Circuit Training Workout | Body Recomposition Workout Plan Day 16

Circuit Training Afterburn Gym Workout | Live Lean Shred Ep. 16

On today’s episode of Live Lean TV, I’m taking a new Live Lean follower through circuit training workout #10 from our Afterburn 1.0 body recomposition workout plan.

Welcome back to day 16 of our 6 week Body Recomposition Workout Plan Series. 

Table Of Contents – Jump To:

Body Recomposition Circuit Training Workout #3

Welcome back to the third Afterburn 1.0 circuit training workout.

If you missed them, check out the previous circuit training workouts:

• Circuit Training Workout #1
• Circuit Training Workout #2

I’m here with our friend Ann who’s been a follower of our Live Lean TV YouTube show for almost a year.

When I asked her how she found the show or which episode she watched first, she didn’t remember.

Since we have over 900 videos, I don’t blame her for not remembering.

I’m going to put Ann through circuit training workout #3, which is one of the most challenging workouts in the program.

Based on Ann’s perfect form, you can tell she has been in the gym before, so I know I picked a good trainee for this workout.

Follow the rep schemes as show in the following workout PDF.

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Warm Up

The following warm up is comprised of basic movements to warm up and activate the muscles:

• WU1. Seal Jacks x 30 seconds
• WU2. Air Squats x 30 seconds
• WU3. Push Up x 30 seconds
• WU4. Alternating Pendulum Lunge x 30 seconds

Repeat this circuit twice, without breaks, for a total of 4 minutes.

Download the PDF of the full warm up, which includes video links to all the exercise demonstrations, here:

How To Do Circuit Training In A Busy Gym

If you’re training in the gym or at home, before starting it’s important to set up all the equipment needed for the circuit in one spot.

I like to call it owning your space.

For example, in circuit A, you will be using a squat rack, barbell, dumbbells, incline bench, and the chin up bar:

• Alternating Barbell Lunge
• Chin Up
• Incline Dumbbell Bench Press
• Dumbbell Push Up Renegade Row

Therefore, pick out the dumbbells you need, then move them to be close to the squat rack and chin up bar.

Don’t worry, if you can’t complete a chin up yet, I’ll show you a modified chin up variation.

Circuit A

You’ll complete the following 4 exercises in a circuit, while keeping the rest periods short.

With circuit training, since you only get a 20 second rest between exercises, you may not be able to lift as much as you do during a typical straight sets bodybuilder program.

The goal is to lift as heavy as you can for the indicated reps, while following proper form.

This is great for the muscles, while also providing a cardio burn.

Each circuit contains a:

1. Pushing movement
2. Pulling movement
3. Lower body movement
4. Ab and core strengthening movement

We have it all in this program.

You’re going to be sweating, so let’s get busy.

A1. Alternating Barbell Reverse Lunge

The first exercise in this 4 exercise circuit is the alternating barbell reverse lunge.

Barbell Substitution: Since we didn’t have access to an olympic barbell in our condo gym, we substituted this exercise with the alternating smith machine reverse lunge.

The bar on the smith machine is locked in place, therefore it only moves up and down, not forward and backward.

Therefore, if you can, use a free weight olympic barbell.

• Reps: 8 per leg
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Since I’ve never trained Ann before, I wasn’t sure how much weight she could lift, so we started with a 10 pound weight plate on each side.
• To get started, situate your body inside the smith machine with the bar across the top of your shoulders.
• To begin the reverse lunge, take a step back, while keeping your back upright, then lower your body down while keeping your front bent knee positioned above the ankle and heel of your front foot.
• Press your foot through the floor to rise back up to standing, then switch legs.
• You should feel this in your hamstrings, quadriceps, and glute muscles.
• Repeat for a total of 8 reps per leg.
• Once you hit 8 reps per leg, re-rack the weight, take a 20 second break, then move on to the next exercise in the circuit, chin ups.

A2. Chin Up

The second exercise in circuit A is a chin up.

Chin Up Substitution: Underhand Grip Barbell Inverted Row

If you can’t complete 10 chin ups, follow any of the following regression variations of the chin up:

• Underhand Grip Barbell Inverted Row
• Resistance Band Assisted Chin Up
• Jumping Chin Up

• Reps: 10
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues for the underhand grip barbell inverted row:

• The lower you place the bar, the more challenging the inverted row will be.
• The more incline, the easier it will be.
• Get down on the floor, then use an underhand palms facing your body chin up grip on the bar.
• Extend your legs, with your heels up and pressed into the floor, to lift your body off the floor.
• Focus on maintaining a nice flat back, while ensuring you engage your glutes to keep your hips up rather than sagging.
• Pull your chest to the bar while focusing on really squeezing your shoulder blades together at the top.
• Focus on a controlled tempo, which means how quickly you come up, then come back down.
• The goal is not to move up and down as quickly as possible, the goal is to move at a slow and controlled tempo that allows you to engage your muscles.
• Complete 10 reps, then take a 20 second break and move into the incline dumbbell bench press.

