Lower Body/Bodyweight Back

Cardio: Go for a 45-60 minute walk/jog. Try to push yourself and run as far as you can before stopping to walk. Workout Details: Perform each of the 3 workout sets 2-3 times through, doing 15 repetitions of each exercise in the set (unless otherwise noted). Rest for 15-30 seconds in between exercises and 1 minute between sets. This workout should take around 30 minutes.

Set 1

Chair Squats

Begin in standing position in front of a chair or step with feet hip width apart, knees slightly bent. Gently sit back onto the chair behind you and stand back up. Focus on keeping your body weight pressed into the heels of your feet, not your toes to protect your knees.

Plie Squats

Stand with your feet wider than hip width apart, toes facing the opposite corners of the room. With your back straight and abdominals engaged, slowly lower the body down into a squat. Focus on keeping your body weight pressed into the heels of your feet, not your toes, to protect your knees.

Calf Raises

Stand with feet hip width apart and knees slightly bent. Begin to lean slightly forward and raise your body up into your toes, focusing attention on contracting your calves as you rise up. Slowly lower and repeat.

Set 2

30 Seconds of Front Kicks

Stand with feet hip width apart, knees slightly bent, arms up in a protective “fighters” kickboxing stance. Gently lean back and kick one leg forward and up at a time, then the other leg. Kick as high as you can with as much power as possible to increase your heart rate.

Static Lunges

Begin by standing with one leg in front of you and one leg stepped behind you. Keep the weight pressed into the heel of your forward foot and the toe of your back foot. Make sure your legs are far enough apart that you can reach a 90-degree angle with both legs once lowered. Go as low as possible. Modification-if knees are weak, you can shorten your range of motion and just lower about 25% to decrease pressure in the knees.

Lateral Lunges

Stand with feet wider than hip width apart, toes facing forward. Gently lean over to the right side of the body, then the left, making sure to keep your weight over your heels and not the toes. This will protect the knees from too much pressure. Keep the back straight and abdominals engaged through the exercise.

Set 3

Glute Bridge

Lying on your back, on the ground or a mat, bend the knees and place feet firmly on the ground. Pressing the heels down firmly, slowly lift your glutes (butt) off the ground, as high as is comfortable. Slowly lower, making sure to not let your glutes completely touch the ground.

Side Lying Leg Lifts

Begin by lying on one side, with weight resting on one elbow. Straighten your top leg and flex your foot. Slowly lift your leg up and down, making sure to keep the body straight, abdominals and glutes engaged, and lead with the heel.

Fire Hydrant

Begin in a tabletop position facing the ground (also known as “all fours”). Keeping the knees bent, lift the leg out and up. Focus the attention on your glutes and hips, making sure to put your energy into lifting with these areas to maximize the benefit.

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Bodyweight Core Workout

Cardio: Go for a 45-60 minute walk/jog. Try to push yourself and run as far as you can before stopping to walk. Workout Details: Perform each of the 3 workout sets 2-3 times through, doing 15 repetitions of each exercise in the set (unless otherwise noted). Rest for 15-30 seconds in between exercises and 1 minute between sets. This workout should take around 30 minutes.

Set 1

BirdDog

Begin in a tabletop position on hands and knees. Reach your right arm up and straight in front of you while simultaneously lifting your left leg out and back behind you. Imagine you are reaching to opposite walls with your fingers and toes. Return to the starting position and repeat with the other arm/leg.

30 second Plank on knees

Hold a modified plank position with arms supporting the body and knees bent. Keep back straight, arms straight directly under your shoulders, and abdominals engaged. Hold the position for 30 seconds.

Alternating Side Plank on Knees

Begin on your right side with your elbow directly under your body. With your bottom knee bent, slowly begin to lift your body up while keeping the body straight in a plank position. Be sure to keep your abdominals engaged and your neck in neutral alignment with your spine throughout the exercise to protect your back. Turn the body to a plank on knees and switch to the other side. This is one rep. Complete all reps with both sides of the body.

Set 2

Crunches

Lay on a mat face up with back straight, both feet on the ground and hands behind your head. Engage your abdominals and press your lower back into the ground while lifting your upper body off the ground. Keep the chin pointed up and not tucked, and your neck/shoulders relaxed throughout the movement. Slowly lower the body to the starting position and repeat.

