Lie on your side on the floor. Your legs should be stacked.
Place your elbow under your shoulder. Your forearm should be placed on the floor perpendicular to your body for balance.
Place your top arm on your side.
Lift your hips off the floor. Your body should be in a straight line.
Lower your hips toward the floor until they are a few inches off the ground.
Return to the starting position.
Repeat for the recommended time.
Switch sides.

Pro Tip: Lift your top arm toward the ceiling so it is perpendicular to the floor to take some weight off your core and make the exercise a little easier. 

Wood Chopper
Although you could perform this exercise without additional resistance, we recommend using a light dumbbell for optimal core stimulation. 
Steps:

Stand upright with a hip-width stance.
Hold a dumbbell with both hands.
Twist your torso to the right side and lift the weight up and across your body with straight arms.
Lower the dumbbell across your body toward the floor. Bend your knees slightly during the lowering motion.
Repeat for the recommended time before switching sides.

Pro Tip: Keep your eyes fixed on the dumbbell throughout the exercise. 

Check out our detailed wood chopper exercise guide!
Floor Wiper
The floor wiper is one of the most challenging exercises in this workout. Beginners can substitute this exercise with the floor windshield wiper until they develop the required core strength to perform this movement with a full range of motion. 
Steps:

Lie on your back on the floor.
Extend your arms on your sides and place your hands on the floor for stability.
Lift your legs off the floor so your heels are a few inches from the ground.
Contract your core and bring your feet as close to your left hand as possible in a sweeping motion while keeping your legs straight.
Return to the starting position.
Repeat on the right side.
Alternate between sides for the recommended time.

Pro Tip: As you gain more experience, hold a barbell over your chest for upper-body engagement during this exercise. 

Check out our detailed floor wiper exercise guide!
Hollow Hold
The last exercise of the HIIT ab workout takes the intensity down a notch. However, this isometric exercise will leave you with a sore midsection. 
Steps:

Lie on your back on the floor. Extend your arms overhead.
Lift your legs, arms, and head off the floor as high toward the ceiling as possible.
Your body should resemble a “V” during the isometric hold.
Keep your core contracted throughout the exercise.
Hold this position for the recommended time.

Pro Tip: Interlacing your fingers while holding the hollow hold position will make the exercise a little easier. However, this technique should only be used by beginners. 

Check out our detailed hollow hold exercise guide!
HIIT Ab Workout For a Shredded Midriff
Now that you know the best exercise for a HIIT ab workout, it is time to put them to work. Perform two rounds of the HIIT ab workout circuit given below. Do each exercise for 40 seconds. You are allowed a 20-second rest after completing each exercise to catch your breath. Plus, rest for two minutes before starting the second round. Complete this HIIT workout within 25 minutes. 

Exercise
Time (in seconds)
Rest (in seconds)

High Knees
40
20

Mountain Climber
40
20

Flutter Kick
40
20

Sit-Up
40
20

Lying Leg Raise
40
20

Bicycle Crunch
40
20

Alternating Jackknife
40
20

Plank Jack
40
20

Side Plank Dip
30 (each side)
20

Wood Chopper
30 (each side)
20

Floor Wiper
40
20

Hollow Hold
40
120

Perform the side plank dip and wood chopper for 30 seconds on each side. Transition to the other side without stopping for rest. You can rest for 20 seconds after doing these exercises for 60 seconds.
Benefits of HIIT Ab Workout
Adding a HIIT ab workout to your training regimen entails the following advantages: 
Helps Target the Midriff and Burn More Calories
Studies show that HIIT workouts are more effective than conventional strength training workouts at burning calories, which can help you shed excess fat. Furthermore, the exercises in this HIIT ab workout will target your midsection, helping you achieve a toned midriff [1]. A study also found that HIIT workouts can help reduce body fat and waist circumference. [2]