A3. Dumbbell Incline Bench Press

The third exercise in circuit A is the dumbbell incline bench press.

• Reps: 12 reps
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Press the dumbbells up, then when lowering the dumbbells, follow a 4 second count.
• While lowering the weight, think “one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand, four one thousand”, then press the dumbbells back up again.
• This is called the tempo.
• The goal is to keep the tension on the muscles, not in the joints.
• Complete 12 reps, then put the weights down and rest for 20 seconds.

A4. Dumbbell Push Up Renegade Row

The fourth and final exercise in circuit A is the dumbbell push up renegade row.

Beginner Modified Variation: Push Up With Alternating Dumbbell Renegade Row On Knees

Advanced Cariation: To make this harder, Ann completed the Push Up With Alternating Dumbbell Renegade Row, which includes a push up between every row.

• Reps: 6 reps per arm
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 60 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Although I’m sure Ann could probably lift more, I suggested she start with 5 pound dumbbells first to get the form down.
• While gripping the dumbbells, position your body at the top of push up, ensuring your body is straight as a board.
• Lower your body down into a push up, then press back up.
• Once you complete one push up, while holding the dumbbell, bend one elbow to lift the dumbbell up, while pressing all your force through the dumbbell on the floor.
• Your core must be tight and turned on to ensure your hips remain straight and parallel to the floor during the renegade row.
• You do not want your hips coming up to the side while completing the row.
• If you notice your hips swaying, focus on flexing your core while pressing the planted dumbbell into the floor.
• Lower the dumbbell back to the floor, complete the row on the other arm, then complete another push up.
• Not only is this a great core building exercise, it’s also a good chest, back, triceps, and shoulder exercise.
• You basically hit every muscle in your body with this exercise, so get ready to hear your breath.
• If you are struggling hard with the push ups, you can drop down to your knees.
• When you do this, the key coaching cue is to press the planted arm through the ground to really engage the core, while the other arm completes the row.
• Complete 6 reps per arm.
• That was one circuit.
• Get back to your feet and take a 60 second break between circuit 1, circuit 2, and circuit 3.
• After you complete circuit 3, move on to the Ignite It Up.

You only have to complete the Ignite It Up at the end of the last circuit.

You do not have to do the Ignite Up at the end of every circuit.

Ignite It Up: Alternating Lateral Lunge

The ignite it up exercise is the alternating lateral lunge.

• Reps: 60 seconds
• Sets: 1
• Rest: 60 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Lunge down to the side while pushing your butt back and your chest upright, then press your feet through the floor to get back up.
• Immediately lunge to the other side.
• If 60 seconds is too much for your current fitness level, lower the duration, however just be sure you’re pushing yourself.
• If you want to do the full 60 seconds, and you need to stop, take a quick break to catch your breath, then get back into it again.
• Once you complete one set of the ignite it up, move on to circuit B.

Circuit B

B1. Barbell Lumberjack Press

The first exercise in circuit B is the barbell lumberjack press.

Barbell Substitution: If you don’t have access to a barbell, try the Kneeling Smith Machine Lumberjack Press.

• Reps: 12
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• The lumberjack press may be a new movement to you.
• It’s going to hit the anterior deltoids on the front of your shoulders.
• If you have access to an olympic barbell or a fixed straight bar, complete this standing.
• This is even more challenging due to the extra strength required by your core.
• Since we only have access to a smith machine, this is what we have to use.
• Grip the center of the bar with a side by side grip.
• While keeping your core tight and glutes turned on to maintain a flat lower back, extend your arms to press the bar straight up, then lower it down to the other side of your head towards the other shoulder.
• Once you complete 12 reps, rack the weight, take a 20 second break, then move on to the alternating dumbbell front raise.

B2. Alternating Standing Dumbbell Front Raise

The second exercise in circuit B is the alternating standing dumbbell front raise.

• Reps: 10 per arm
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Now you’re going to hit your shoulders again by raising one arm at a time, followed by the other arm.
• This is going to be a longer extended set since we’re breaking the reps down and alternating per limb.
• If you’re short on time, you could also complete the standing dumbbell front raise with both arms at the same time.
• I like this variation because you’re isolating both arms to ensure you’re hitting all the muscles in each arm independently, thus maintaining muscle balance on both sides.
• Remember to limit any momentum by maintaining an upright and stationary upper torso, with your glutes turned on.
• It’s not a dance move, so there should be no swaying or hip thrusting.
• You can save the hip thrusting for your “post workout cardio” 😜 .
• Complete 10 reps per arm, rest 20 seconds, then move on to the dumbbell walking lunge, which is another exercise that trains each limb independently.

