Want to get strong but hate the gym?
No problem!
With todayโs Advanced Bodyweight Routine, you can burn fat, build muscle, and get a great workout in! All with no gym membership required!
Itโs the kind of workout we build through our online coaching program. If youโre in a hurry, sign up for our free weekly newsletter and weโll send you PDFs of our โWork Out at Homeโ guides!
If youโre ready, click the sections below to get right into the action:
Alright, letโs do this thang.
The Advanced Bodyweight Workout
This is the Advanced Bodyweight Workout (Do 3 Circuits):
- 10 One-Legged Squats โ each side
- 20 Bodyweight Squats
- 20 Walking Lunges (10 each leg)
- 20 Jump Step-Ups (10 each leg)
- 10 Pull-Ups (or inverted bodyweight rows using your kitchen table)
- 10 Dips โ Bar Stools
- 10 Chin-Ups (or inverted bodyweight rows with an underhand grip)
- 10 Push-Ups
- 30 Second Plank
See our section below on advanced bodyweight exercises to see how to do each of these movements!
I do use a door-frame pull-up bar in the video, but you can do table bodyweight rows (see the video below) if you canโt do a pull-up yet or if you donโt have a pull-up bar!
Another option is to do dowel rows, as we outline in The 5 Best Pull-up Alternatives:
Lastly: this workout will have you sweating like a pig and leave you sore all over the next day.
If youโre just moving beyond the Beginner Bodyweight Workout for the first time, this workout might seem ridiculously difficult, which is fine.
The goal will be to go through as many circuits as you can without breaking form.
โWHAT IS A โCIRCUITโ?โ
As Coach Lauren describes in the video above, in aย circuit routineย youโll do each exercise in succession without a break in between (if youโre able).
- Once youโve finished all exercises in the circuit, do it again.
- If youโre still able after the 2nd run-through, go for a 3rd.
- Because all of these exercises come one after another, youโre bound to get tired โ thatโs okay!ย
Our goal is to give you a full-body workout that leaves you panting.
โHOW LONG SHOULD A BODYWEIGHT WORKOUT LAST?โ
Go at your own pace, but the above 3 circuits and your warm-up and cool-down will take you about 25-30 minutes.
And speaking of warming up and cooling downโฆ
Before you start, do a WARM-UP:ย
Donโt forget to warm up. You can run in place, jump rope, do a few push-ups, pedal on a stationary bike, jog up and down your stairs, etc. Since we are doing advanced movements here, the warm-up becomes even more critical.ย
Also, if you want to stretch and cool down after your workout, hereโs a routine you can run through:
If you are following this bodyweight workout plan because youโre trying to get in great shape without needing a gym, download our free guide: Strength Training 101: Everything You Need to Know.ย Itโll provide an exact plan to follow for growing strong.
Download our comprehensive guide
- Everything you need to know about getting strong.
- Workout routines for bodyweight AND weight training.
- How to find the right gym and train properly in one.
The 21 Best Advanced Bodyweight Exercises
Letโs go through each movement in the Advanced Bodyweight Workout Circuit, so we can ensure youโre doing each move correctly!
1) BODYWEIGHT SQUAT
If you want even more instruction, hereโs how to do a proper bodyweight squat:
2) ASSISTED ONE LEGGED SQUAT
3) ONE-LEGGED SQUAT (PISTOL SQUAT)
Hereโs our video How to Master the One-Legged Squat:
4) WALKING LUNGE
5) JUMP STEP-UPS
6) ASSISTED PULL-UPS (WITH BAND)
A resistance band is a great tool to help build strength for proper pull-ups. Itโs part of our arsenal for getting your first pull-up.
You can get different types of exercise bands with different levels of strength, or a variety pack for easy progression.
Put your foot in the exercise band and pull yourself up.
Hereโs a video on How to Tie the Resistance Band for Your Pull-up:
7) NEGATIVE PULL-UPS
If you donโt have a resistance band, you can do negative pull-ups instead. Jump and hold yourself above the bar, and then slowly, under control, lower yourself to the โstarting positionโ of a pull-up. Then repeat!
This is a great way to build up enough strength to eventually get your first pull-up.
8) PULL-UP
We have a full guide on proper pull-up form so you can hone your technique.
9) CHIN-UPS
Much like a pull-up, but with your palms facing toward you.
Hereโs a video going over the proper pull-up and chin-up form:
If you canโt do pull-ups or chin-ups, you have another optionโฆ
10) INVERTED BODYWEIGHT ROW (OVERHAND)
An inverted bodyweight row can be a great โpullโ exercise if you canโt do a pull-up yet, or if you donโt have a proper pull-up bar nearby. Because a good sturdy table can be used for inverted rows:
11) INVERTED BODYWEIGHT ROW (UNDERHAND)
12) ASSISTED BODYWEIGHT DIPS
With a resistance band, you can start performing assisted dips. A great exercise while you build up strength for normal dips.