Improves Endurance and Stamina
HIIT workouts can improve performance in both anaerobic and aerobic activities [3]. Performing the HIIT ab workout detailed in this article for 12 weeks will help improve your endurance and stamina. 
Quick and Impactful
HIIT workouts are usually shorter than conventional weight training sessions as you perform each exercise for a specific length of time and rest for a short period between exercises. This training method is excellent for folks with a packed schedule.
Reduce The Risk of Lower Back Pain and Injury
Training your abs will also strengthen your lower back, reducing the risk of lower back pain and limiting the chances of injury while performing compound exercises, such as the deadlift, squat, and good mornings.
FAQs
Are HIIT workouts better than conventional ab workouts for building a six-pack?It depends on your current physique and training objectives. HIIT workouts should be favored over the conventional strength training style ab workouts if you need to burn fat while toning your abs. However, if you have a decent body fat percentage, the strength training ab workouts will help you achieve better results and a carved six-pack.
How often should I do the HIIT ab workout?Since this is a relatively long and intense HIIT ab workout, you should avoid doing it more than twice weekly. Also, you must space them out so that you have 48 hours to recover between your ab workouts.
Can HIIT ab workout help spot reduce body fat?HIIT workouts cannot help you spot reduce body fat. However, since this is an ab workout, it will help you tone your abs. Plus, HIIT workouts help you burn calories and lose overall body fat, which can reduce abdominal fat over time.

Wrapping Up
The 12 HIIT ab exercises and kickass workout detailed in this article will help you achieve a strong, defined core. This workout will be challenging, so be prepared to push yourself to the limit. Also, you must back up this HIIT ab workout with a balanced diet and recovery program to achieve your dream midsection. 
This HIIT ab workout will improve your abdominal strength and definition and also boost your overall fitness level and energy. Keep your training intensity high and focus on your breathing to make the most of this workout. Best of luck!
References

Falcone PH, Tai CY, Carson LR, Joy JM, Mosman MM, McCann TR, Crona KP, Kim MP, Moon JR. Caloric expenditure of aerobic, resistance, or combined high-intensity interval training using a hydraulic resistance system in healthy men. J Strength Cond Res. 2015 Mar;29(3):779-85. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000661. PMID: 25162652.
Wewege M, van den Berg R, Ward RE, Keech A. The effects of high-intensity interval training vs. moderate-intensity continuous training on body composition in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2017 Jun;18(6):635-646. doi: 10.1111/obr.12532. Epub 2017 Apr 11. PMID: 28401638.
Ouerghi N, Fradj MKB, Bezrati I, Khammassi M, Feki M, Kaabachi N, Bouassida A. Effects of high-intensity interval training on body composition, aerobic and anaerobic performance and plasma lipids in overweight/obese and normal-weight young men. Biol Sport. 2017 Dec;34(4):385-392. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2017.69827. Epub 2017 Sep 20. PMID: 29472742; PMCID: PMC5819474.

Workout Split For Women: The Ultimate Guide To Get Fit and Fabulous

Workout Split For Women: The Ultimate Guide To Get Fit and Fabulous

Over the last decade, women have been cozying up to weight training. However, this has led us into a unique situation; the ladies look like deers caught in headlights as soon as they enter the weight room. 
Although girls no longer need to be convinced to start lifting weights, only a handful of these women follow a structured workout split. Performing a few dumbbell curls one day, a couple of sets of squats the next day, and a little of everything every other day isn’t going to do you any good. 
Finding the right workout split can be daunting. Furthermore, stepping inside the free-weight section of a gym for a newbie can be overwhelming, especially if they have no idea what they are doing. 
A balanced training program is key to achieving your dream figure. Furthermore, the ideal workout regimen for an individual can change depending on their preferences, schedules, goals, and experience levels. Following an incompatible training split increases your risk of injury. 
In this article, we dive into the meaning of workout splits, the factors and tips to consider while choosing a workout split for women, its benefits, and the five best workout splits for women at different experience levels. We have a lot to cover. So, sit tight. 
What are Workout Splits?

