If you're completely new to strength training, doing bodyweight exercises is a great starting point. Since you don't need any equipment, you can do them anywhere, anytime. This 30-day beginner bodyweight challenge incorporates six basic moves designed to target all your major muscle groups.
Here is the 30-day plan created by professional athlete, former certified Level 1 high school and college track and field coach, and 2016 Olympian high jumper, Priscilla Frederick-Loomis. Instructions for the six bodyweight moves are below. Follow the plan and adjust it as needed according to your schedule and ability level. After just over four weeks, you'll build up to three sets of 12 reps of each move.
Directions: After warming up with a few minutes of riding a bike, jogging in place, or jumping rope, perform all six exercises for the designated amount of reps and sets per day. For both the reverse lunge with reach and the side elbow plank with leg lift, be sure to do the designated number of reps on both sides (so if the plan says five reps, complete five reps per side for 10 reps total). This plan incorporates a recovery day at the end of each week, so you'll still perform all six exercises, but for fewer reps.
Basic squat
Reverse lunge with reach
Knee push-up
Side elbow plank with left lift
Seated Russian twist
Superman lift
Day
Number of Sets and Reps
Day 1
2 sets of 5 reps of each
Day 2
2 sets of 6 reps of each
Day 3
2 sets of 7 reps of each
Day 4
2 sets of 8 reps of each
Day 5
2 sets of 9 reps of each
Day 6
2 sets of 10 reps of each
Day 7 (recovery day)
2 sets of 5 reps of each
Day 8
3 sets of 5 reps of each
Day 9
3 sets of 6 reps of each
Day 10
3 sets of 7 reps of each
Day 11
3 sets of 8 reps of each
Day 12
3 sets of 9 reps of each
Day 13
3 sets of 10 reps of each
Day 14 (recovery day)
2 sets of 5 reps of each
Day 15
3 sets of 6 reps of each
Day 16
3 sets of 7 reps of each
Day 17
3 sets of 8 reps of each
Day 18
3 sets of 9 reps of each
Day 19
3 sets of 10 reps of each
Day 20
3 sets of 11 reps of each
Day 21 (recovery day)
2 sets of 5 reps of each
Day 22
3 sets of 7 reps of each
Day 23
3 sets of 8 reps of each
Day 24
3 sets of 9 reps of each
Day 25
3 sets of 10 reps of each
Day 26
3 sets of 11 reps of each
Day 27
3 sets of 12 reps of each
Day 28 (recovery day)
2 sets of 5 reps of each
Day 29
3 sets of 12 reps of each
Day 30
3 sets of 12 reps of each
Superman Lifts
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography
Lie face down on your stomach with arms and legs extended. Keep your neck in a neutral position.
Simultaneously lift your arms and legs up toward the ceiling to form an elongated "u" shape with your body.
Hold for two to five seconds and lower back down to complete one rep.
The Plan:
Check out the 30-day plan below and adjust as needed according to your ability level. Each day involves three sets of the six above exercises. I like to do all three sets of reps per exercise at the same time, but you can also repeat the six-move workout three times — it's up to you. For both the Reverse Lunge With Reach and Side Elbow Plank With Leg Lift, be sure to do the designated number of reps on both sides. This plan also incorporates rest days, so while you can hold off on ab exercises, you can (and should) still do other workouts to target other muscles.