The Only Five Exercises You'll Ever Need - According To Science

Get ripped in less time! We see it everywhere on the Internet these days, it really is a bad informacial as We're conditioned to believe that jaw-dropping, body-transforming results are achieved only by putting in the hours. But if you've been adhering to the muscle-isolating back-and-bi, chest-and-tri gospel, the truth in real time is, you're doing it all wrong. 

When you workout… 

Your brain doesn't think in single 'muscles,' it thinks in terms of movement patterns," says Pat Davidson, Ph.D., director of training methodology at Peak Performance, a private fitness studio in New York City. "Human evolution led to five basic movements, which encompass nearly all of our everyday motions." Meaning your workout needs just five exercises, one from each of these categories: push (pressing away from you), pull (tugging toward you), hip-hinge (bending from the middle), squat (flexing at the knee), and plank (stabilizing your core). 

Working out this way is an efficient and effective workout, which is more taxing on the muscles, leading to increased strength and a faster metabolism. Plus, you're not lost when your trainer isn't around. "If you know the basics, it's incredibly simple to build your own workout routine. 

Still, like any other addictive behaviour there can be too much of a good thing. "It's stressful to the entire body," says Jason Hartman, trainer to many U.S. Olympic bobsled and skeleton athletes and the U.S. Army Special Forces. "That means that if you overdo them, you'll just beat yourself up. Do this style of workout no more than three or four times a week." Mix and match the moves as suitable and feel okay about taking the less time consuming way out. 

Right on to it… 

How Does This Style Of Training Work? 

Pick one move from each of these categories. Then do 2 sets of 12 reps. Change up the moves but repeat the plan 3 or 4 times a week. 

The Push 

• The Ultimate - Bench Press 

Lie face-up on a bench, holding a       heavy barbell at your sternum, hands shoulder-width apart, elbows bent into sides. Extend arms, pushing bar directly above chest. Pause, then lower barbell to start.

• The Alternates - Push-up, dumbbell shoulder press, single-arm kettlebell press, push press. 

The Pull 

• The Ultimate - Pull - up 

Hang from a bar with palms facing away from you, arms straight, knees bent so feet don't touch floor. Bend elbows, pulling chest toward bar. Slowly lower yourself to start.

• The Alternates - Dumbbell row, TRX row, chin-up, cable row, lat pull-down. 

The Hip Hinge 

• The Ultimate - Deadlift

Set a heavy barbell on the floor in front of you. Push hips back as you bend forward, grabbing the bar with hands more than shoulder-width apart, palms facing body. Keep back straight as you stand up, lifting the bar and thrusting hips forward. Slowly lower bar to start.

• The Alternates - Kettlebell swing, Romanian deadlift, trap-bar deadlifts. 

Squat 

• The Ultimate - Split Squat

Stand on your right leg, left foot resting on a bench or box behind you, and hold a heavy dumbbell in each hand. Bend right knee, lowering body until left knee hovers just above the ground. Straighten right leg, returning to start. Complete all the reps on one side before switching legs.

• The Alternates - Barbell squat, lunge, goblet squat, reverse lunge. 

The Plank 

• The Ultimate - Farmer's Walk 

Stand up straight holding a heavy dumbbell in each hand, palms facing body. Maintain your posture as you walk 20 meters. Turn, repeat, returning to start.

• The Alternates - Plank, bird dog, side plank, suitcase carry. 

You also need to get some cardio in.. 

Fat Burners

To check off cardio, too (and send your metabolism into even higher gear), add one of these five-minute bursts to your five-move session. Make these the worst five minutes of your life, the results: less fat, more definition. 

Shall we.. 

1 More Reps 

Load a barbell with a weight that's about 70 percent of what you can lift one time, then choose one of the five movements and perform as many reps as you can without breaking (proper) form.

2 Go Farther Than Before

On a rowing machine (if available), row as many meters as possible in 5 minutes. With each workout, attempt to increase that distance by one percent. If no rowing machine is available, then you can supplement with Russian twists. 

3 Up Hill Sprints 

Set a treadmill to a slight incline, about 3 percent or more as tolerable. Run as fast as you can for 30 seconds, aiming for 10 miles per hour. Jog for 30 seconds at 5 mph. Repeat for 5 minutes. 

NB 

 Always consult your doctor or health care provider before beginning any exercise program. This information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional. Consult with your healthcare professional to design an appropriate exercise prescription. If you experience any pain or difficulty with these exercises, stop and consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible. 

In Conclusion 

Weight training does not have to be complicated, you don't have to necessarily learn over a hundred or more different moves just to add up that desirable muscle mass you've always dreamed of. Do the simple things efficiently, quality over quantity, and most of all eat right. Not so hard really.