A workout split refers to how you divide your training into different muscle groups or body parts. Many exercisers avoid picking a workout split as they find it too restrictive. Although a workout split requires you to train a specific muscle group on a particular day of the week, you are free to choose the exercises you perform in each training session. 
Notably, programming a workout is best left to advanced lifters or personal trainers. Each muscle consists of different heads that must be trained from multiple angles for optimal growth. Performing similar movements can lead you to a muscle and strength plateau. For example, the deltoid muscle has three heads — anterior, lateral, and posterior. If you only perform shoulder press and front raise exercises in your training regimen, you’ll have substandard lateral and posterior deltoid head development. Does this sound like too much work? Don’t worry; we have included a sample workout plan for overall muscle and strength development with each workout split. 
Many people think the ‘bro split’ is the only workout program. A bro split includes training chest on Mondays, back on Tuesdays, shoulders on Wednesdays, and so on. While there is nothing wrong with this split, most exercisers can get better results by following a more focused workout split. 
For example, ladies with lagging lower bodies would want to train their legs twice a week. However, the bro split has no provisions for accommodating a second leg workout. An upper and lower body workout split will be a better fit in this case. 
Benefits of Following a Structured Workout Split For Women
Here are the advantages of selecting a structured workout split for women:
Makes Your Workouts More Efficient
Many lifters treat the gym as a restaurant, and their training split as an à la carte menu. They enter the iron paradise without a plan and tackle their workout on the fly; these lifters perform the exercises that feel the most comfortable and put the least strain on their muscles. As you could have guessed, these folks see little to no progress and are most likely to drop off. 
A structured workout split leaves nothing to chance. Here, you plan your workouts weeks in advance. Everything from the exercises, sets, and reps is determined before entering the gym. Having an action plan ensures you make the most of your time in the gym. 
Built-in Progressive Overload
Progressive overload is indispensable if you want to make strength or muscle gains. It includes placing ever-increasing stress on your muscles by increasing the intensity and volume of your workouts. You could achieve this by doing more sets, reps, and exercises, reducing rest between sets, or incorporating advanced training principles in your workouts, such as super sets, drop sets, intra-set stretching, etc. [1]
A balanced workout split will help progressively overload your muscles and reduce your risk of hitting a plateau by shocking your muscles with varying training intensity and volume. Furthermore, an efficient workout split also allows your muscles to rest and recuperate between workouts, reducing your risk of injury. 

Fix Muscle and Strength Imbalances
An effective workout split can aid in fixing muscle and strength imbalances by allowing you to work on your weaknesses multiple times a week. At the same time, it will help you polish your strengths. 
Monitor Progress
You must stick to a workout split for at least 12 weeks before arriving at conclusions about its effectiveness. Since you’ll perform the same exercises, number of sets, and reps in each workout for the entire duration, it’ll make it convenient for you to track your progress. 
Additionally, following a workout split and tracking your progress will help you stay accountable. Sharing your progress with your friends and family can be a potent motivator. 
Keeps You Interested
Choosing a workout program is like choosing a life partner — you want someone who compliments your strengths and weaknesses. 
Although the workout splits below define the exercises you’ll perform in each training session, you are free to perform their variations instead. You must, however, ensure that the replacement exercises target the same muscle groups. For example, you could do the cable side lateral raise instead of the dumbbell side lateral raise. You must, however, not replace side lateral raises with shrugs. 
Knowing the exercises you’ll perform in a workout in advance can allow you time to prepare for a workout, which can improve your performance. Plus, tracking your progress will keep you hooked to your workout split. 
5 Best Workout Splits For Women
Depending on your current physique and experience level, you can choose a workout split that aligns with your goals. Each workout split has its unique benefits and allows you to focus on particular muscles to fix imbalances and take you to your objectives. 
Below, you’ll find five workout splits for women that involve training up to three muscle groups per training session twice a week. 
Full-Body Workout Split For Women

The basic full-body workout split for women is a two-day-a-week training regimen. It is perfect for beginners and ladies with busy schedules who can only make time for a couple of weekly training sessions.
In the full-body training split, you could work all your muscle groups in a single workout or divide them into two sessions. 
Since this workout split involves training most of your muscle groups in a single workout, you must follow a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) method for these workouts to get a lot of work done in a short period. Women aiming to shed weight must engage in full-body cardio exercises. 

