day three: glutes
cardio warmup:
5 minutes on the stair master or
high knees 30/10s: 30 seconds on, 10 seconds rest.
Allow 60-90 seconds rest between circuits. use this time to transition/set weights for your next circuit. Aim for little to no rest between exercises during the circuit. If you’re a beginner, take breaks as needed. done is better than perfect!
circuit 1: emom round. complete 3-4 rounds.
EMOM stands for every minute on the minute. you are performing the exercises listed for the set number of reps in under one minute. The time remaining in the minute is your recovery period. Repeat when the next minute starts.
deadball slams. Complete 12 reps.
At-home alternative: squat to shoulder press using dumbbells.
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and holding a medicine ball in both hands directly in front of your chest; grasp the ball with your hands in a neutral position (palms facing each other), and elbows fully flexed (bent) and facing down towards the floor. Begin your downward phase by first shifting your hips backwards then slowly moving downwards to create a hinge-like movement at your knees. Continue to lower yourself until your feel your heels about to lift off the floor. Pull your shoulders down and back and engage your core. Maintain a flat back by bending forward at the hips. Reach the medicine ball upwards above your head while simultaneously straightening your legs and rolling up on the balls of your toes. Explosively bring the ball down to throw it directly downwards into the floor while dropping your weight back into your hips. As you throw the ball down, make sure you are maintaining the abdominal bracing and hinge from the hips to maintain spinal stability.
box jumps. Complete 10 reps.
modification: high knees.
Stand with your feet slightly wider than hips-width distance apart in front of a sturdy box or elevated surface. Bend your knees and swing your arms back. Jump onto the top of the box with both feet at the same time, swinging the arms forward to give you a little momentum. Once you land, stand up until your legs are straight and drive your hips forward. Step one foot at a time back to the floor or jump down softly with both feet.
optional challenger: Pulsing Squats until next minute starts.
Modification: bodyweight only.
Stand with your head facing forward and your chest held up and out. Place your feet shoulder-width apart or slightly wider. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, position them at your shoulders resting the dumbbells on your shoulders. If using a barbell, place your shoulders underneath the bar, and in a split stance lift the bar off the squat rack and move away from the rack. Brace your core and stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Hinge back at your hips, driving your weight through your heels and maintaining a neutral spine. Keep your head in line with your spine. Rather than allowing your back to round, let your lower back arch slightly as you descend. Lower down so your thighs are as parallel to the floor as possible, with your knees over your ankles. Press your weight back into your heels. Pulse up and down in this position for the set number of reps. Keep your body tight, and push through your heels to bring yourself back to the starting position, exhaling as you come up.
circuit 2:
hip thrusts.
At-home alternative: Use dumbbell and add a bands around your quads. Use a couch instead of bench.
one set of myo-rep (as many reps as you can until failure). Followed by:
10 reps
8 reps
6 reps
Begin seated on the ground with a bench (or couch) directly behind you. If you do not have a barbell, place a dumbbell resting on your hips and stabilize it with one hand on either side of the dumbbell. If using a barbell, have a loaded barbell over your legs. It is strongly recommended to use a hip pad to remove discomfort for this exercise. Roll the bar so that it is directly above your hips, and lean back against the bench so that the bottom of your shoulder blades are rested on the bench. Begin the movement by driving through your heels, extending your hips vertically through the bar. Your weight should be supported by your shoulder blades and your feet. Keep your chin tucked to maintain a neutral spine and proper tension. Extend as far as possible, then lower your hips toward the floor and repeat.
circuit 3: complete 3 rounds.
squats. complete 10-12 reps.
modification: use dumbbells.
Stand with your head facing forward and your chest held up and out. Place your feet shoulder-width apart or slightly wider. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, position them at your shoulders resting the dumbbells on your shoulders. If using a barbell, place your shoulders underneath the bar, and in a split stance lift the bar off the squat rack and move away from the rack. Brace your core and stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Hinge back at your hips, driving your weight through your heels and maintaining a neutral spine. Keep your head in line with your spine. Rather than allowing your back to round, let your lower back arch slightly as you descend. Lower down so your thighs are as parallel to the floor as possible, with your knees over your ankles. Press your weight back into your heels. Keep your body tight, and push through your heels to bring yourself back to the starting position, exhaling as you come up.
romanian deadlifts. complete 10-12 reps.
Stand holding a pair of medium-heavy weight dumbbells in each hand, arms at your sides, with your knees slightly bent OR standing holding a barbell directly in front of you. Keeping your arms straight and knees slightly bent, slowly hinge at your hips, not your waist, and lower the weight(s) as far as possible without rounding your back, which should remain straight. Your head should maintain a neutral position and stay in line with your spine throughout the entire movement. Looking forward, not at the ground, will help you avoid rounding your back. Keep the weight(s) close to, almost touching, your legs. Your range of motion should stop slightly past your knees. Drive your weight through your heels to engage your glutes. Squeeze your glutes to slowly pull yourself up. Be sure not to use your back or round your spine! Thrust your hips at the top of the movement, but avoid leaning your torso backward.
walking lunges. complete 20 steps.
modification: bodyweight only
Stand upright, feet together, grasp a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing your body and dumbbells hanging directly below your shoulders. Take a controlled step forward with your right leg, lowering your hips toward the floor by bending both knees to 90-degree angles. The back knee should point toward but not touch the ground, and your front knee should be directly over the ankle. Press your right heel into the ground, driving your weight through your heel to engage your glutes and push off with your left foot to bring your left leg forward, stepping with control into a lunge on the other side.
circuit 4: complete 3 rounds.
kneeling banded hip thrusts. complete 15 reps.
Modification: Remove band, use lighter weight or no weight.
Kneel on a gym mat holding a dumbbell with both hands in a high kneeling position. You can add a band around your quads for an added challenge. Position your feet in a triangular shape behind you. Sit back toward your feet and then thrust your hips forward, bracing your core and coming back to a starting position. Keep your glutes squeezed throughout the movement. Repeat.
kneeling step ups. Complete 10 reps.
modification: bodyweight only or pulsing squats.
Start in a high kneeling position on a gym mat holding a dumbbell at your chest. Step up with your right foot, then left foot to a low squat position and then step back down to a kneeling position, first with your right foot and then with your left. Repeat and switch sides halfway through.
banded butterfly glute bridges
Banded butterfly glute bridges. complete 20 reps.
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Place a band around your quads. Press your feet together on your toes, tuck your pelvis and let that guide your hips into the air as high as you can to form a flat bridge. Squeeze your glutes (very important) at the top of the motion and press your knees outward against the band, making a butterfly movement. Repeat.
glute bridges. complete 20 reps.
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. You can add a band around your quads for an added challenge. Place a dumbbell on your hips, holding it on either side of the weight with your hands. Press down into the ground with your heels, tuck your pelvis and let that guide your hips into the air as high as you can to form a flat bridge. Squeeze your glutes (very important) at the top of the motion and then return to starting position. Repeat. To modify, remove the weight.
challenger: 30/10s complete 2-3 rounds.
complete 30 seconds of the exercise followed by 10 seconds rest.
squat jumps.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Start by doing a regular squat, driving your weight through your heels and then engage your core and jump up explosively. When you land, lower your body back into the squat position with your legs parallel to the floor and repeat.
glute bridges.
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. You can add a band around your quads for an added challenge. Place a dumbbell on your hips, holding it on either side of the weight with your hands. Press down into the ground with your heels, tuck your pelvis and let that guide your hips into the air as high as you can to form a flat bridge. Squeeze your glutes (very important) at the top of the motion and then return to starting position. Repeat. To modify, remove the weight.