Gym Workout Plan #1

1. Begin jogging in place, lifting the knees as high as you can.
2. Try to lift your knees up to hip level but keep the core tight to support your back.
3. For a more advanced move, hold your hands straight at hip level and try to touch the knees to your hands as you lift them.
4. Bring the knees towards your hands instead of reaching the hands to the knees!

1. Stand with your feet together, arms fully extended with your hands by your sides. This is the start position.
2. Bend your knees slightly then straighten and push through the balls of your feet while straightening your your knees to jump up spreading your legs to wider than hip width apart.
3. As you do so, raise both arms out and up in a smooth arc until your hands meet above your head.
4. As you return to the ground, bring your feet together and your hands back to your sides with your arms fully extended.
5. Continue without pause for the desired amount of time or repetitions.

This exercise can be performed as a timed exercise, completing as many reps as possible in a set time or, in sets with a fixed number of repetitions per set. To increase intensity, bend your arms slightly as you raise them to engage your biceps and triceps and squeezing them during each rep.

1. Standing tall with a tight core and flat back, you will begin the dynamic stretching exercise as if you were running in place. Keep the knees slightly bent at all times.Start slowly and work up to a faster speed.
2. Bring your left foot back and all the way up to the glutes. Return your left foot to the ground and repeat on the other side.
3. Continue this back and forth motion, keeping your arms swinging in motion.

1. Position yourself with your back down on a flat bench placing the hands up on the bar using an underhand grip slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
2. After taking a deep breath in, extend the elbows and lift the bar up off the rack until elbows are extended but not locked. Pause for a brief movement as you fully extend your breath.
3. Lower the weight directly down to the chest as you breath inwards, keeping the movement pattern slow and steady.
4. Once just above the chest, pause, and then press directly up again, exhaling your breath.
5. Continue until all reps are completed and then re-rack the barbell.

1. Lie on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Start by holding the dumbbells slightly wider than shoulder width apart above your shoulders. Your palms should be facing forward.
3. Slowly bend your elbows until they are at a 90 degree angle and your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
4. Push the weights up by straightening your arms.
5. As you push the weights up, move your arms in an arc to bring the dumbbells together, until they meet over the center of your chest. Hold for a count of one.
6. Lower the dumbbells by slowly bending your elbows back to 90 degrees.
7. Continue lowering your arms until they are a little lower than parallel to the floor. (Your elbows should be pointing slightly towards the floor and you should feel a stretch in your chest muscles and shoulders.)
8. Repeat

Be sure to concentrate on a balanced movement when lifting the dumbbells. Use both arms equally spaced and moving at the same speed.

1. Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
2. Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
3. Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.

1. Sit on the seat with your upper chest just above the horizontal handles.
2. Push the foot lever until you are able to grasp the lever.
3. Gras the handles using a wide overhand grip and place your elbows out to the sides just below your shoulders.
4. Release the foot lever and press the hand lever out until your arms are fully extended.
5. Return the weight until your chest muscles are slightly stretched.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.

1. Set up a cable station with a straight bar attached to the top pulley.
2. Sit on the seat facing the station. Keep your feet flat and planted firmly on the floor.
3. Using an overhand grip, hold the bar as wide as comfortable. (Your hands should be about 1 1/2 – 2 times body width apart.)
4. Lean back slightly without arching your back.
5. Pull the bar towards the top of your chest using your shoulders while arcing your elbows out to the sides of your body.
6. At the end of the movement squeeze you shoulders together slightly and hold for a count of one.
7. Return to the start position by arcing your elbows forward while relaxing your shoulders.
8. Repeat.

1. Standing under a pull-up bar, reach up and hold onto the bar with an overhand grip. Make sure your hands are about twice your shoulder width apart.
2. Keep your arms straight and hang from the bar so that your arms are taking all of your weight.
3. Keeping your body straight and not swinging your weight, pull your body up towards the bar by pulling your elbows down towards your torso at an angle.
4. Continue lifting until your chest is nearly touching the bar. You should feel a “squeeze” at the base of your lats (about midway down your back and to the side) as they contract.
5.  Once your lats have completely contracted at the top of the movement, slowly lower your body to the starting position.
6. Repeat.