Day 1
Full-Body Workout

Day 2
Rest

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Full-Body Workout

Day 5
Rest

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

As you gain more experience, you could go from performing two weekly full-body training sessions to doing four weekly workouts. Perform variations of the exercises listed in the sample workout below on the two additional days to add variety to your training regimen. 
Full-Body Workout 1:
Beginners must seek expert help to drill the movements. It will help you make the most of the exercises while limiting your risk of injury. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Barbell Bent-Over Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Cable Triceps Extension
3
8-12

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Crunch
3
8-12

Full-Body Workout 2:
Since these workouts are programmed to induce hypertrophy, avoid resting for more than 60 seconds between sets, as it can significantly hamper your training intensity. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Chest Fly
3
8-12

Dumbbell Deadlift
3
8-12

Barbell Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Dumbbell Hammer Curl
3
8-12

Barbell Sumo Squat
3
8-12

Hanging Leg Raise
3
8-12

Full-Body HIIT Cardio Workout
The HIIT cardio workout below includes nine exercises; perform two rounds of this circuit. You must perform each exercise for 45 seconds. Rest 15 seconds between exercises. Plus, you are allowed a two-minute rest after completing a round. 

Exercise
Time (in seconds)
Rest (in seconds)

Lunge 
45
15

Push-Up
45
15

Burpee
45
15

Star Jump
45
15

Leg Raise
45
15

Squat Jump
45
15

Bicep Curl
45
15

Lateral Shuffles
45
120

Use appropriate dumbbells for exercises like bicep curls and lunges. Feel free to use additional resistance in the squat jump. However, you must ensure you are not compromising your form to lift heavy weights. 
Benefits of Full-Body Workout Splits
Here are the advantages of doing a full-body workout split for women:

The full-body workout split is excellent for beginners as it helps them acclimatize to weight training.
This workout regimen is great for ladies on a tight schedule, as the most basic version of the full-body split requires hitting the gym twice a week.
Since you’ll do only one exercise per muscle group, we’ll mostly stick to compound lifts for this workout program. Besides helping you build muscle and strength, multi-joint exercises improve your overall functionality.
Training twice weekly gives your body enough time to rest and recuperate between workouts.

Drawbacks of Full-Body Workout Splits
Here are the cons of doing a full-body workout split for women:

As you’ll be training all your muscles in a single workout, it can be incredibly exhausting, especially as you graduate to training four days a week.
Full-body strength training workouts can take longer to complete. Expect to spend 60-120 minutes in the gym.
The full-body workout split is not the best for fixing strength and muscle imbalances unless you want to boost your training volume significantly.

Upper Lower Body Workout Split For Women

The upper lower body is the perfect next step for ladies wanting to move up from a two-day training regimen. It is a four-day workout split that involves training half of your body on a single day. 
Notably, you should ideally start the training week by training your weaker half. Lifters with lagging lower bodies should start the week with a leg workout instead of hitting an upper body training session. 
Many lifters go all-out on their stronger muscle group training day, leaving them tired and sore for their weaker muscle group workouts. Since this is a four days a week workout split, you can also rest after each workout to allow your muscles enough time to rest and recuperate between training sessions. 

Day 1
Upper Body

Day 2
Lower Body

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Upper Body

Day 5
Lower Body

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

As this workout regimen involves training all your muscles twice a week, you shouldn’t add more training days to this training split. Instead, you could increase your training volume and intensity to get the best bang for your buck. 
A study found that an upper and lower body workout split is more effective at helping you build muscle strength and size over 10 weeks than a full body workout regimen done thrice a week. [2]
Upper Body Workout:
The upper and lower body workouts primarily consist of functional (multi-joint) exercises to maximize your muscle and strength-building potential. Focus on contracting your muscles with each rep to induce hypertrophy. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Dumbbell Bent-Over Row
3
8-12

Arnold Press
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Close-Grip Bench Press
3
8-12

Russian Twist
3
8-12

Lower Body Workout:
You could change the order of the exercises depending on your preferences. If you have lagging calves, we recommend starting your leg workout with the standing calf raise. Use a weight that helps you achieve muscle failure between the eighth and 12th rep.

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Goblet Squat
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Upper Lower Body Workout Splits
The pros of the upper-lower body workout split include the following:

It allows you to train all your muscle groups twice a week.
Training your upper and lower body muscles separately can help you fix muscle and strength imbalances, improving your overall physique proportions and symmetry.
The upper-lower body workout split will help you build a solid foundation. You could easily pivot to a powerlifting or bodybuilding-focused workout program after following this workout split for 12 weeks.
This workout split for women allows sufficient recovery time between workouts, which can fast-track results and reduce your risk of injury.
Training four days a week allows you the flexibility to program your workouts according to your schedule. You could take an off day after each workout or reshuffle the training days.