B3. Dumbbell Walking Lunge

The third exercise in circuit B is the dumbbell walking lunge.

• Reps: 10 per leg
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Find a long area, approximately 20 yards, that has enough room for you to walk.
• If you’re in a small room, keep walking back and forth for laps, until you hit 10 reps per leg.
• You could also complete the stationary alternating dumbbell forward lunge, however I like walking lunges more because it requires more core stability and gives you a little bit of extra cardio as you walk forward.
• Complete 10 lunges per leg, then put the weights down on the ground, and rest for 20 seconds before moving on to the forearm side plank.

B4. Forearm Side Plank

The final exercise of circuit B is the forearm side plank.

• Reps: 30 seconds per side
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 60 seconds

Coaching cues:

• If needed, you can do this ab and core strengthening exercise on an exercise mat.
• With the side plank, you’ll be hitting both sides of your body independently.
• While lying on your side, plant your forearm into the floor, with your shoulder directly above your elbow to protect your shoulder.
• Your feet should be stacked on top of one another.
• Press your hips up off the floor and turn your core on as you hold this position.
• The side of your body should be in a straight line.
• Don’t forget to breath through it.
• Since you’re not doing anything, holding the plank for time can be a boring and monotonous move, therefore take your mind elsewhere by focusing and thinking about other things, such as contracting your muscles and getting strong.
• If you touch your side obliques closest to the floor, they should feel hard and contracted.
• Hold this position for 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat.

That’s another circuit.

Take a minute break between each circuit, then complete circuit B two more times.

After the third and final circuit, take a 60 second rest, then move on to the Ignite It Up.

Ignite It Up: Side To Side Hop

The ignite it up exercise is the side to side hop.

• Reps: 60 seconds
• Sets: 1
• Rest: 60 seconds

60 seconds may seem long since you just lifted weights and your muscles are sore, however this is why we call it the ignite it up.

It’s time to get the heart rate up even more.

This is the anti-comfort zone, where the afterburn kicks in, and the results are made.

Coaching cues:

• Optional: to make the side to side hops a little more challenging, place a dumbbell flat on the ground, then complete the side to side hop over a dumbbell.
• This is good to do if you start to get a little lazy with your jumps.
• Just make sure you don’t land on the dumbbell, especially if it’s a circular dumbbell.
• While hopping side to side, pretend like the ground is on fire.
• If you notice you’re starting to get sloppy or losing your balance because you’re out of breath, I’d rather you stop, compose yourself, then start again, even if it means you lose 5 seconds off the clock.
• It’s more important to ensure you’re doing it safely with proper form.
• Take a 60 second break, then move on to circuit C.

Circuit C

This is the last circuit before moving on to the workout finisher.

C1. Dumbbell Flat Bench Press

The first exercise of circuit C is the dumbbell flat bench press.

Exercise Modification: Ann is completing a more challenging variation called the dumbbell flat bench press with feet on bench.

This foot placement is going to incorporate more core activation, compared to placing her feet down on the ground, and pressing her feet through the floor for more stability.

• Reps: 10
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• This is another chest building exercise, with secondary muscle involvement from the triceps.
• Focus on a nice and controlled tempo on the way down.
• Before lifting the weights back up, initiate the pressing movement with the muscles in the chest.
• Complete 10 reps, then put the weights down and rest 20 seconds before moving on to the barbell hang clean and press.

C2. Barbell Hang Clean And Press

The second exercise in circuit C is the barbell hang clean and press.

Barbell substitution: since we don’t have access to an olympic barbell, we swapped it for the dumbbell clean and press.

• Reps: 6
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Since we’re only completing 6 reps, you can go a little heavier, however I want your form to remain tight.
• Ann chose 20 pound dumbbells, so she is in it to win it.
• If you never completed a dumbbell clean and press before, hinge at the hips, then drive your hips forward and contract your glutes, as you clean the dumbbells up into the front rack position, with your palms facing each other, then press the weights overhead.
• This is an excellent total body exercise.
• After completing 6 reps, put the weights down, then during your 20 second rest, walk over to get ready for the parallel bar dips.

C3. Parallel Bar Dips

The third exercise in circuit C are the parallel bar dips.

• Reps: 15
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

If you have strong triceps and are used to doing dips on the parallel bars, do it that way.

Beginner Modification: If you need an easier modified tricep dip variation, try bench dips.