Bicycle Twist

Lay on a mat face up with back straight, both feet on ground and hands behind your head. Bring your feet down and out away from you, hovering above the ground. Bring your left knee in towards the right elbow, gently twisting the body while you do so. Return to the starting position and repeat with the other side.

Reverse Crunches

Lay on a mat face up with back straight, arms down by your sides and palms facing down. Gently bring both legs up to a 90-degree angle, lower legs parallel to the ground. Bring the legs up and in towards your body while lifting your glutes up at the same time. Bring them in as far as you can comfortably, then lower back to the starting point. Repeat to finish reps.

Set 3

DeadBug

Lay on a mat face up with back straight and arms reaching straight towards the ceiling. Bend the knees with your feet raised so that the lower legs are parallel to the floor. Begin to bring your right arm down towards the floor while simultaneously bringing the left leg towards the floor, keeping both right arm and left leg straight as you lower. Bring them back to the starting position and repeat with other sides. This is one rep. Repeat all reps to finish the set.

Cat/Cow

Begin in a tabletop position on hands and knees. Slowly extend the back by rounding your spine and tucking your chin below you, then in a fluid motion begin to move back to the starting point and then into a full arch of the back while looking slightly upwards. This is one rep. Repeat all reps to finish the set.

Downward Dog

Begin in a tabletop position on hands and knees. Slowly lift the knees off the ground and bring the glutes up towards the ceiling while keeping the legs straight. Make sure your back is as straight as possible and chin is tucked. Try to get your heels to touch the ground fully as you straighten the legs. Hold for 3-5 seconds then back to the starting position. This is one rep. Repeat all reps to finish the set.

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Upper Body/Bodyweight

Cardio: Go for a walk/jog. Try to push yourself and run as far as you can before stopping to walk. Workout Details: Perform each of the 3 workout sets 2-3 times through, doing 15 repetitions of each exercise in the set (unless otherwise noted). Rest for 15-30 seconds in between exercises and 1 minute between sets. This workout should take around 30 minutes.

Set 1

Inchworms

Beginning in a standing position, slowly bend over and walk your arms out to a plank position, then slowly walk back and stand up straight. Keep your knees slightly bent throughout the exercise, bracing your core and keeping back straight. If needed you can drop to your knees in the plank before walking back up.

Incline Push-Ups

Using a chair, couch, stair or other elevated surface, begin by resting your arms on the item. Keep arms out laterally slightly beyond your shoulders at chest height and the body as straight as possible in a plank position. Begin to slowly lower your body down as far as you can and push back up. If the exercise is too challenging, elevate your surface more or try it on a wall.

30 second Elevated plank

Use the same chair as above and maintain a strong plank position with back straight, abdominals engaged and arms directly under the shoulders. Hold for 30 seconds.

Set 2

Incline Tricep Push-ups

Using a chair, couch, stair or other elevated surface, begin by resting your arms on the item. Keep arms straight directly below your shoulders (narrow stance) at chest height and the body as straight as possible in a plank position. Begin to slowly lower your body down with arms close to your ribcage and elbows facing behind you as far as you can and push back up. If the exercise is too challenging, elevate your surface more or try it on a wall.

50 Alternating Punches

Stand straight with legs slightly wider than hips. Keeping knees bent and abdominals engaged, begin to punch with the right arm, then left. Keep the punches around shoulder height and go as fast as you can to increase heart rate.

50 Overhead Punches

Stand straight with legs slightly wider than hips. Keeping knees bent and abdominals engaged, begin to punch upward towards the ceiling with the right arm, then left. Keep the punches around shoulder height and go as fast as you can to increase heart rate.

Set 3

30 second Swimmers

Begin by lying on your stomach with arms and legs straight, alternate gently lifting your arms and legs in a “swimming” motion.

Incline Plank Shoulder Taps

Using an elevated surface (chair, step, couch, etc) hold body in a straight plank position. Take one hand and reach across the body to touch the opposite shoulder, then repeat with other arm. If the exercise is too challenging, elevate your surface more or try it on a wall.