Drawbacks of Upper Lower Body Workout Splits
The cons of the upper-lower body workout split include the following:

The upper-lower body workout split is volume heavy since you’ll be training all your muscles twice weekly, which is not the best for newbie lifters.
On the other hand, although you’ll be training all your muscles twice a week, the training volume for each muscle group can be limiting.
Since you’ll be training half of your body in a single workout, these workouts can take a lot of time to complete. Expect to spend 60-120 minutes in the gym during your upper-lower body workouts.

Push-Pull Workout Split For Women

The push-pull workout split for women is the perfect middle ground between full-body workouts and upper-lower body workouts. Gym exercises can be broken into two main categories — push and pull. 
As the name suggests, the pushing exercises involve pressing weights away from your body, for example, the bench press, overhead triceps extension, and leg extension. On the flip side, the pulling exercises include pulling the weights toward your body, such as the deadlift, biceps curl, and seated cable row. 
Push-pull workouts are popular among bodybuilders and powerlifters as they help focus on a single movement pattern. This workout split can help you achieve muscle-ripping pumps and ensure you’ve got nothing left in the tank by the end of a workout. 

Day 1
Push

Day 2
Pull

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Push

Day 5
Pull

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

Although the push-pull workout split is a four-day training program, you could increase your training volume by adding a couple of workout sessions to the split — one for each movement pattern. Also, you could increase your training volume gradually by alternating between an additional push and pull workout for the initial 4-6 weeks.
Push Workout
In the push-pull workouts, the first two exercises of the training schedule are the big lifts. The remaining four to six exercises are considered accessory lifts, which help improve your performance in the main lifts. 
The ladies training for hypertrophy should stay in the 8-12 rep range and perform three sets with a moderate weight. On the other hand, lifters trying to maximize strength should do 3-5 sets of 1-5 reps with 80-90% of their one-rep max. [3]

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Squat
3
8-12

Bench Press
3
8-12

Cable Triceps Extension
3
8-12

Dumbbell Chest Fly
3
8-12

Machine Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Seated Calf Raise
3
8-12

Keep the main lifts, such as the squat, bench press, and deadlift, constant throughout the 12 weeks. However, you could change the accessory lifts each week to keep your workouts interesting. 
Pull Workout
The deadlift is the main lift in the pull workout. All the other movements in this workout are accessory lifts. We recommend using weightlifting accessories, such as a weightlifting belt, lifting straps, wrist wraps, and knee sleeves, in these workout splits, as they help maximize your performance and reduce your risk of injury. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3
8-12

Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Lying Leg Curl
3
8-12

Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Push-Pull Workout Splits
Using the push-pull workout split entails the following benefits:

The push-pull workout split for women is great for building strength and muscle mass. Change the number of reps on the three big lifts (squat, bench press, and deadlift) to 1-5 and the number of sets to five to focus on building strength.
Training a specific movement pattern can help you achieve a better mind-muscle connection, improving hypertrophy.
Since this workout split involves training the same muscle group at least twice, the high volume will speed up your results.
This training split is great for powerlifters that want to improve their performance on the big three lifts.
It allows you to further boost your training volume by doing up to two more weekly workouts.
The push-pull workouts involve a healthy balance of compound and isolation exercises, which can help develop a balanced, proportionate, and conditioned physique.
The four-day push-pull training split allows you ample time to recover between workouts.

Drawbacks of Push-Pull Workout Splits
Using the push-pull workout split entails the following disadvantages:

Since this workout split involves compound and isolation exercises and requires training multiple muscle groups, the push-pull workouts can take longer to complete than the conventional workouts.
The push-pull split is not ideal for beginners.
This training split can be exhausting, as the push workouts include high-demanding exercises, such as the bench press, squat, and overhead shoulder press in the same workout.

