Life is complicated, but your exercise shouldn’t be. I’m a big believer in keeping it simple.

Exercise usually gets pushed aside anytime your schedule gets out of control.

This is when you need to find some time. Exercise has numerous health benefits (which is another article in itself) including reducing your stress and keeping your waistline in check, which are kind of important.

Being a personal trainer I’ve heard every excuse under the sun when it comes to NOT exercising. The top excuses range from “I set my alarm for PM instead of AM,” or “The gym is too crowded” to the most popular “I have no time.”

excuses 2
Isn’t this the case for almost everything?

The state of your health and fitness doesn’t need excuses, it needs action.

Put these excuses to rest once and for all with this one piece program. This can be plugged in when you have no time to train, not a lot of space or limited access to equipment.

This means using just one piece of equipment for your whole training. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of dumbbells, barbells or resistance bands, which can be found in most gyms or most sporting goods stores.

The beauty of this program is that it doesn’t require a lot of space, and you’ll save time because the transition between exercises is quicker and easier when using just one piece of equipment.

This is the template you will follow

1A. Bilateral exercise (Squat/deadlift)

1B. Upper body pull exercise (Row)

1C. Core exercise for time

2A. Single leg exercise (Lunge, split squat or a deadlift)

2B. Upper body push (Chest or shoulder press)

2C. Core exercise for time

Repetition range

Use the following repetition ranges, dependent on your goals

  1. Strength 4-6 reps ( Heavy weight)
  2. Muscle/fat loss 8-12 reps ( moderate weight)
  3. Endurance/fat loss 12-15 reps (Moderate- Light-weight)

Use a weight that allows you to complete each repetition with good form.

Instructions

After you warm up, choose your one piece of equipment and repetition range.

Do exercises 1a through 1c one after the other with little rest in between. Repeat once or twice for a total of 2-3 rounds. Do the same with 2a through 2c. Do each core exercise for 30-60 seconds. Rest when needed between sets and circuits.

Including warm up this should take you no longer than 30-35 minutes.

 Training examples

I’m not going to leave you hanging — here are some examples of my one piece program. This also includes other exercises that can be inserted into this template.

Barbell

1A. Back squat

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xMaFs0L3ao&w=560&h=315]

1B. Bent over row

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xglwz5hwRYs&w=560&h=315]

1C. Rollout

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT_EtY2IQ5c&w=420&h=315]

2A. Split squat

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1jukGZPnZI&w=560&h=315]

2B. Push press

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-vsZcC1Tyk&w=560&h=315]

2C. Anti-rotation exercise

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTt8BcRKJCI&w=420&h=315]

Other exercises that can be included are dead-lift, front squat, reverse lunges, Bulgarian split squats, push-ups, bench press, floor press, Romanian deadlift, one arm row and windshield wipers.

Dumbbell 

1A. Goblet squat

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIrcxSkwui8&w=560&h=315]

1B. One arm dumbbell row

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpI-Q3VQrEA&w=560&h=315]

1C. Plank with dumbbell transfer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa1GkoNaG0Q&w=560&h=315]

2A. Goblet side lunge

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBPcQMyZTQU&w=560&h=315]

2B One arm bench press

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVM2S2KWX6Q&w=560&h=315]

2C. Dumbbell twist

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y61J0LnUlZE&w=420&h=315]

Other exercises that can be included are bent over row, push press, sumo squat, good morning, side plank,reverse lunges, single leg deadlifts, step ups, pullover, shoulder press, tripod row and straight arm crunch.

Resistance band 

Green band=easy. Red band= medium. Blue= hard. Black= hardest.

1A. Band squat

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvWFmsP8830&w=560&h=315]

1B. Seated row

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKwZ6s71r5Y&w=420&h=315]

1C. Leg raises

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFC3tLGI2i0&w=420&h=315]

2A. Split squat

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtpnHgMm5J0&w=560&h=315]

2B. Tall kneeling shoulder press

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6xHhitsOKw&w=420&h=315]

2C. Leg lowering – 30 seconds on each leg

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvtxSqyMi0&w=560&h=315]

Other exercises that can be included are deadlift, push ups , bent over row, lawnmower row, reverse lunge, x-crossover, side bends ( do 30-45 sec each side) and side step squat (single leg).

Wrapping up

With a minimum of fuss, time and space you’ll get a great training anywhere, anytime and anyplace you choose.

Hopefully, you have now run out excuses. Please don’t find any others. Now, get after it and have fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Comments

  1. officiallythyda

    Can you post videos working the tricep? Your page is very helpful.

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