Incline Mountain Climbers

Using an elevated surface (chair, step, couch, etc) hold body in a straight plank position. Lift the right foot and bring the knee forward under the body towards the chest. Repeat with left foot. If the exercise is too challenging, elevate your surface more or try it on a wall.

Lower Body Gym WorkoutBack

Cardio: Go for a 45-60 minute walk/jog. Try to push yourself and run as far as you can before stopping to walk. Workout Details: Perform each of the 3 workout sets below 2-3 times through, doing 12-15 repetitions of each exercise in the set (unless otherwise noted) You should make sure to choose a weight level that creates muscle fatigue, where you feel like you can’t lift for any more reps. Rest for 15-30 seconds in between exercises and 1 minute between sets. This workout should take around 30 minutes.

Set 1

Leg Press Machine

Begin seated in the machine with your back fully supported. Some gyms offer a lying down or seated option-both are appropriate, try either position to see which feels best for you. Place your feet on the pad at a high enough position that your legs are almost at a 90-degree angle. You don’t ever want to have your knees go up above your toes during the motion. Bracing your core, push back through your feet, pressing your weight through your heels, not the toes. This will protect your knees. Make sure to squeeze your glutes throughout the movement to help engage more of your hips and butt.

Leg Curl Machine

Begin by lying on your stomach, holding comfortably onto the handles under the bench. Position your body so that your knees are just beyond the length of the bench and in line with the pivot on the machine. Slowly bend your knees and bring your feet as far up and in as possible, engaging your glutes through the entire movement. Return to starting position, making sure that you don’t fully extend or lock the knees before curling again.

Leg Extension Machine

Begin seated on the machine with feet behind the foot pad and knees at the edge of the seat. Make sure you have adjusted the machine so that you can maintain a straight back while extending. Holding gently on the handles, engage your abdominals and slowly lift the legs to a full extension just before locking the knees, then slowly lower to the starting point.

Set 2

Dumbbell Squats

Begin in standing position with feet hip width apart, knees slightly bent, holding a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing the center of your body. Gently sit back as if onto a chair behind you and stand back up. Focus on keeping your body weight pressed into the heels of your feet, not your toes to protect your knees.

Dumbbell Walking Lunges

Begin by standing with feet together, holding a dumbbell in each hand and palms facing the center of your body. Slowly step forward with one foot, a big enough step to be able to get the knees bent to 90-degree angles. Lunge down to the ground as low as you can, bracing your abdominals and keeping your back straight. Try to avoid the urge to lurch forward with your upper body as much as possible. Keep the weight pressed into the heel of your forward foot and the toe of your back foot. Modification-if knees are weak, you can shorten your range of motion and just lower about 25% to decrease pressure in the knees.

Dumbbell Sumo Squats

Stand with your feet wider than hip width apart, toes facing the opposite corners of the room. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing behind you and arms hanging comfortably in front of you. With your back straight and abdominals engaged, slowly lower the body down into a sumo squat, go as low as you can with an attempt to reach a 90-degree angle with your legs. Focus on keeping your body weight pressed into the heels of your feet, not your toes, to protect your knees.

Set 3

Cable Machine Kickbacks

Begin by securing the ankle strap of the cable machine around one ankle. Turn facing the machine, and if comfortable you can hold the side of the machine with one or both hands. Lean slightly forward toward the machine and reach your leg up and back in a “kicking” motion. Make sure to keep the knees of both legs soft but not bent at any point of the movement. Slowly lower the leg just to a hover above the ground. Complete one set with one leg and repeat on the other side.

Cable Machine Abduction-Leg lifts

Begin by securing the ankle strap of the cable machine around one ankle. Turn laterally next to the machine, and if comfortable you can hold the side of the machine with your supporting hand. Slowly lift the exercising leg up and out laterally, away from your body as high as you comfortably can. Make sure to keep the knees of both legs soft but not bent at any point of the movement. Slowly lower the leg just to a hover above the ground. Complete one set with one leg and repeat with the other side.

