Womens 4 Week Weight Training Program!

Are you cardio-ing yourself to death? Yes, running, cycling, and hitting the elliptical religiously can absolutely help you drop pounds—especially when you have a lot to lose. But, at some point, you’re going to hit a plateau, says Holly Perkins, CSCS, founder of Women’s Strength Nation and author of Lift to Get Lean.

To get past it—blast past it, really—you need strength training in your life. You can pick up the latest issue of SHAPE, on newsstands now, to learn more about how and why lifting weights helps to amp your metabolism for long after your gym-time ends, but here’s the gist: The more muscle you have, the more cals you torch when working out—and while sitting perfectly still.

If you’re new to weight training, don’t worry. Perkins created this four-week program to help you to build a solid foundation of strength training and shift your body into a new place after all that cardio. The really great news? You only have to do this routine twice a week. Each week, the moves will stay the same, but we'll make the routine harder by changing the program variables (like rest, sets, reps, or load).

Put at least two days of rest between strength training days, but you can do cardio on those rest days (to be clear: cardio is not bad—it’s just not the best method for long-term weight loss or maintenance!)

Now, stay with us: we're going to break down the weekly workouts for you. 

Week 1: Complete the exercises in each workout as Straight Sets. For example, you'll do one set of leg presses, rest for 30 seconds, do a second set, rest, do the third set. Then, move on to the next exercise. You'll complete all movements in both workouts this way. Complete 12 reps of all movements for 3 sets each, and rest for 30 seconds in between each set. Choose a weight load where the last two reps of every set are extra hard, where you wouldn't be able to do a 13th rep. You may find that you increase the weight load for each set while keeping the 12 reps for all three sets.

Week 2: This week, you'll continue with the Straight Set format for both workouts. But now, you'll complete 15 reps of all movements for 3 sets, and you will only rest for 15 seconds in between each set. Therefore, this week, you'll complete more work in less time. This is a great stimulus to take your fitness to the next level.

Week 3: We're going to mix it up this week! Instead of Straight Sets, you're going to complete your workout in a circuit style. This week, you'll complete 1 set of each exercise for 15 reps, then you'll immediately move on to the next movement with no rest in between. For example, on the Day 1 workout, you'll perform your first set of leg presses for 15 reps, then you'll immediately go to the goblet squat and perform 15 reps and then continue on to the next exercise with no rest in between movements. At the end of these four movements, you'll rest for one minute, then complete the circuit two more times.

Week 4: This week you're going to continue with the circuit-style sets; this time you'll perform only 12 reps of each movement, but there are two (tough!) changes: You'll complete a total of 4 full circuits (that's four sets of each exercise for both workouts) and there will be no rest in between each circuit. This week is all about keeping you moving! After you finish the last movement of either workout, you'll immediately return to the first movement and begin a new circuit!

Originally posted by shape.com

Fitness Tips For A Killer Body

HOW TO MOVE

Do it in threes
"Any workout has three variables: weights, intensity, and volume," Hood says. To keep your body guessing, focus on one variable per workout: Increase the weight but lower the number of reps one day; lower your standard weight but add a set the next; use your standard weight but do more reps faster on another.

Don't give up on the pullup

Pullups, which strengthen the lats, biceps, middle back, and shoulders, are an effective upper-body exercise. Can't squeeze one out? Hood suggests doing plank pulls: Lie with your chest under a weight bar set to knee height on a squatting rack. Grab the bar with an overhand grip and, keeping your body in one line, bend your elbows and pull your chest toward the bar. Lower back to start; do 10 reps.

Row your boat
Before you strength train, spend 10 minutes on a rowing machine to get blood flowing to all the muscles and joints in your body. "It's better than a treadmill or a stationary bike because it engages your upper body and core, not just your legs," Hood says.

Short-circuit your routine
Blast fat with a circuit that includes strength training and cardio: Do a set of push-ups, jump rope for a minute, do a set of squats, jump rope again; continue to alternate strength and cardio. "You're building muscle while keeping your heart rate high," Hood says.

HOW TO MUNCH

Minimize refined carbs
Out: most breads, cookies, chocolate, white rice, nearly every cereal, honey, and anything with corn syrup or sugar. "As soon as you swallow a refined carb, it starts to spike your blood sugar, which produces excess insulin, a hormone that can be responsible for holding on to fat stores," Hood says.

Eat five times a day
That means three meals and two snacks: one between breakfast and lunch, and one between lunch and dinner. "You'll have a steady stream of energy; plus, less food more often isn't as taxing on your digestive system as three big meals," explains Hood, adding that five daily feedings stabilizes your blood sugar, so you won't have crazy mood swings or hunger pangs.

Up your protein
Hood suggests a Zone-inspired diet--a balance of protein, complex carbs, and fat in every meal and snack--to protect against insulin overload. The benefit of high-quality protein, like chicken, turkey, and low-fat Greek yogurt: It contains amino acids, which help muscles recover afterworkouts. 

Limit your liquids
Ditch juices, vanilla lattes, and sodas--all have unneeded sugar and calories. "You drink for three reasons," Hood says: "If you're thirsty, drink water. If you need stimulation, drink black coffee. If you want to take the edge off, choose a vodka martini or a similar non-mixed, simple drink. In other words, no mojitos." 

Yes, that means diet soda, too
Although the science on the fake sweeteners used in diet sodas is still undecided, Hood is against them. "The sweeteners may elicit an insulin spike or, at the very least, psychologically prepare you for something sweet, but there are no calories to back the signal," he says.

Original Author http://www.womenshealthmag.com/