Get your spring shred started the right way with this 8 week fat loss workout routine. The program includes progressive cardio and full-body workouts.
Workout Summary
  • Main Goal
    Lose Fat
  • Workout Type
    Full Body
  • Training Level
    Beginner
  • Program Duration8 weeks
  • Days Per Week
    3
  • Time Per Workout45-70 minutes
  • Equipment Required
    Barbell, Bodyweight, Dumbbells, Machines
  • Target Gender Male & Female
  • Workout PDF Download Workout

Workout Description

As we rapidly move through the new year, the winter is coming to a close and giving way to our next highly anticipated spring/summer.

And thus, the focus of most fitness-minded individuals begins to shift from thoughts of shivering while shoveling snow to simmering in the sun and sand!

However, it is right about this time that another shift takes place – one in which we prioritize fat loss (over pure gains in mass), so that we can present a ripped, muscular and jaw-dropping physique at the pool, beach or barbecue.

And while it is obvious that a proper diet is at least half the battle when looking to incinerate as much body fat as possible, in this particular article I am going to focus on the training and cardio aspect of the equation.

Cardio is rather self-explanatory, but I will present to you a progressive and strategic approach so that you get the most out of this rather mundane, but necessary activity.

The main goal of resistance training is to build muscle and increase strength, but when workouts are programmed properly, lifting weights can also help to melt body fat like butter in a microwave – which can actually reduce the need for excessive cardio.

Ok, let’s jump into it, so you can shed some fat fast and see what’s actually “under the hood!”

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Yeah, Cardio Sucks – But We Gotta Do it!

With the exception of the (rare) genetic freaks out there that can simply alter their diet and get their body fat into the mid-single digits without ever stepping on a treadmill, cardio is a requirement when one is looking to get into top condition.

Now, I will let the world’s many scientists and exercise gurus continue to fight it out as to whether HIIT or steady state cardio is best for creating a shredded and muscular physique - because I personally think this argument is a waste of time. The truth is, both of these methods can work – and it has been proven time and again out in the “trenches” by thousands of athletes, bodybuilders and serious fitness buffs.

Thus, my feeling is that one should not limit themselves to either HIIT or SS, but rather utilize them both. Just as variety is a key component to weight training, it can also be applied to cardio.

However, one aspect of a smart and effective cardio program (for inducing continuous fat loss) that I firmly believe in is “progression”. Begin with a certain amount and add in more week by week until you hit your goals. Below is an example of what an 8-week, progressive cardio schedule may look like.

Week 1

  • Training Days: 25 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 12 minutes HIIT

Week 2

  • Training Days: 30 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 14 minutes HIIT

Week 3

  • Training Days: 35 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 16 minutes HIIT

Week 4

  • Training Days: 40 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 18 minutes HIIT

Week 5

  • Training Days: 45 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 20 minutes HIIT

Week 6

  • Training Days: 50 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 22 minutes HIIT

Week 7

  • Training Days: 55 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 24 minutes HIIT

Week 8

  • Training Days: 60 minutes steady state
  • Off Days: 26 minutes HIIT
Cardio Notes:
  • With steady state the goal is to progressively increase intensity until your heart rate is at about 65% of maximum. Once there, this heart rate should be maintained for the duration of the session, followed by a 2-3-minute gradual cool down.
  • Heart rate can be calculated with the following formula: 220 – age x .65 = goal
  • With HIIT cardio you will be alternating between periods of slow-paced/recovery cardio and maximum intensity cardio throughout the duration of the session. I have had excellent results alternating 90 seconds of slow-paced cardio with 30-second bursts of all-out cardio to drive heart rate as high as possible.

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Strategic Weight Training for Fat Loss

Very intense weight training workouts can burn a sizable number of calories and will result in a boost to the metabolism that far exceeds what cardio can boast. Additionally, by building a greater amount of muscle mass, we automatically increase our daily calorie expenditure – like a furnace turned on high!

However, when the main goal becomes getting lean and shredded, you can make your weight training sessions far more effective for fat destroying by making a few adjustments in the exercises, reps and program arrangement.

1. The Exercises: When utilizing weights to burn fat it is most beneficial to perform mostly compound (multijointed) lifts, especially when it comes to larger muscle groups like back, chest and quads. These movements will most effectively raise the heart rate, burn calories, increase natural growth hormone production (note: GH is a powerful fat burner), and enhance metabolic rate.

2. The Rep Range: Since we are focusing on burning body fat you want to keep reps in the medium to medium/high range, or about 10-12 for upper body exercises and 12-20 for the lower half. By doing so you will again burn more calories, push out more lactic acid (which further increases GH production), and stimulate the metabolism, while still giving your muscles a challenging enough workout to still ignite hypertrophy.

3. The Exercise Arrangement: Most of the time when concentrating our efforts into building pure muscle mass we utilize a “straight sets” approach, with 2-3 minutes rest in between. However, when looking to get “sliced and diced” enough to display that gnarly 6-pack and deep separations/cuts through every body part it is far more effective to use specific types of high intensity techniques such as supersets, circuits, and mega-fast paced training.

Below are three examples of the types of weight training workouts you can begin utilizing to help “rip up” your physique just in time for summer!