Cable Machine Adduction-Inner Thighs

Begin by securing the ankle strap of the cable machine around one ankle. Turn laterally next to the machine, and if comfortable you can hold the side of the machine with your supporting hand. Slowly lift the exercising leg up and in front of your body, crossing over as far as you comfortably can. Focus your attention on using your adductors, or inner thighs to do this movement. Make sure to keep the knees of both legs soft but not bent at any point of the movement. Slowly lower the leg just to a hover above the ground. Complete one set with one leg and repeat with the other side.

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Upper Body Gym Workout

Cardio: Go for a 45-60 minute walk/jog. Try to push yourself and run as far as you can before stopping to walk. Workout Details: Perform each of the 3 workout sets below 2-3 times through, doing 12-15 repetitions of each exercise in the set (unless otherwise noted) You should make sure to choose a weight level that creates muscle fatigue, where you feel like you can’t lift for any more reps. Rest for 15-30 seconds in between exercises and 1 minute between sets. This workout should take around 30 minutes.

Set 1

Wide Grip Lat Pull Down

Sit facing the machine with knees under the support bar. Reach up and grab the wide grip bar, holding it as close to the ends as you can reach. Lean back, engaging your abdominals and slightly arching your back. Look up as you pull the bar down towards your chest and back up.

Seated Row

Sit facing the machine with feet resting on the foot pedals or the ground (depending on machine). Make sure your knees are slightly bent, but not too much so that you’ll hit them when you pull back. Keeping abdominals engaged and back straight, pull the handles toward you. As you pull, make sure your arms are tucked in close to your rib cage. Bring arms back to straight/starting point position.

Cable Machine Tricep Extension

Stand facing the cable machine leaning slightly forward, holding the bar (or rope) palms down at chest height. Slowly exhale and push down, keeping your arms back and neck relaxed. Return to starting point.

Set 2

Dumbbell Bicep Curls

Begin by standing with feet hip width apart, knees soft and back straight. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing forward. Brace your abdominals as you gently lift the dumbbells forward and up in a curling motion. Be sure to keep your back straight and avoid arching or pushing forward during the movement. The only things that should move are your arms. Return arms down to starting position.

Dumbbell Lateral Shoulder Raise

Begin by standing with feet hip width apart, knees soft and back straight. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with arms bent 90-degrees at each side, palms facing each other. Brace your abdominals as you gently lift the dumbbells laterally up and out away from your body, stopping at shoulder height. Make sure your entire arm lifts at the same time so that the dumbbells end at shoulder height at the same time as your elbows. Be sure to keep your back straight and avoid arching or pushing forward during the movement. The only things that should move are your arms. Keep your neck and shoulders relaxed as you lift. Return arms down to starting position.

Dumbbell Alternating Front Raise

Begin by standing with feet hip width apart, knees soft and back straight. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing behind you. Brace your abdominals as you gently lift your right arm up in front of you, keeping the arm straight but not fully locked. Slowly lower the right arm and repeat with the left. Be sure to keep your back straight and avoid arching or pushing forward during the movement. The only things that should move are your arms.

Set 3

Chest Fly Machine

Begin by sitting on the machine facing away from it, making sure you are sitting straight up with your back against the supports and feet resting comfortably. Hold each handle in a position so that your arms are straight out laterally but not locked-they should have a slight bend. Both arms should be at chest height, slightly below your shoulders. Slowly bring your arms forward and in, towards each other until they meet in the middle. Try not to grip too hard on the handles or to lock your elbows at any point during the movement. Return back to starting position.

Reverse Fly Machine

Begin by sitting on the machine facing towards it, making sure you are sitting straight up with your chest against the supports and feet resting comfortably. Hold each handle in a position so that your arms are straight out in front of you but not locked-they should have a slight bend. Both arms should be at chest height, slightly below your shoulders. Slowly bring your arms out and back until they are in line with the trunk of your body. Make sure you don’t hyperextend past your body at any point during the set. Try not to grip too hard on the handles or to lock your elbows at any point during the movement. Return back to starting position.

Chest Press Machine

Begin by sitting on the machine facing away from it, making sure you are sitting straight up with your back against the supports and feet resting comfortably. Hold each handle in a position so that your arms are at chest height, slightly below your shoulders. Slowly begin to push forward using your chest and arms, while engaging your abdominals. Try not to grip too hard on the handles or to lock your elbows at any point during the extension phase. Return back to starting position.