How to get in shape in 6 weeks!

July 2, 2008 8:48 PM

Give me a brainless workout plan that's as easy as HundredPushups.com for the next 6 weeks!

The key is that I have 6-8 weeks with no work, so I want to get in better shape (amongst other things).

Currently I go to the gym about twice a week, and mainly just run. Recently I've started doing the Hundred Pushups plan, and now that I see how easy it is to just follow a strict plan, I want a plan for everything else!

Is there a resource that just says, "Monday, do these exercises. Tuesdays, do these," etc.?

Am I lazy in asking for this? I want to workout about 1-2 hours a day, if that's any help.

posted by phaedrus441 to health (15 comments total)

Lot's of bodyweight exercises at simplefit.org. Has mon-fri type workout plans with multiple levels.
posted by ShootTheMoon at 9:12 PM on July 2 [1 favorite]

sorry, linkified below

Simplefit.org
posted by ShootTheMoon at 9:15 PM on July 2

crossfit. not "easy" exercises by any means (depending on how fit you are, you'll have to modify carefully) but easy in the sense that you're told what to do each day, and it's an interesting challenge.
posted by acidic at 9:23 PM on July 2

Try Stronglifts. I've been doing it for a few weeks now and I'm enjoying it.
posted by sevenyearlurk at 9:51 PM on July 2

You'll do very well with 1 hr of Hindu Pushups and 1 hr of Hindu Squats every day. Eat a big bowl of oatmeal afterwards and you'll have a nice 2.5 hr workout.
posted by rhizome at 10:12 PM on July 2

I just discovered 100pushups too, and am exactly the same way in terms of loving the structure.

I just looked at couch to 5K today, but wasn't terribly impressed because it has the same activity plan for all three days during the week. It also doesn't tell you how fast to run/walk, but you might find it helpful.
posted by theRussian at 11:12 PM on July 2

Why not follow the hundred push-ups plan but just insert a different exercise? Make it into 100 sit-ups or 100 squats or whatever. It'll work exactly the same and working towards doing 100 of anything is going to be pretty good exercise.
posted by chairmanwow at 4:11 AM on July 3

i like simplefit but it seems to concentrate too much on upper body and not enough on the core. i've been thinking of modifying it by substituting crunches for the pull-ups, since i live in a rental and can't install a bar.
posted by thinkingwoman at 4:23 AM on July 3

if you didn't like Couch to 5k because of the lack of being told how fast to run/walk, check out Podrunner Intervals. It takes the Couch to 5K program and gives you music that sets your pace for each walking and running section.
posted by jrishel at 4:40 AM on July 3

If you can got over the silliness aspect, shovelglove seems to be working great for me.
posted by Dorri732 at 6:02 AM on July 3

This is very easy:

Monday leg work out:

3 sets of Squats
3 sets of barbell lunges
3 sets of barbell (or dumbell) Jump squats.

Wednesday back and biceps:

3 sets of cable row
3 sets of barbell row
3 sets of pull ups
2 biceps exercises of your choosing.

Friday Chest and Triceps:

3 sets of flat barbell bench press
3 sets of incline or decline barbell bench press
3 push ups
2 sets of triceps exercises (I would do dips and something with cable)


Run for 25 minutes on the days in between.
posted by The1andonly at 6:52 AM on July 3

Seconding CrossFit. Using some dumbbells, a kettlebell, a jump rope, and the nearby track, CrossFit workouts helped me lose 46 pounds in 5 months (196 lb -> 150 lb) between July and December and keep it off, while getting stronger, since. I never thought I'd be able to claim that I could do a workout that contains 100 pull ups. I do the CrossFit workout of the day at home, alone, without a gym membership. It's gotten results enough that I'm currently shopping for a barbell and bumper plates to take it to the next level.

All of the CrossFit movements are demonstrated on the site. If you're looking for broad, general, inclusive fitness that involves getting in the utmost physical fitness possible, this is your program. Every day, a new workout of the day (WOD) gets posted and you never know what tomorrow is going to bring. You work out three days on, you get a day off.

3, 2, 1, GO!
posted by phoebus at 7:26 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]

Sparkpeople.com is a site that many people use for tracking their calories and water intake. They also have a fitness tracker that, if you choose, will assign you exercises to do on certain days. Each exercise has a demo video along with it. I just started with SparkPeople, so I can't vouch for how it works, but it looks pretty cool and you get the nutrition benefits with it, too.

I also know a handful of people who have had success with Couch to 5K (as mentioned above). I started the program myself, but stopped when I moved. The progress I made was noticeable. Getting the podcasts that go along with the program are, in my mind, a must.
posted by bristolcat at 9:02 AM on July 3

I've been following the stronglifts 5x5 beginner program for about 6 weeks and I like it a lot. I've definitely gotten stronger, and I think I look a little better, too.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:18 AM on July 3

a related good askme question.
posted by mecran01 at 3:02 PM on August 9