Your 30-Day Fitness Plan for a Beach-Ready Body
So the New Year’s resolutions may not have stuck, but now you have a whole new motivator to help you achieve your fitness goals: summer. The official start of swimsuit season is just around the corner, and we have just what you need—a 30-day slim-down and shape-up plan designed by certified trainer and best selling author of The Power of Positive Fitness ($12), John Rowley. Scroll through if you’re ready to start working towards your bikini body!
For this plan, you’re going to be working out five days a week. These sample weeks are set up with rest days on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but you can pick whichever non-consecutive days work best for you.
Monday
Cardio: Treadmill + Bike
Strength: Lower Body + Abs
Tuesday
Cardio: Stair Climber + Elliptical
Strength: Upper Body
Wednesday
Rest
Thursday
Cardio: Treadmill
Strength: Lower Body + Abs
Friday
Cardio: Stair Climber + Treadmill
Strength: Upper Body
Saturday
Rest
Sunday
Cardio: Treadmill Walk or Bike
Strength: Circuit
These aren’t skimpy workouts, but Rowley says by combining HIIT (high intensity interval training), cardio, and strength training, you’ll get optimal results in a short period of time.
Monday
Cardio: Treadmill + Bike
Strength: Lower Body
Tuesday
Cardio: Stair Climber
Strength: Upper Body +Abs
Wednesday
Rest
Thursday
Cardio: Treadmill + Elliptical
Strength: Lower Body
Friday
Cardio: Stair Climber + Treadmill
Strength: Upper Body + Abs
Saturday
Rest
Sunday
Cardio: Treadmill Walk or Bike
Strength: Circuit
Do this entire circuit two times.
Push-Ups (regular or modified): Start with your arms straight and toes tucked (or knees bent for modified). Slowly lower your chest as low to the floor as possible, making sure your back is flat (not arched) and your muscles are engaged. Lift yourself back up to starting position. Repeat this exercise 10X.
Plank-Up: Start in push-up position, looking straight forward. Bend your right arm so you are on your forearm, and then bend your left arm so your body is in a plank position. Straighten your right arm then straighten your left to raise yourself back up to push-up position. Repeat this exercise 15X.
Shoulder Press: Stand or sit on a bench and hold one weight in each hand (try to start with 5 to 8 pounds and increase when you feel ready). Lift your arms up above your head until your arms are straight and the weights are parallel. Slowly bring your arms back to position while still engaging all of your back muscles. Repeat this exercise 10X.
Dumbbell Raises: While in a standing position, hold one weight in each hand. With your palms facing your body, alternate raising each arm up to shoulder height and lowering it back down. Repeat this exercise 10X (two arms count as one).
Superman: Lay on your stomach with your arms straight in front of you and palms flat. Lift your arms and legs up at the same time and slowly lower them back to the ground. Keep your arms connected to your ears and ankles together the entire time. Repeat this exercise 20X.
Do this entire circuit three times.
Wall Sit: Stand with your back flat against a wall. Walk your feet out in front of you and place your body in a seated position. Your knees should be directly above your heels. Your legs should make a 90-degree angle. Hold 1 minute.
Alternating Lunges: Stand with your feet together and hands on your hips. Step your right leg out in front of you, lowering your body into a lunge. Your knee should not go past your ankle and your back (left) knee should not touch the ground. Push off your front (right) foot to stand back up and return to starting position. Repeat on the left side. Repeat this exercise 10X on each leg.
Calf Raises: Stand up straight with your hands on your hips and feet two inches apart. Rise up to the balls of your feet, and then slowly lower down. Engage your legs, butt, and ab muscles to keep your balance. Repeat this exercise 30X.
Jump Squats: Squat as low as possible with your arms extended in front of you. Jump straight up so your feet come off the ground and bring hands to your sides. As you come back to the ground, absorb the momentum of your jump by returning to starting position. Continue reps without stopping. Repeat this exercise 10X.
Doggy Kick Trio: Place hands and knees on ground. Lift your right leg up in a bent position (maintaining a 90-degree angle) 10 times. Repeat on the left leg. Then switch back to your right leg. This time, bring your right knee in toward your chest, and then kick it back behind you so your leg is straight in the air. Do this 10 times. Repeat on the left leg. Again, switch to the right leg. This time, lift your right knee out to the side in a bent position, and then back to the ground. Do this 10 times and repeat on the left.
