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These 12 Bodyweight Workouts Will Challenge Your Whole Body

12 Bodyweight Workouts to Crush Your Whole Body
12 Bodyweight Workouts to Crush Your Whole Body
You're not always going to have a gym.
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Whether you're traveling, stuck at home, or just strapped for cash for a membership, access to the heavy weights and machines that make up a standard commercial fitness club is not always a guarantee.

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The question is, are you still willing-and knowledgeable-enough to work out without all those trappings? And even if you do have access to every type of dumbbell or kettlebell in the book, could you create an effective routine that will push you to break a sweat on the days that you don't feel like using them?

If you're not sure about the answer to that question, these exercises and routines are for you. We put together some of our best bodyweight workouts to challenge every aspect of your fitness. Even without any gear, you'll be able to build your strength, kickstart muscle growth, pump up your conditioning, and more. Check out these videos below and follow along to a fitter body-no equipment necessary.

Upper Body

The Bodyweight Triceps Circuit

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If you're at home, just sub in a bench for a couch. Perform 4 rounds, resting for 2 minutes between each.

  • Skull Crusher, Head Below Bench - 6 to 8 reps
  • Skull Crusher, Head to Bench - 8 to 10 reps
  • Triceps Pushup - Max Reps

Anytime, Anywhere Upper Body

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Perform each exercise for 30 seconds, with no rest in between. That's 1 round. Complete 3 rounds.

  • Squat with Shoulder Press
  • Squat with Rotations
  • Pushups to Alternating Frontal Raises
  • Diver Bomb Pushups
  • Plank to Knee-Holds (L)
  • Plank to Knee Holds (R)
  • Elevator Planks
  • Breakdancers

The Holy Trinity

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Technically, a pullup bar might count as equipment-but you're still just using your body weight. In a pinch, sub in a couch or low platform for bench dips. Just set a timer for 30 minutes, then do as many pull ups, dips, and pushups as you can-switching to the next move every time you reach failure-until the clock hits zero.

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Lower Body

15-Minute Lunge Circuit

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Perform each move for 5 minutes with no breaks. Rest as little as possible.

  • Walking Lunges - 5 minutes
  • Lateral Walks - 5 minutes
  • Bear Crawls - 5 minutes
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Lower Body Burnout

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Perform all exercises consecutively with no rest to finish 1 round. Rest for 45 seconds to 1 minute, then repeat for 5 total rounds.

  • Rolling Pistol Squat (R) - 5 reps
  • Single-Leg Hover Squat (R) - 5 reps
  • Rolling Pistol Squat (L) - 5 reps
  • Single-Leg Hover Squat (L) - 5 reps
  • Bodyweight Iso Squat - 30 second hold
  • Bodyweight Jump Squat - 30 seconds

Anywhere, Anytime Lower Body

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Perform each exercise for 30 seconds, with no rest in between. That's 1 round. Complete 3 rounds.

  • Alternating Backward Rotational Lunge
  • Lunge to Crunch (L)
  • Lunge to Front Knee Drive (L)
  • Lunge to Tap Outs (L)
  • Lunge to Crunch (R)
  • Lunge to Front Knee Drive (R)
  • Lunge to Tap Outs (R)
  • 4x4 Fire Hydrants (L)
  • 4x4 Fire Hydrants (R)

Full Body/Cardio

Bodyweight Burnout

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Perform each exercise for the allotted time, resting for 15 seconds between each move. That's 1 round; finish 2, resting for 30 seconds between them.

  • Alternating Reverse Lunge to Squat - 60 seconds
  • Dive Bomber Pushup - 45 seconds
  • High Knees to Burpee - 30 seconds
  • Crane Split Squat - 60 seconds, switch at 30
  • Alternating Mechanical Pushup - 45 seconds
  • Footfire Burpee - 30 seconds

Anywhere, Anytime Cardio

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Perform each exercise for 30 seconds, with no rest in between. That's 1 round. Complete 3 rounds.

  • Alternating Ankle Grabs
  • Forward Skipping Knee Drives
  • Backward Skipping Knee Drives
  • High Knees
  • Sprinter Jumps (L)
  • Sprinter Jumps (R)
  • Breakdancers
  • Plank Double Legged Side-to-Side Jumps
  • Plank Foot-to-Side Hand

200 in 20

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Start a timer. Perform sets of 10 pushups, 10 situps, and 10 bodyweight squats for every minute, on the minute. That means you'll be resting once you finish the reps-until the next minute starts.

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Core

10-Minute Ab Meltdown

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Warmup

  • Cat/Cow - 5 reps
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Circuit

40 seconds on, 20 seconds off

Round 1

  • Single-Step Bar Crawl
  • Core Stars
  • Alternating Sprinters - 20 seconds each side
  • Boxer Situp

Round 2

  • Single-Step Bar Crawl
  • Core Stars
  • Alternating Sprinters - 20 seconds each side
  • Boxer Situp

2-Minute Finisher

  • War With Your Core Isometric Press (Left) - 30 seconds
  • War With Your Core Isometric Press (Right) - 30 seconds
  • War With Your Core Isometric Press - 30 seconds

Anytime, Anywhere Core

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Perform each exercise for 30 seconds, with no rest in between. That's 1 round. Complete 3 rounds.

  • Bear Plank
  • Bear Plank Swings
  • Plank Knee Scratchers (L)
  • Plank Knee Scratchers (R)
  • Plank Walking Hands
  • Plank Washer Machines (L)
  • Plank Washer Machines (R)
  • Bracers
  • Hip Crossovers

Don't Ask Me About Your Abs

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When you take on this workout, perform 5 pushups during the 30 second rest period between each exercise If you have to, sub out feet-to-hands for a reverse situp. Perform the full circuit 3 times.

  • Situp - 30 seconds
  • Pushup Plank - 30 seconds
  • V-Sit Kickout - 30 seconds
  • V-Sit Hold - 30 seconds
  • Leg Raise - 30 seconds
  • Leg Raise Hold - 30 seconds
  • Feet to Hands - 30 seconds
  • Pushup Position Hold - 30 seconds
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