By using a wide grip, your lats are doing most of the lift, rather than your biceps. It doesn't matter if you keep your legs straight or bent at the knees with your feet crossed. The important thing is that you do not use your legs to assist in lifting your body weight. As your strength increases, you can add weight by using a weight belt.

1. Stand with your back straight, feet shoulder width apart, while holding a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip.
2. Hold your arms fully extended by your side, with your palms facing in to your body.
3. Keep your elbows close to your sides. This is the start position.
4. Keeping your arms fully extended and your torso stationary, lift the dumbbells out to your sides and up until they are at shoulder level. Exhale as you do so.
5. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
6.  Return to the start position in a smooth controlled movement inhaling as you do so.
7. Repeat.

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1. Sit on a bench, holding a dumbbell in each hand. Your hands should be at your sides.
2. Maintain a flat back and tight core. Look straight ahead during the movement.
3. Be sure to maintain a slight bend in your elbows at all times.
4. Extend your arms out to the side and guide the weight up. Your arms should come to parallel with the floor.
5. Pause, slowly lower the weight back to the starting position. Repeat.

1. Place your left foot onto the middle of a resistance band. Step forward with the right. Tighten your abdominals and avoid arching your back.
2. Maintaining a slight bend in the elbows at all times, slowly raise your arms up from the sides of your body. Be sure to favor the front as you lift.
3. Once your arms reach parallel with the floor, pause, feel the contraction, and slowly lower back down.

1. Set up a cable station with a straight bar attachment connected to the low pulley.
2. Stand close to the station, feet shoulder width apart either side of the pulley.
3. Grip the bar with a shoulder width underhand grip.
4. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
5. Curls your arms upward from the elbows in a smooth arc.
6. Continue until your forearms are vertical with your palms facing your shoulders. Hold for a count of one while flexing your biceps.
7. Lower the bar back to the starting position in a smooth motion.
8. Repeat.

1. Stand straight holding a barbell with an underhand grip, your hands shoulder width apart and your arms fully extended towards the floor.
2. Keep your elbows close to your sides.Your palms should be facing away from you. This is the start position.
3. Keeping your upper arms stationary, curl the barbell forward and up in a smooth arcing motion while exhaling. Only your forearms should move.
4. Continue upwards until  the bar is at shoulder level with your biceps fully contracted. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
5. Inhale as you return to the starting position.
6. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed using a cable station, with a straight bar attachment connected to the lower pulley.<em><strong> </strong></em>

1. Sit on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand  with an underhand grip.
2. Keep your back straight and shoulders back.
3. Keep your arms fully extended with your elbows close to your sides.
4. Rotate your palms so that they are facing in towards you. This is the start position.
5. Keeping your upper arms upper arm stationary, start to curl the dumbbells upwards in a smooth arc.
6. As you curl the dumbbells upwards rotate your wrists, so that your palms  face in towards you at the end of the movement.
7. Continue the movement until  the dumbbells are at shoulder level and your biceps are fully contracted.
8. Hold for a count of one as you squeeze your biceps.
9. return to the start position, rotating your wrists back to an underhand grip position.
10. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed by alternating between arms.

1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
4. Curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
5. Continue raising the dumbbells until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
7. Slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
8. Repeat.

You can also perform this exercise by alternating between left and right arms or one arm at a time.

1. Set up a cable station with a straight bar on attached to the top pulley.
2. Grip the bar with an overhand grip,with your hands slightly less than shoulder width apart.
3. Position your feet shoulder width apart,with knees slightly bent for stability.
4. Pull the bar down until your forearms are parallel to the floor with your elbows close to your body and your wrists locked in a straight position. This is your staring point.
5. Moving only your forearms, push the bar down towards the floor until your arms are fully extended and you feel a stretch in your triceps. Hold for a count of one and squeeze your triceps.
6. Return to the start position moving your forearms only. Hold for a count of one then repeat.