Right Side Plank: Lay on your right side. Place your elbow under your shoulder to form a 90-degree angle and prop your hips up off the floor, forming one straight line with your body. Hold 1 minute.
V-Ups/Jack-Knife Sit-Ups: Lie down on your back in a straight line with your feet in front of you and arms above your head. At the same time, lift your legs and arms into the air so your body is making a V position. Then, lower your legs and arms to come back to the ground. Repeat this exercise 15X.
Regular Plank: Lay on your stomach, tuck your toes under, and place both elbows in a 90-degree angle below your shoulders. Lift your hips off the floor. Hold 1 minute.
Bicycle Crunches: While lying on your back, lift your legs and shoulders off the ground and place your hands behind your head. Bend your left leg and bring your right elbow to your left knee. Then bend your right leg and bring your left elbow to your right knee. Repeat this exercise 30X.
Toe Touches: Lie down on your back and lift your feet in the air to form a 90-degree angle with your body. Next, bring your hands straight in front of you, and reach your hands up to touch your toes. Repeat this exercise 30X.
Jumping Jacks: Stand with your hands by your sides and feet together. Jump your feet apart and bring your hands above your head. Jump back to starting position. Repeat this exercise 50X.
Leg Lifts: Lie down on your back and lift your feet in the air so your body is making a 90-degree angle. Press your hands into the floor and slowly lower your feet to the ground. (If you need to you can place your hands underneath your butt.) When you are lowering your feet to the ground your back should not come off the floor. Lift your feet back up to starting position. Repeat this exercise 20X.
Oblique Mountain Climbers: While in a push-up position, slowly bring your right knee in to touch your left elbow, and then return to starting position. Repeat on right side. Repeat this exercise 20X (each side).
Raised Plank: Get into a push-up position with a flat back and hips tucked under. Hold 1 minute.
Butt-Ups: Lie down on your back with your legs raised above your hips, press your palms into the floor, point your toes toward the ceiling, and slowly lift your hips in the air and back down. Repeat this exercise 20X.
Left Side Plank: Lay on your left side. Place your elbow under your shoulder to form a 90-degree angle and prop your hips up off the floor, forming one straight line with your body. Hold 1 minute.
Repeat this 10-minute plan, two to three times.
Minutes 0-2: 7.5 MPH
Minutes 2-3: 4.0 MPH
Minutes 3-6: 7.0 MPH
Minutes 6-7: 4.0 MPH
Minutes 7-9: 6.5 MPH
Minutes 9-10: 6.0 MPH
On your treadmill walk day, Rowley says to walk on the highest incline you are able to for 30 Minutes. “Set the speed at your desired pace, but don’t cheat yourself—walk as fast as you can! For increased difficulty add ankle weights or walk with 3 to 5 pound hand weights,” Rowley says.
Minutes 0-5: Level 15
Minutes 5-10: Level 12
Minutes 10-15: Level 10
Minutes 15-20: Level 12
Minutes 20-25: Level 15
Minutes 25-30: Level 10
Minutes 0-5: Slow Pace
Minutes 5-10: Moderate Pace
Minutes 10-14: Fast Pace
Minutes 14-16: Intense Pace
Minutes 16-18: Fast Pace
Minutes 18-20: Intense Pace
Minutes 20-22: Fast Pace
Minutes 22-24: Moderate Pace
Minutes 24-28: Fast Pace
Minutes 28-29: Moderate Pace
Minutes 29-30: Slow Pace
Minutes 0-2: Level 10
Minutes 2-5: Level 15
Minutes 5-15: Level 20
Minutes 15-18: Level 25
Minutes 18-20: Level 20
Minutes 20-22: Level 25
Minutes 22-24: Level 20
Minutes 24-26: Level 25
Minutes 26-28: Level 20
Minutes 28-30: Level 15
Repeat this circuit twice.
100 Jumping Jacks
20 Push-Ups
20 Leg Lifts
20 Jump Squats
20 Oblique Mountain Climbers
20 Inchworms
1 Minute High Knees
20 Bicycle Crunches
20 Plank-Ups
20 Alternating Lunges
Will you try this 30-day plan? Tell us below!