Men’s Time-Saver
Description
The 12-week Men’s Time-Saver weight training program is designed to:
- Train all of your major muscle groups
- Build muscle in the 9–11 and 6–8 rep ranges
- Strengthen your core and primal movement patterns
- Introduce you to the intensity technique of superset training
- Minimize the time it takes to get an effective full-body workout
The program consists of two workouts (A and B). Workout A will train your upper body and core; Workout B will train your lower body and core.
The exercises in all of the workouts have been arranged into supersets, which makes the workouts short and intense. Superset training is explained in Intensity techniques, in the Weight Training Guide.
In weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, you will train in the 9–11 rep range; in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, you will train in the 6–8 rep range.
Please read the Overview of men’s weight training programs before you start this program.
Note: This program is also available in my ebook.
Suitability
- Individuals who have completed at least microcycles 1–3 of the Men’s Beginner program
- Anyone who has at least 3 months of consistent weight training experience
Instructions
- Complete each workout (A and B) twice per week, in the order presented
- The recommend workout schedule is ABXABXX (where ‘X’ is a rest day). Try not to train for four days in a row and rest for three days (i.e. ABABXXX)
- The exercises are arranged into pairs as supersets. After you complete one set of the first exercise, perform a set of the second exercise without resting
- Rest for 1 to 2 minutes before repeating the superset and before moving on to the next superset
- Always use a weight that is heavy enough to make the reps challenging
- Whenever you have to increase the weight, add a maximum of 5 lb (or 2.5 kg) to upper-body exercises or 10 lb (or 5 kg) to lower-body exercises
- Try to master the proper form of each exercise, including proper breathing technique. Also, try to develop a mental connection with your muscles and with the movement patterns
- If you get bored of an exercise, see the Overview of men’s weight training programs for alternatives
- If training at home in the absence of cable machines and other specialized equipment, see below the exercise tables for exercise alternatives
- Don’t forget to warm up before, and stretch after, each workout
- Once you have completed the Men’s Time-Saver program, you must take a deload week (a week during which you either rest or train lightly). Only then can you repeat the program or start the Muscle and Strength programs from a suitable level.
| Workout A (Upper body and core) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Sets x Reps | |
| Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 | Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 | |
| Bent-over two-arm dumbbell row Dumbbell bench press | 2 x 9–11 2 x 9–11 | 2 x 6–8 2 x 6–8 |
| Medium-grip lat pull-down Seated dumbbell overhead press | 2 x 9–11 2 x 9–11 | 2 x 6–8 2 x 6–8 |
| Cable face pull Triceps dip with dumbbell between feet | 2 x 9–11 2 x 9–11 | 2 x 6–8 2 x 6–8 |
| Dumbbell curl Wheel rollout | 2 x 9–11 2 x 10–15 | 2 x 6–8 2 x 15–20 |
| Workout B (Lower body and core) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Sets x Reps | |
| Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 | Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 | |
| Barbell squat Dumbbell Romanian deadlift (YT) | 2 x 9–11 2 x 9–11 | 2 x 6–8 2 x 6–8 |
| Dumbbell lunge Seated or lying leg curl | 2 x 9–11 2 x 9–11 | 2 x 6–8 2 x 6–8 |
| Captain’s chair leg and hip raise Machine standing calf raise | 2 x 10–15 2 x 15–20 | 2 x 15–20 2 x 10–15 |
| Bicycle crunch | 2 x 25–30 | 2 x 30–35 |
Alternatives for the cable/machine exercises
- Medium-grip lat pull-down — Medium-grip band lat pull-down (YT) or medium-grip pull-up
- Cable face pull — Band face pull (YT) or dumbbell face pull (YT)
- Triceps dip — Weighted bench dip (YT)
- Wheel rollout — Ab walkout (YT) or inch worm (YT)
- Seated or lying leg curl — Inverse leg curl, one-leg stability ball leg curl (YT), or band leg curl (YT)
- Captain’s chair leg and hip raise — Lying or hanging leg and hip raise
- Machine standing calf raise — Standing dumbbell one-leg calf raise or band standing calf raise (YT)