13) BODYWEIGHT DIPS
14) KNEE PUSH-UP
15) ELEVATED PUSH-UP
16) REGULAR PUSH-UP
We have a whole article on how toย do a proper push-up, but we also cover it extensively in this 5-minute video:
17) DECLINE PUSH-UPS
18) KNEE PLANK
19) PLANK
20) SIDE PLANK
21) JUMPING JACKS
If you are looking for even MORE bodyweight exercises you can use in your workouts, make sure to check out our mega-resource:
ย โThe 42 Best Bodyweight Exercises You Can Do Anywhere.โ
Get your Nerd Fitness Starter Kit
- The 15 mistakes you donโt want to make.
- Full guide to the most effective diet and why it works.
- Complete and track your first workout today, no gym required.
How to Scale Your Bodyweight Routine
As I said earlier, this whole routine is scalable based on your ability. For example, here is a sample routine for somebody who has conquered the Beginner Bodyweight Workout but canโt do the full routine above:
- 10 Bodyweight Squats
- 10 Walking Lunges
- 15 Jump Ups
- 3 Assisted Pull-Ups (or 6 inverted bodyweight rows โ overhand grip on table)
- 8 Dips (or 10 decline push-ups if these are too tough)
- 3 Assisted Chin-Ups (or 6 inverted bodyweight rows โ underhand grip on table)
- 10 Push-Ups
- 30 Second Plank
- 30 Jumping Jacks
โWHAT IF THE ADVANCED BODYWEIGHT WORKOUT IS TOO EASY FOR ME?โ
Hm, well then, can you do 4 circuits instead of 3? Or have you tried a circuit that would make you worthy of a Spartan?
Whatever your fitness level, find a way to push yourself a little harder, get better, be faster, and grow stronger.ย
We cover this extensively in our guide, Tracking Your Fitness Progress.
Keep track of:
- Your exact routine
- How long it took you
- Which exercises wore you out
- Exactly how many reps you did
Then make sure you do more next time!
โHOW OFTEN SHOULD I DO THE ADVANCED BODYWEIGHT WORKOUT?โ
Do this routine 2-3 times a week, but never on consecutive days. Itโs a message we really strike home in our guide, โHow Often Should I Work Out?โ
You donโt build muscle when youโre exercising, you build muscle when youโre resting, so try not to do a strength training routine (of the same muscle groups) two days in a row.
I like to follow a training pattern of:
Alternatively, pick one of these fun exercises to do on your off days instead!
If youโre still uneasy about this advanced workout, start with our Beginner Bodyweight Workout instead. You can download a worksheet to get started when you sign up for our free weekly newsletter:
Grab Your Beginner Bodyweight Routine Worksheet. No Gym Required!
- Complete this workout at home, no equipment required
- Avoid the common mistakes everybody makes when doing bodyweight exercises
- Learn how to finally get your first pull-up
After the Advanced Bodyweight Workout: Next Steps!
This should help you get started with a really powerful bodyweight training routine. But we hear frequently that people want MORE instruction, MORE guidance, and MORE workouts.
If thatโs you, we have MULTIPLE options to take the next step. Pick the option below that best aligns with your goals and timeline:
1) If you want step-by-step guidance, a custom bodyweight training program that levels up as you get stronger, and a coach to keep you accountable, check out our killer 1-on-1 coaching program:
2) If you want a daily prompt for doing workouts at home, check out NF Journey. Our fun habit-building app helps you exercise more frequently, eat healthier, and level up your life (literally).
Try your free trial right here:
3) Enlist in the Rebellion! We need good people like you in our community, the Nerd Fitness Rebellion.ย
Sign up in the box below to enlist and get our guide, Strength Training 101: Everything You Need to Know. Itโll help you start incorporating these advanced bodyweight moves into your training.
Download our comprehensive guide
- Everything you need to know about getting strong.
- Workout routines for bodyweight AND weight training.
- How to find the right gym and train properly in one.
4) Level Up Your Workout! If youโre looking for more workout routines to follow, I got you covered:
Iโd love to hear how this workout was for you.
Leave a comment below with your results or any questions you have on advanced bodyweight training and how else we can help.ย
For the Rebellion!
-Steve
PS:ย Where do you go after youโve crushed the Advanced Bodyweight Workout? Well, have you ever heard of the PLP Progression? Thereโs really no limit on how challenging that can get.
Good luck!
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All photo sources can be found right here: [1]