Push, Pull, Legs Workout Split For Women

This training split takes the push-pull workout program up a notch. Although the push-pull routine was originally designed for powerlifters, many lifters didn’t appreciate training for the bench press and squat on the same day; hence, the push, pull, and leg workout split was born. 
The push, pull, and leg split is a six-day workout program. It increases the training volume of the basic push-pull regimen by a massive 50%. This training split is best suited for advanced female lifters, as the trainers will only get one day to recover from their workouts. 
Although you could do the push, pull, and leg split three days a week, you would have to increase the volume and intensity significantly, which will not only make the workouts more exhausting but would also considerably increase your risk of injury. 

Day 1
Push

Day 2
Pull

Day 3
Legs

Day 4
Push

Day 5
Pull

Day 6
Legs

Day 7
Rest

Since you have two training sessions in this workout split for each muscle group, you don’t have to do the three big lifts in each workout. Do them at the beginning of the training week and resort to accessory movements for the remaining three workout sessions. 
Pay close attention to the number of sets and reps in the workouts below. 
Push Workout 1
The first exercises of the first three training days of the week will be strength-focused, meaning you’ll be doing one to five reps of the exercises for three to five sets using 80-90% of your one-rep max. You must only perform these big lifts with a spotter.

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Bench Press
3-5
1-5

Incline Dumbbell Press
3
8-12

Cable Crossover
3
8-12

Behind-the-Neck Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Weighted Dips
3
8-12

Lying Leg Raise
3
8-12

Rest for three to five minutes for the strength-focused exercises. You must, however, limit the rest between sets to 60 seconds for the remaining lifts to ensure optimal training intensity for inducing hypertrophy. 
Pull Workout 1
You are allowed a five-minute rest after the strength-focused exercise to reset and prepare for the high-rep workout. Track your workouts (sets, reps, and weights) in a journal to ensure you’re hitting your goals and are progressively overloading your muscles in each training session. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3-5
1-5

Dumbbell Curl
3
8-12

Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Bent-Over Barbell Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Upright Row
3
8-12

Leg Workout 1
You could rejig the exercises in this workout if you prefer doing quad-focused accessory lifts before the hamstring-focused movements. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Squat
3-5
1-5

Leg Extension
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Leg Press
3
8-12

Leg Press Calf Raise
3
8-12

Push Workout 2
Use advanced training principles, such as super sets, drop sets, and intra-set stretching in the second half of the push, pull, and leg training split to push up your training intensity. You must use a weight that allows you to perform each exercise with a picture-perfect form. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Decline Barbell Press
3
8-12

Pec Deck Fly
3
8-12

Arnold Press
3
8-12

Barbell Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Cable Crunch
3
8-12

Pull Workout 2
We encourage using different hand grips on these exercises each week (supinated, pronated, and neutral) to train your muscles from different angles. It will help induce hypertrophy and keep your workouts interesting. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Deficit Deadlift
3
8-12

Cable Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Seated Cable Row
3
8-12

Inverted Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Front Raise
3
8-12

Barbell Shrug
3
8-12

Leg Workout 2
Feel free to swap the accessory exercises in the second workouts for the week to address any lagging muscle groups. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Box Squat
3
8-12

Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Stiff-Legged Deadlift
3
8-12

Hip Thrust
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Push-Pull-Legs Workout Splits
Performing the push-pull-legs training split has the following pros:

It is one of the best workout splits for powerlifting enthusiasts. Furthermore, bodybuilders can use this 12-week program to improve their overall strength without compromising on their muscle mass.
This six-day training split allows you to focus on each muscle group twice a week.
A high-volume and intensity training regimen that is incredibly effective for breaking through plateaus.
The push-pull-legs training split can accommodate many modifications to suit the lifter.

Drawbacks of Push-Pull-Legs Workout Splits
Performing the push-pull-legs training split has the following cons:

A six-day training regimen that is best left to advanced lifters.
Not enough recovery time, especially for lifters pushing their limits on this training regimen.
The push-pull-legs workout split can take longer to complete than all the other training splits listed in this article.

Bro-Split Workout Split For Women

We know what you are thinking. Yes, we were kind of dissing the bro-split at the beginning of this article. However, if your goal is to build muscle mass, you cannot go wrong with this training split.
The standard bro-split is a six-day training program that includes training each muscle group once weekly. It allows you to train each muscle with ample volume and intensity to induce hypertrophy. 
You could modify the workout split depending on your personal goals and preferences. For example, ladies with weaker lower bodies should begin their training week with a leg workout instead of a chest session. Restructure your workouts according to your needs. 

