Author Topic: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?  (Read 6424 times)

pvn100

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Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« on: March 07, 2008, 11:42:07 AM »
My wife has been working out for the past several years. She's a cute little blond thing, about 5'4 120 lbs...she's not looking to become a bodybuilder, but she wants to get toned up and somewhat shredded. She's been using my workout plans, such as Max-OT, but they're not really appropriate for her needs (not looking for mass building routines). Can anyone suggest where I can find her a good workout routine (online, books, etc)? She's looking for a 3-4 day routine.I would really appreciate it. :)

ripitupbaby

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2008, 12:05:11 PM »
It depends, in part, on her level of training and what she wants to accomplish.
I laid out a beginners workout in the thread below (click link)...it's circuit-training, which I am not a huge fan of for people who are more advanced, but I think it's a great way to get beginners in the gym and work on toning and fat loss.

If she's going to train four days a week, then she should do an upper body circuit twice and a lower body circuit twice.  Two days on, one day off is another good approach (the two days being one upper body day and one lower body day)

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=196801.0

That's a start.  If she's more advanced, I would be happy to lay out a sample training program that looks a little more like what a bodybuilder would do.  But circuit training offers alot of variety and flexibility to make it as challenging as you want. 

I'm not terribly familiar with any good books...maybe some others here are?  I use Arnold's Encyclopedia of BB when I am looking for new or different exercises.

 :)
:)

pvn100

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2008, 12:42:43 PM »
If you have time, and are kind enough to share it with us, we'd love to see the more advanced version. Thanks alot for the reply, you're quite the busy lady!

Thanks again!

ripitupbaby

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2008, 01:03:03 PM »
If you have time, and are kind enough to share it with us, we'd love to see the more advanced version. Thanks alot for the reply, you're quite the busy lady!

Thanks again!


Sure, no problem, I'll put something together, but it'll have to be this weekend sometime. 

I'll do it based on a four day split, just a sample workout.  :)


:)

pvn100

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2008, 01:11:15 PM »
Ok, sounds good. We'll look forward to it.


ripitupbaby

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2008, 07:44:21 AM »
Here's another plan that I wrote up for someone a while ago.  :)

I like to keep things simple and basic unless you are need to train for something specific. 
This workout is set up more bb-style, focusing on different muscle groups every day.  3-4 exercises for the big muscle groups (back, chest, shoulders, legs) and 2-3 for the smaller ones (bis, tris, abs).  At least 3 sets on each exercise.  I like to do four sets on the first exercise.

There are threads on this board for each of the body parts (glutes/lower body, abs, back, shoulders, chest) with tons of exercises in them and sample workouts.  You can take a look at these to get ideas for the specific workouts.

Just keep the reps up there on most everything (in the 10-15 range), and keep the rest in between sets minimal.  You definitely want to be maximizing the calorie burn when you do these workouts.

Cardio should be done separately at least 3-4 times a week, or after you lift if you do it at the gym.
You can mix up these days however works best for you...this is based on weight training four days a week.  Try to give yourself at least a day's rest in between things like shoulders and chest. 

Day 1 - Back, bis and abs
Three or four back exercises, including some sort of wide pulldown or pull up, and some sort of row.  Lower back gets hit on leg day if you do straight legged deadlifts.  Back is a good day to do abs as well because you already engage the abs when you do pulldowns and rows so you might as well work them more.

Day 2 - Chest/tris
These are two muscle groups that are really good to combine.  Three chest exercises including a bench press of some sort, incline press, and some sort of fly.  For triceps, you can add close grip bench press, which also hits the chest.  Another good one are the weight-assisted tricep dips, as they really hit the upper chest alot too.  Then maybe one or two cable or machine tricep exercises, depending on how much time you have and how burnt your tris feel.

Day 3 - Legs/Lower Body
I would develop a leg workout with the three must-do exercises and then one other exercise that you change up every week (leg extensions, hammy curls, etc.).  (see the beginning of the glute/lowerbody thread for the three must-dos)

Day 4 - shoulders, traps, abs
At least three shoulder exercises including a press, lateral raise, and something for the rear delts.  Traps can be done sufficiently with dumbell shrugs, if you need to do them at all.  Upright rows are good for shoulders and traps, but use the EZ curl bar to make it easier on the wrists.

:)

pvn100

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2008, 11:03:57 AM »
Ok, got it, thanks a million! Looks like a great plan!

ripitupbaby

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2008, 04:14:02 PM »
Ok, got it, thanks a million! Looks like a great plan!


Let me know how it goes.  It's pretty easy to mix things up with this kind of approach.  :)

:)

flexingtonsteele

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2008, 04:23:59 PM »
Here's another plan that I wrote up for someone a while ago.  :)

I like to keep things simple and basic unless you are need to train for something specific. 
This workout is set up more bb-style, focusing on different muscle groups every day.  3-4 exercises for the big muscle groups (back, chest, shoulders, legs) and 2-3 for the smaller ones (bis, tris, abs).  At least 3 sets on each exercise.  I like to do four sets on the first exercise.