Do not move your elbows or swing your hips for momentum during this movement.

1. Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
2. Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the dumbbells back and behind you.
3. Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the dumbbells and begin again.

1. Stand with your feet hip width apart. Your toes should be pointing straight ahead or only slightly outward.
2. Cross your arms in front of your body, place your hands behind your head (prisoner squat) or at the sides of your head.
3.  Keep your weight on your heels and bend your knees while lowering your hips towards the ground as if you are sitting down on a chair.
4. Keep your back straight at all times.
5. Continue until you feel a slight stretch in your quadriceps. Pause for a count of one. Do not let your knees extend out beyond the level of your toes.
6. Return to the start position by pushing down through your heels and extending your hips forward until you are standing straight. Repeat.

1. Stand with your feet in a wide stance, with your toes slightly pointed outwards – like a sumo wrestler. Hold your hands together in front of your chest.
2. Keeping your back straight, lower your body towards the ground by bending your knees.
3. As you reach a fully squatting position (legs are bent at a 90-degree angle), hold the pose for 1 second before driving your feet into the floor and slowly push your body back up to the starting position.
4. For a bonus, tense your glutes at the top of the movement.

1. Stand straight with your feet shoulder width apart and place your hands on your hips. This is the start position.
2. Step forward with either leg in a long stride. Keep your other foot in place behind you.
3. Bend your knees as you do this so your body is lowered towards the ground. Keep your back straight throughout the movement.
4. Continue down until your front knee is just above the ground. (Your front leg should be bent 90 degrees at the knee)
5. Hold for a count of one.
6. Push down through your front heel and extend both knees to return to the start position.
7. Pause then repeat with your other leg. When you have lunged with both legs, that is one repetition.
8. Repeat.

Try to keep your hands on your hips at all times, using your obliques to keep your balance.

1. Lie face down on a leg curl machine and lock your heels under the foot pad. Make sure your legs are fully extended and the foot pads are resting on the back of your ankles.
2. If the machine is equipped with handles, grip them. If not, grip the front of the pad you are lying on.
3. Remaining flat on the bench, with no arching of your spine, curl your legs up in a smooth arcing motion by bending your knees until your hamstrings are fully contracted. Hold for a count of one.
4. Slowly lower your legs to the starting position in a smooth arcing motion.
5. Repeat

Don't use so much weight for this exercise that you need to swing or jerk the weight up. Doing so can cause injury to your lower back and / or hamstrings. Start with a lower weight until your strength increases.

1. Adjust the seated leg curl machine to position the footpad just above your heels.
2. Sit upright and engage your abs as you position your legs in front of you.
3. Begin to curly your legs back slowly towards you and flex your calf muscles as you do so.
4. Return to the starting position by extending the legs in front of you again.

Tip: Try not to swing the weight or execute the movement too quickly.

1. Place an exercise step or something similar on the floor in front of you. It should be two or three inches high.
2. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, place your toes and the balls of your feet on the step. Make sure the arches of your feet are not on the step and your heels are on the floor.
3. Raise your heels as high as possible by pushing through the balls of your feet and toes while extending your ankles. Hold for a count of one.
4. Return to the starting position by bending your ankles until you feel a stretch in your calves.
5. Repeat.

1. Sit down on a leg press machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at shoulder width.
2. Lower the safety bars holding the weighted platform  and press the platform all the way up until your legs are fully extended in front of you bot do NOT lock your knees. Your torso and legs should be at a 90degree angle to each other. This is the start position.
3. Inhaling, slowly lower the platform until your upper and lower legs form a 90-degree angle. Pause for a count of one,
4. Return to the starting position by pushing through the heels of your feet, engaging your quadriceps. Exhale as you do so.
5. Repeat.
6. After completing the desired number of repetitions, make sure you lock the safety pins of the machine before alighting.