Day 1
Chest

Day 2
Back

Day 3
Shoulders

Day 4
Biceps

Day 5
Triceps

Day 6
Legs

Day 7
Rest

Avoid training two large muscle groups on consecutive days, such as legs and back. Have at least 48 hours between large muscle group workouts to ensure optimal rest and recovery. It also reduces your risk of injury. 
Chest Workout
Many lifters leave gains on the table by following a restricted range of motion. It limits your muscle fiber engagement and leads to suboptimal gains. Use a weight that allows you to follow a full ROM. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Incline Dumbbell Press
3
8-12

Decline Dumbbell Fly
3
8-12

Dips
3
8-12

Cable Crossover
3
8-12

Decline Crunch
3
8-12

Back Workout
During your back workouts, focus on driving through your elbows. Pulling the weight using your biceps can remove tension from your back and put it on your guns. Use a false (thumbless) grip where possible to limit biceps engagement. You could also experiment with using lifting straps to limit forearm stimulation. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3
8-12

Bent-Over Barbell Row
3
8-12

Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Seated Cable Row
3
8-12

Hyperextension
3
8-12

Seated Calf Raise
5
8-12

Shoulders Workout
You must include exercises for all three shoulder heads (anterior, lateral, and posterior) and the trapezius muscle to ensure overall growth. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Military Press
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Barbell Front Raise
3
8-12

Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly
3
8-12

Barbell Shrug
3
8-12

Cable Crunch
3
8-12

Biceps Workout
You’ll use pronated, supinated, and neutral grips in the biceps workout to ensure optimal biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis development. The forearm exercises at the end of the workout ensure you don’t leave any stone unturned. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Alternating Hammer Curl
3
8-12

Cable Reverse Curl
3
8-12

Machine Preacher Curl
3
8-12

Concentration Curl
3
8-12

Wrist Curl
3
8-12

Reverse Wrist Curl
3
8-12

Triceps Workout
The triceps workout in the bro-split targets all three triceps heads (long, lateral, and medial) for building horseshoe triceps.

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Cable Triceps Pushdown
3
8-12

Dumbbell Overhead Extension
3
8-12

Dumbbell Kickback
3
8-12

EZ Bar Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Reverse-Grip Triceps Pushdown
3
8-12

Cable Wood Chopper
3
8-12

Legs Workout
Since this training session involves performing the squat and deadlift, you’ll have to go extra hard on this one. Ensure your pre-training nutrition is on point to make the most of these workouts. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Leg Extension
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Barbell Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
5
8-12

Benefits of a Bro-Split Workout Regimen
Sticking to the bro-split allows you to:

This workout split for women allows you to focus on a single muscle group in a training session, which can help boost your strength and muscle mass gains.
The bro-split is highly customizable and allows you to modify it according to your needs.
Since this workout focuses on a single muscle, it requires lesser time to complete than the multiple muscle group training sessions.
This is a versatile training split that can be used by beginners and advanced athletes alike.

Drawbacks of a Bro-Split Workout Regimen
The bro-split regimen has the following cons:

Since you’ll be training six days a week, it gives your muscles limited time to recover.
Folks with a busy schedule might have difficulty sticking to the six days a week training split.

Factors To Consider While Choosing a Workout Split For Women
You must consider the following factors before choosing a workout split:
Experience Levels
You must always choose a training split that is fitting for your experience level. For example, beginners should stay away from the push, pull, and leg training split and instead favor the full-body training regimen. 
Further; you must adjust your training intensity and volume based on your experience. Choosing a training split based on your experience level helps streamline your progress and reduces your risk of injury in the gym. 
Goals
Setting a goal before starting a training program gives you a road map. Lifters that want to build strength should opt for the push, pull, and legs training split, ladies that want to build a chiseled figure should go for the bro-split, and the women that want to hit the gym for overall fitness should stick to the full-body workouts. 
Time
You should choose a training program that will fit into your lifestyle. Choosing a workout split that necessitates you to go to the gym six times a week, but you can only fit in four workouts per week is a recipe for failure. You will likely lose motivation and drop out before achieving your fitness goals.
Focus Muscle Groups
Many exercisers join a gym to improve a particular muscle group. Some ladies want a bigger booty, whereas others might want shapely arms. If you want bigger muscles, you’ll be better off choosing a training split that allows you to focus on a particular muscle group, like the bro split. 
Other training splits that involve training a muscle group twice weekly, such as the push-pull regimen, can also come in handy for fixing muscle and strength imbalances. 
Tips For Workout Split For Women
The following tips will help you maximize your results:
Be Open to Trial and Error
Even after you spend days reviewing the pros and cons of a workout split, the program you choose might not work for you — which is perfectly fine. Choosing the right workout split requires trial and error. Give your training split 12 weeks to work its magic. If you’re unhappy with your results, move on to something different. Ensure that you implement the learning from the previous workout split into the new one. 
Nutrition and Recovery