There are threads on this board for each of the body parts (glutes/lower body, abs, back, shoulders, chest) with tons of exercises in them and sample workouts.  You can take a look at these to get ideas for the specific workouts.

Just keep the reps up there on most everything (in the 10-15 range), and keep the rest in between sets minimal.  You definitely want to be maximizing the calorie burn when you do these workouts.

Cardio should be done separately at least 3-4 times a week, or after you lift if you do it at the gym.
You can mix up these days however works best for you...this is based on weight training four days a week.  Try to give yourself at least a day's rest in between things like shoulders and chest. 

Day 1 - Back, bis and abs
Three or four back exercises, including some sort of wide pulldown or pull up, and some sort of row.  Lower back gets hit on leg day if you do straight legged deadlifts.  Back is a good day to do abs as well because you already engage the abs when you do pulldowns and rows so you might as well work them more.

Day 2 - Chest/tris
These are two muscle groups that are really good to combine.  Three chest exercises including a bench press of some sort, incline press, and some sort of fly.  For triceps, you can add close grip bench press, which also hits the chest.  Another good one are the weight-assisted tricep dips, as they really hit the upper chest alot too.  Then maybe one or two cable or machine tricep exercises, depending on how much time you have and how burnt your tris feel.

Day 3 - Legs/Lower Body
I would develop a leg workout with the three must-do exercises and then one other exercise that you change up every week (leg extensions, hammy curls, etc.).  (see the beginning of the glute/lowerbody thread for the three must-dos)

Day 4 - shoulders, traps, abs
At least three shoulder exercises including a press, lateral raise, and something for the rear delts.  Traps can be done sufficiently with dumbell shrugs, if you need to do them at all.  Upright rows are good for shoulders and traps, but use the EZ curl bar to make it easier on the wrists.



nice and basic plan rip, thats what about 99% of the population needs.

Luv2Hurt

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2008, 06:01:09 PM »
Here's another plan that I wrote up for someone a while ago.  :)

I like to keep things simple and basic unless you are need to train for something specific. 
This workout is set up more bb-style, focusing on different muscle groups every day.  3-4 exercises for the big muscle groups (back, chest, shoulders, legs) and 2-3 for the smaller ones (bis, tris, abs).  At least 3 sets on each exercise.  I like to do four sets on the first exercise.

There are threads on this board for each of the body parts (glutes/lower body, abs, back, shoulders, chest) with tons of exercises in them and sample workouts.  You can take a look at these to get ideas for the specific workouts.

Just keep the reps up there on most everything (in the 10-15 range), and keep the rest in between sets minimal.  You definitely want to be maximizing the calorie burn when you do these workouts.

Cardio should be done separately at least 3-4 times a week, or after you lift if you do it at the gym.
You can mix up these days however works best for you...this is based on weight training four days a week.  Try to give yourself at least a day's rest in between things like shoulders and chest. 

Day 1 - Back, bis and abs
Three or four back exercises, including some sort of wide pulldown or pull up, and some sort of row.  Lower back gets hit on leg day if you do straight legged deadlifts.  Back is a good day to do abs as well because you already engage the abs when you do pulldowns and rows so you might as well work them more.

Day 2 - Chest/tris
These are two muscle groups that are really good to combine.  Three chest exercises including a bench press of some sort, incline press, and some sort of fly.  For triceps, you can add close grip bench press, which also hits the chest.  Another good one are the weight-assisted tricep dips, as they really hit the upper chest alot too.  Then maybe one or two cable or machine tricep exercises, depending on how much time you have and how burnt your tris feel.

Day 3 - Legs/Lower Body
I would develop a leg workout with the three must-do exercises and then one other exercise that you change up every week (leg extensions, hammy curls, etc.).  (see the beginning of the glute/lowerbody thread for the three must-dos)

Day 4 - shoulders, traps, abs
At least three shoulder exercises including a press, lateral raise, and something for the rear delts.  Traps can be done sufficiently with dumbell shrugs, if you need to do them at all.  Upright rows are good for shoulders and traps, but use the EZ curl bar to make it easier on the wrists.



I like this plan also. What the trainer must remember though is they must constantly challenge themselves with the weights used.  You are trying to progress in the amount of weight you use.

Seems sometimes people forget this, it cant be easy.  Or the results will be mediocre.

ripitupbaby

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Re: Where can I find a decent female workout plan?
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2008, 03:52:10 AM »
I like this plan also. What the trainer must remember though is they must constantly challenge themselves with the weights used.  You are trying to progress in the amount of weight you use.

Seems sometimes people forget this, it cant be easy.  Or the results will be mediocre.


Definitely.  You should be always be struggling with the last few reps and trying to increase the amount of weight you use over time. 

Girls can (and should) lift alot more weight than they might think they can.   8)

:)