Workout A: The Rapid Paced Body Fat Burner

Exercise Sets Reps
Barbell Squat 4 12-15
Alternating Barbell Lunges 3 12-15 Each
Stiff Leg Deadlift 4 12-15
Underhand Grip Bent Over Row 3 10-12
Narrow Grip Bench Press 3 10-12
Standing Military Press 3 10-12
Close Underhand Grip Pull Up 2 Failure
Incline Bent Leg Hip Raise 3 Failure

Workout B: The Upper/Lower Superset Fat Incinerator

Exercise Sets Reps
A1. Hack Squats 3 12-15
A2. Weighted Dips 3 10-12
B1. Leg Press 3 12-15
B2. Wide Grip Pull Ups 3 Failure
C1. Walking Dumbbell Lunge 2 12-15 Each
C2. Seated Dumbbell Press 2 10-12
D1. Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift 2 12-15
D2. Standing Alternating Dumbbell Curl 2 10-12
E1. Hanging Straight Leg Raise 2 Failure
E2. Bench Dip 2 Failure

**Rest between supersets should be no longer than 2 minutes

Workout C: The Circuit Fat Smasher

Exercise Sets Reps
Deadlift - 12-15
Incline Bench Press - 10-12
Leg Press - 12-15
One Arm Dumbbell Row - 10-12
Smith Alternating Reverse Lunge - 12-15 Each
Wide Grip Upright Row - 10-12
Lying Leg Curl - 12-15
Upright Torso Dips - 10-12
Cable Crunch - 12-15
Chin Up - Failure

**Move from one exercise to the next as rapidly as possible.
**Do not go to failure on each movement, but perhaps 1-2 reps short.
**If attempting to perform multiple circuits rest about 3-5 minutes in between each by slowly walking around the gym until ready.

The workouts above would be best performed every other day, perhaps on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

15 Comments
Jake
Posted on: Wed, 01/13/2021 - 13:05

Can I just stick to Workout A, or do I have to rotate? Also, can I add extra exercises for the back and chest if I feel like I got the energy?

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Abigail
Posted on: Thu, 01/14/2021 - 09:50

Hey Jake - you should rotate between the 3 workouts. It's best to not add additional exercises.

Hina Gurung
Posted on: Sat, 12/19/2020 - 11:04

Hi,
I have been going to gym since 6 months but due to covid i wasn’t able to go to gym regularly which has affect my body structure. My upper body like back and shoulder has become bulky and lower body has shrunk. My body looks like a guy body builders body.
I feel so depressed whenever i see my body in mirror.
I’m a girl. Age 24 years 5.4 inches tall and weight 70 kg
Could you recommend me a proper fat loss workout schedule.

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Abigail
Posted on: Mon, 12/21/2020 - 09:20

Hey Hina - check out this one: https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/upper-lower-womens-dumbbell-o.... For fat loss, diet plays the largest role.

Avantika Chaudhary
Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2020 - 21:53

Hey!
I am a 19 yr old with about 40% body fat. Now I have been struggling with the workout part of my fitness journey. I don’t know whether this workout is good for me or not and I have a home gym, but unfortunately most of my equipment haven’t been delivered yet. So, can you suggest a workout which will aim at fat loss, muscle building (to have a toned body). My fitness level is pretty good, and I am working towards getting amazing results.

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Abigail
Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2020 - 10:18

Hey Avantika - what equipment will you have in your home gym (ie. dumbbells, barbell, kettbells, squat rack, etc.)? That will help me better recommend workouts.

Chris
Posted on: Thu, 09/24/2020 - 11:24

Hi!
On training days, when a should I do the above Steady state cardio? Right after the weight training workout?

Thanks

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Abigail
Posted on: Thu, 09/24/2020 - 14:43

Hey Chris - good question! Cardio should be done after your weight training session. You can learn more about that here: https://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/choosing-cardio-pre-post-workout

Shawn
Posted on: Wed, 09/16/2020 - 12:29

Hi!
Quick question; Is Workout C done like a one big circuit just one time or we can do multiple sets?
Thanks

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Marina
Posted on: Thu, 09/17/2020 - 10:28

Shawn - Workout C is intended to be completed as one giant circuit. If you want to perform the circuit multiple times, make sure you're giving yourself at least 3-5 minutes of recovery before jumping into the next round.

Robert
Posted on: Fri, 08/28/2020 - 11:39

For Workout A: The Rapid Paced Body Fat Burner:

Are you competing all sets of one exercise before moving on to the next exercise? (ex. 4 sets of barbell squat then moving to alt. barbell lunges)

How much rest time between each set?

Thanks for the help!

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Mike
Posted on: Fri, 08/28/2020 - 15:20

Hey Robert - Yes, complete all 4 sets before moving to the next exercise. 30 - 60 seconds rest between sets should be enough. Good luck!

jeff
Posted on: Sun, 05/17/2020 - 02:06

Hi
It looks likes a very great program, I'm excited already while reading it, thanks so much for sharing it!
just a couple simple questions wanna know.
1. what does it means exactly of failure on reps?
2. and the A1, A2, B1, B2, does it means i could pick either one to do it?
thank you very much!

Mila
Posted on: Mon, 05/25/2020 - 10:21

Hey!
Failure in reps means you do as many as you can.
A1, A2 are done back to back without rest in between. Same for B1, B2. Just one after the other

Dani
Posted on: Tue, 07/07/2020 - 01:33

Failure on reps mean do as many as you can.
A1 and A2 and B1 and B2 means you’re doing a super set
A1 Workout then straight into workout A2 then you rest after A2