Always check to make sure that when you re-rack the weight the platform is securely locked.

1. Sitting on a calf raise machine, position your upper thighs under the top pad. The pad should be resting just above your knees.
2. Place the balls of your feet on the foot plate.
3. Keeping the balls of your feet in position, lower your heels as far as possible.
4. Slowly raise your heels as if standing on your toes. Continue as far as possible until you feel a stretch in your lower calves. Hold for a count of one.
5. Slowly lower your heels back to the starting position and repeat.

If the machine isn't equipped with foot plates, you can use barbell plates placed under the machine to increase your range of motion. Don't

1. Set up two weight plates on the ground next to each other. Position a loaded barbell across your trap muscles. Step on to the weight plates with the balls of your feet.
2. With a tight core and flat back, raise yourself up with your feet only. Pause at the top of the raise.
3. Slowly lower yourself down but do not touch the ground. Raise yourself back up.
4. Repeat.

1. Lie with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. You can have someone hold your feet or place them under something to keep them steady.
2. Place your hands behind your head, elbows pointing out.
3. Engage your abs and lift your head, neck and shoulders up. Pretend you are holding a small ball under your chin.
4. Hold and then return to starting position.

1. Lie face down on a hyper extension bench with your upper thighs and lower hips on the support pad. You must be able to bend at the waist freely.
2. Lock your ankles under the footpads.
3. Start with your body in a straight line head to toe.
4. Place your arms across your chest, behind or at the side of your head.
5. Slowly bend forward by relacing your, back and abdominal muscles.
6. Continue as far as possible without rounding your back or raising your thighs from the support pad. You should feel a slight stretch in your hamstrings.Hold for a count of one.
7. Return to the start position by contracting your back and abdominal muscles until your body is once again straight. Do not arch your back up at the end of the movement. Pause and repeat.

As your strength and flexibility increase, you can hold a weight plate against your chest for extra resistance.

1. Lie face down on a mat, with your arms fully extended above your head and your legs fully extended behind you.
2. Lift your chest, arms and legs off the floor by arching your back. Only the tops of your quads and your lower abdomen should be in contact with the floor.
3. Hold for a count of 2 while squeezing your abdominals and obliques.
4. Return to the starting position for a count of one, then repeat.

This exercise can be done using one arm and it's opposite leg at a time. For example, right arm and left leg raised while your left arm and right leg remain on the floor. This method of execution allows you to use the free hand to push down on the floor to lift your chest higher from the ground.

1. Begin jogging in place, lifting the knees as high as you can.
2. Try to lift your knees up to hip level but keep the core tight to support your back.
3. For a more advanced move, hold your hands straight at hip level and try to touch the knees to your hands as you lift them.
4. Bring the knees towards your hands instead of reaching the hands to the knees!

1. Stand with your feet together, arms fully extended with your hands by your sides. This is the start position.
2. Bend your knees slightly then straighten and push through the balls of your feet while straightening your your knees to jump up spreading your legs to wider than hip width apart.
3. As you do so, raise both arms out and up in a smooth arc until your hands meet above your head.
4. As you return to the ground, bring your feet together and your hands back to your sides with your arms fully extended.
5. Continue without pause for the desired amount of time or repetitions.

This exercise can be performed as a timed exercise, completing as many reps as possible in a set time or, in sets with a fixed number of repetitions per set. To increase intensity, bend your arms slightly as you raise them to engage your biceps and triceps and squeezing them during each rep.

1. Standing tall with a tight core and flat back, you will begin the dynamic stretching exercise as if you were running in place. Keep the knees slightly bent at all times.Start slowly and work up to a faster speed.
2. Bring your left foot back and all the way up to the glutes. Return your left foot to the ground and repeat on the other side.
3. Continue this back and forth motion, keeping your arms swinging in motion.