Whether you want to build strength or carve a Greek goddess-like figure, you must back up your workout regimen with a balanced and proven nutrition and recovery program. Follow a macronutrient-focused diet to ensure you are meeting your daily protein, carbs, and fat goals. Ladies trying to gain muscle should stay in a calorie surplus, whereas those trying to shed the spare tire should be in a calorie deficit. 
Plus, you must ensure you are giving your muscles enough time to rest and recuperate from your workouts. Sleep seven to eight hours each night to ensure you are properly rested for your upcoming workouts. We recommend using sports nutrition supplements to speed up your recovery process between workouts. Alternatively, you could lower your training frequency if you experience chronic muscular fatigue or soreness. 
Seek Guidance
Starting a workout split can be intimidating, especially for beginners. Plus, performing the exercises with an incorrect form can increase your risk of injury. Hiring a personal trainer can help shorten your learning curve and fast-track your progress. 
Stay Consistent
Consistency is key in any training program. You must stick to a suitable workout split for at least 12 weeks to achieve your desired results. Avoid skipping training sessions unless absolutely necessary. 
Warm Up and Cool Down
Spend 5-10 minutes performing a mix of dynamic and static stretching exercises before each training session. It helps improves your flexibility and mobility and reduces your risk of injury. Furthermore, spend 5-10 minutes cooling down after a workout to kickstart your recovery process.
More Workout Splits:

FAQs
What is the ideal workout split for women?The ideal workout split will depend on your training goal, experience, time availability, and if you have any muscle groups that you want to focus on. With that said, beginner trainers will be better off starting with a full-body workout regimen; intermediate lifters can try the push-pull workout split, and advanced lifters should go for the push, pull, and legs regimen.
Can you alter a workout split?You could switch the exercises in the workout splits mentioned above to better suit your training needs. However, we advise against tinkering with the foundations of a workout split. For example, you should not combine the push and pulls workouts in the push, pull, and leg routine.
Which workout split for women is best for weight loss?Ladies trying to shed excess body fat should opt for the full-body HIIT workout listed in this article. HIIT workouts force your body to use energy from fat instead of carbs, making losing fat more efficient.

Wrapping Up
Congratulations, ladies! You are now equipped with everything you need to know to pick the most effective workout split for yourself and begin your journey to get fit and fabulous. We have also included a sample workout with each workout split, making starting your workout regimen as frictionless as possible. 
Nonetheless, fine-tuning a training split to fit your needs might require some trial and error. Stay patient and consistent; work hard, and the results will follow. Best of luck!
References

Yue FL, Karsten B, Larumbe-Zabala E, Seijo M, Naclerio F. Comparison of 2 weekly-equalized volume resistance-training routines using different frequencies on body composition and performance in trained males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018 May;43(5):475-481. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0575. Epub 2017 Dec 7. PMID: 29216446.
Lasevicius T, Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Laurentino G, Tavares LD, Tricoli V. Similar Muscular Adaptations in Resistance Training Performed Two Versus Three Days Per Week. J Hum Kinet. 2019 Aug 21;68:135-143. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2019-0062. PMID: 31531139; PMCID: PMC6724585.
Krzysztofik M, Wilk M, Wojdała G, Gołaś A. Maximizing Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review of Advanced Resistance Training Techniques and Methods. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 4;16(24):4897. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16244897. PMID: 31817252; PMCID: PMC6950543.