Coaching cues:

• If you’re doing bench dips, extend your legs to make it more challenging for you.
• If you burn out before hitting 15 reps, you can do the bench dip with knees bent to drive your feet into the ground to help finish those last few reps, however the movement should primarily be initiated through your triceps.
• To keep your shoulders in a safer position during the dip, drive your elbows back, rather than flaring your elbows out.
• It gets more dangerous for your shoulders when your elbows flare out.
• It’s also key to keep your butt close to the bench when lowering and raising, rather than letting your butt move to far away from the bench.
• After you complete 15 reps, take a 20 second break, then move over to the exercise mat.

C4. Superman Hold

The last exercise to finish off circuit C is the superman hold.

Beginner Variation: Half Superman Hold

• Reps: 30 seconds
• Sets: 3
• Rest: 20 seconds

Coaching cues:

• The superman hold is a great isometric isolation exercise to train your lower back.
• Start the move by lying face down flat on the exercise mat, with your legs straight.
• Extend your arms overhead like superman, then lift your legs off the ground, while keeping your glutes firing and your abs tight.
• It’s called the superman because it looks like you are flying through the air.
• You should feel this primarily in your lower back, as well as feeling the muscle burn in your shoulders and legs.
• Hold this position for 30 seconds.
• If this is too difficult to hold for 30 seconds, you could also complete the half superman hold by droping your legs to the floor and just have your arms out.
• However, if you really want to push yourself, raise both the legs and arms off the floor.
• This should feel hard, but good.
• After holding for 30 seconds, take a 60 second rest, then repeat the circuit for a total of 3 circuits.

You just completed circuit A, B, and C.

4 Minute Tabata Workout Finisher

Once you finish the last circuit, take a 60 second break to catch your breath, then move on to crush the 4 minute tabata workout finisher.

The goal is to leave nothing left in body.

It’s time to give it your all before you leave the gym.

Set your gym boss tabata timer for:

• 20 seconds of work
• 10 seconds of rest
• 8 intervals

During this 4 minute tabata workout finisher, you’ll complete four exercises in circuit format, then repeat that one time, for a total of 2 rounds.

D1. Push Up

The first tabata exercise is the standard push up.

Beginner modification: Incline push up on a bench or push up on knees

• Reps: 20 seconds
• Sets: 2
• Rest: 10 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Start with the most challenging version of the standard push up by planting your toes into the floor.
• If you have to stop before the 20 seconds is up, you could regress the push up by completing the incline push up on a bench or completing the push up on knees.
• After the 20 seconds is up, take a 10 second break, then move on to the next exercise.

D2. Close Grip Push Up

The second tabata exercise is the close grip push up.

Beginner modification: Close Grip Push Up On Knees or Incline Close Grip Push Up on a box or bench

• Reps: 20 seconds
• Sets: 2
• Rest: 10 seconds

Coaching cues:

• Using a close grip will pull in more triceps.
• If you need to, you can drop down and complete the close grip push up on knees or complete the incline close grip push up on a box or bench.
• When doing a push up from your knees, make sure you maintain a flat back with your core turned on, to ensure you do not have sagging in the hips or lower back.
• Complete for 20 seconds, then take a 10 second break before moving on to the next exercise.

D3. Side To Side Moving Push Up

The third tabata exercise is the moving side to side push up.

Beginner modification: Side To Side Push Up On Knees or a Side To Side Incline Push Up on bench.

• Reps: 20 seconds
• Sets: 2
• Rest: 10 seconds

Coaching cues:

• To make this moving side to side push up a little easier, Ann completed the side to side push up while keeping her feet in one place.
• You can also make it easier by completing the side to side push up on knees or an incline side to side push up on bench.
• Complete for 20 seconds, then take a 10 second break before moving on to the last exercise.

D4. Wide Grip Push Up

The last push up variation in this tabata workout is the wide grip push up.

• Reps: 20 seconds
• Sets: 2
• Rest: 10 seconds

Coaching cues:

• During the wide grip push up, you will take your hands further out to hit the outside of the chest.
• This will be challenging, so give it your all.
• Complete it for 20 seconds, then take a 10 second rest, and repeat the circuit one more time.

That is Afterburn 1.0 circuit training workout #3.

Big thank you and respect to Ann for coming out and allowing me to put her through the workout.

A lot of people have been asking what they should do for a cool down.

Just take 5 minutes to foam roll through your tight and sore muscles.

You can start with your back, then foam roll all the way down to your calves, or vice versa:

• Foam Roller Calf Massage
• Foam Roller Hamstring Massage
• Foam Roller Quadriceps Massage
• Foam Roller IT Band Outer Thigh Massage
• Foam Roller Piriformis Glutes Massage
• Foam Roller Upper Back Massage

Your cool down doesn’t need to be anything extravagant, 5 minutes is all you need.

Thanks for hanging out with us.

We’ll see you at the next workout.

Keep Living Lean.

Next Workout: Strength Circuit Workout #11 | Body Recomposition Workout Plan