As we’re approaching the end of Week Eight on this program, one of the intensity techniques we’ll be emphasizing is circuits with little or no rest between moves. This strategy works well when you’re shifting emphasis from isolated muscle within a group to another. And that’s the case with the first 5-exercise circuit on today’s workout.

You’ll perform a circuit that consists of 4 weight-training moves, listed in the chart below. You’ll also perform kettlebell swings as the 5^th move of this circuit, performing as many quality reps as you can in 1 minute. Then you’ll go immediately into the 2^nd of your 3 circuits. No rest whatsoever. Check out the video to see how I lay out the moves and how Kai and Danielle perform them.

After the circuit, you’ll perform another cluster of 3 exercises: This one consists of dumbbell lateral raises, cable front raises and burpees. Again, you will not rest between moves during these giant sets. So, in total, you’ll perform 9 separate sets before you take a break for 2-3 minutes before your next set.

The last exercise cluster is a giant set consisting of machine shoulder presses, seated plate raises, and mountain climbers. Again, 3 rounds with no rest between circuits.

For abs, you’ll perform incline leg raises. I like to do these on a decline bench, where you can grasp the pads for leverage. To perform this move, you’ll raise your legs, bringing your butt off the pad. Use abdominal strength rather than momentum to lift. As you lower you’ll extend your legs out to get a stretch in your rectus abdominis (six-pack). Perform 5 sets, taking each to failure with only 1 minute of rest between sets. Take a look at the video to see how this move is performed.

Workout

Rear-Delts Dumbbell Raises 3 Sets - 15 Reps CIRCUIT: This 5-move circuit includes rear-delts dumbbell raises, cable upright rows, TRX rear-delts raises, Arnold presses and kettlebell swings. Perform all moves with no rest between exercises or circuits
Cable Upright Rows 3 Sets - 15 Reps
TRX Rear-Delts Raises 3 Sets - 15 Reps
Arnold Presses 3 Sets - 15 Reps
Kettlebell Swings 3 Sets - 1 Minute
Dumbbell Lateral Raises 3 Sets - 15 Reps GIANT SET 1: Perform dumbbell lateral raises, followed immediately by cable front raises and then burpees with no rest. Also, do not rest between giant sets
Cable Front Raises 3 Sets - 15 Reps
Burpees 3 Sets - 1 Minute Reps
Machine Shoulder Presses 3 Sets - 15 Reps
Seated Plate Raises 3 Sets - 15 Reps
Mountain Climbers 3 Sets - 1 Minute
Incline Leg Raises 5 Sets - Failure

GETHIN’S GO-TO:
Remember that I’ve defined a “circuit” as a sequence of 4 or more moves. And I’ve called a series of 3 moves a “giant set.” I’ve used that terminology in the chart above, but I sometimes refer to these sequences as a circuit since we’re going from a group of three moves directly into the next round without resting. The cardio moves in the giant set allow your target muscles to rest while we’re jacking up heart rate. These long sessions work both your anaerobic (muscle-building) and aerobic (fat-burning) systems.

WHAT SUPP?

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