For the strength aspects, you should be using a weight that makes it difficult to reach the pre-determined number of reps. So if a suggestion is 8 reps, the last rep should be tough, but not impossible.

Warm Up – 8-Count Body Builders (15), Jump Squats (10), Regular Pull Ups (10)

Stretch

Chest/Pecs:
1. Barbell Bench Press – 3 Sets of 5 Reps – Strength
2. Push Ups – 100 (In as few sets as possible) – Endurance
3. Push Ups with Feet up on Bench of other Incline – 50 (In as few sets as possible) – Endurance

Back/Lats:
1. Barbell Bent Over Row – 3 Sets of 5 Reps – Strength
2. Hang Power Clean: 3 Sets of 12 reps – Endurance
3. Dumbbell Single Arm Rows – 3 Sets of 5 Reps for each arm – Strength
4. Regular Pull Ups – 40 reps (in as few sets as possible) – Endurance

Shoulders:
1. Push Press – 3 Sets of 5 Reps Strength
2. Shoulder Up and Outs – 2 sets of 20 reps (light weight) – Endurance
3. Side Plank Shoulder Raise – 30 seconds each side x 2 Times - Endurance

Biceps/Triceps:
1. Bicep Curls – 7′s – 2 Sets
2. Bicep Blasters – 1 Minute x 2 Times (Use a high weight at the beginning that you will not be able to complete a minute with, once you have done as many reps as possible with the high weight, drop the weights, and immediately pick up much lighter weights to finish out the 1 minute – Sterngth at first – Endurance at the end)
3. Overhead Tricep Press – 3 Sets of 10 Reps
4. Tricep Push Ups – 25 Total x 3 sets

Abs/Core:

Circuit 2 Times:

1. Lean back and hold – 30 seconds
2. Stability Ball Toe Touches - 1 Minute
3. Flutter Kicks – 1 Minute
4. Leg Lifts with Splits – 1 Minute
5. Crunches with legs in air – 1 Minute

Go Get Em!

- MidwestFit Team

Happy 4th of July!  A big thanks from us here at MidwestFit for all of those who have served and loved America – Military and Non-Military.  Celebrate accordingly, but do not forget to throw in some time for Fitness! Have a happy 4th of July.

The two PT’s we have posted are from American Special Forces Operators who have given their lives in service of our country.

Potential PT #1 – Murph

This is a PT we found out about a while ago that K and I have done a couple of times.  It was a favorite of a Navy SEAL Lieutenant who was KIA in Afghanistan during an operation to find a top tier terrorist leader.  The account of the mission can be read about in a great book titled “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell.  Check the book out and I promise you literally will not be able to put it down.

Stretch

1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run

Stretch

If you feel like thats not enough some of the gentleman in a similar line of work as Murph like to do the workout with 20 pound body armor or a 20 pound weighted vest.

- K

Potential PT #2 – Daniel

As quickly as possible:

50 Pull-ups
400 meter run
95 pound Thruster, 21 reps
800 meter run
95 pound Thruster, 21 reps
400 meter run
50 Pull-ups

Stretch

- Ben

[twitter-follow screen_name='Ben_MWF' link_color='e42217']

We’ve discussed this in some posts and on the exercise descriptions in the past, but have yet to make an official  post on it.

We post a lot of workout routines that involve pull ups, and that is because we and many fitness professionals believe it is, by far, one of the best upper body exercises one can do.  All it takes is your body weight and a bar (the simple stuff is sometimes the best).  It can be tough however to develop that initial strength to do pull ups.  We know from experience.  It can also be discouraging for some beacause they’ll think if they can’t even do one, what’s the point of trying, or how can they even develop the strength to perform more than one?

Well the answer is to perform what is called a “Negative” Pull Up.  The way to perform a negative pull up (there will also be a video at the end of this post) is to hoist yourself up over the bar with either a jump, or using a step/chair to get your body up over the bar.  Then from there the goal is to resist gravity wanting to pull your body down, and to lower your body back to the starting pull up position as SLOWLY AND CONTROLLED as possible.  The scientific reasoning behind this is that the slower you lower yourself back down (the slower you perform any exercise in general) it actually recruits more muscle fibers to help perform the exercise, which in turn leads to a greater increase in strength (I’ll spare you all with going into the physiology behind it more!).  Since the Pull Up uses so many upper body muscles, (lats, traps, biceps, and many other muscles of the backs and shoulder complex) it is one of the best ways to work a large amount of muscles with one simple exercise.

NEGATIVE PULL UP You’ll notice I jump to get myself up above the bar, then resist gravity by lowering myself as slow and in control as my body allows.  You can also use a chair/step to help hoist you above the bar, or if you have someone with you, they can help push you up above the bar.

So if you are struggling with pull ups, this is a great way to work on developing that initial strength.  On days we post pull ups, perform a total of 10 Negative Pull Ups in place of the pull ups we have posted.  Here is another list of exercises that can help develop the muscles involved with a pull up.

1. Lat Pulldowns (If you are a gym member)
2. Dumbbell Rows (or Push Up Rows the emphasis being on the row)
3. Bicep Blasters

Note: The “Negative” can also be used for other exercises where gravity is the main component. Examples include: Squats, Push Up (All variations on the YouTube Channel), Lunges, Bent Over Rows.

Feel free to email us with comments, questions, or feedback at Midwestfit@gmail.com

- MidwestFit Team