With what we are experiencing globally as a result of the COVID-19 situation, many of you are finding yourself in training scenarios where you don’t have access to facilities the way you have come to expect. You will need to make adjustments to your home workouts. Maybe you have to do a bodyweight workout without all of your equipment. Maybe you only have access to a few home implements and need a low equipment workout for home. If you want to purchase a few low cost items, we have a recommended purchase list below.
My hope is to provide a guide on some ways to navigate a variety of situations. Along the way you will learn a ton about training and adapting to new circumstances – which is a skillset that will serve any great coach or athlete. In a challenging situation, how you respond is up to you. Keep your strength, share your knowledge and resources with others, and remain committed to your fitness and your health.
Want a done for you program? Join Persist free for the first two weeks! Persist includes 3 tracks, one of which is Minimalist equipment training with bodyweight only options.
Most of our training programs and coaching is broken into a few categories. I will provide some ideas on how to navigate these situations. Let’s do this!
Full Workout with 60-90mins:
1. Choose a warm up
3. Add one or two Absolute Strength pieces
3. Pick structural balance exercises that pair well; for example, same category as Absolute Strength or one of the following:
Push + Pull
Squat + Pull
Hinge + Push
4. Add in one core/plank focused exercise
5. Determine a conditioning
Short Workout 30-60mins:
1. Warm Up – 3 Rounds
2. Two Structural Balance Movements
3. Conditioning
Brief Workout 30mins or Less:
Extend a single Warm Up into a 30min time frame (10 rounds of it, 30mins continuous, EMOM x 30mins)
OR Absolute Strength Focus Supersets
Pick 2 or 3 Absolute Strength Focus movements and superset them x 4-5 sets each, resting about 45-60sec between each move
OR Structural Balance w/ Cardio
Pick 2-3 Structural Balance Movements and superset them x 4-5 sets. You will add a breathing piece here like a run, jump rope, burpee, or box jump, etc. Resting 30-45sec between each move.
OR Conditioning Only
Pick a format you would like to focus on that day and just do a singularly focused workout.
10mins @ 75%; rest 3mins x 3
3mins @ 90%; rest 2mins x 6
EMOM x 30mins
10 sets – Sprint 20sec; rest walk 2:40
NOTE: If you are new to this style of training, make sure you are familiar with tempo (31X1, etc.), supersets (A1, A2), and loading based on these variables. You can learn about these concepts in the Knowledge Base.
Most of our warm-ups and preparation sessions for FBB are built with low equipment or bodyweight in mind. Even for home workout situations or very low equipment setups, you will likely be able to do many of these as prescribed.
Warm-Up Formats
*TURN YOUR WARM-UP INTO A WORKOUT – With these movements that require little to no equipment, they can make for great workout sessions if you simply extend the time duration or volume of sets. The RED above shows how you could make your workout for the day just an extended variation of the warm-up.
If some of the movements can’t be performed as written, then you can replace them with one of the following. This list shows you how we have many movements that require little to no equipment.
1. 4 Sets
6-8/arm – Half Kneeling Bottom Up KB Press @ 2010 tempo
rest 30sec
10m Lateral Band Walks/side
rest 30sec
12 Scapular Push Ups on Elbows
rest 60sec
2. 4 Sets
6 Tall Kneeling Single Arm Dumbbell Press/arm @ 31X2 tempo
rest 15sec
10m Goblet Loaded Lateral Band Walks/side
rest 15sec
30sec Kettlebell Side Plank/side
rest 90sec
3. 3 Continuous Rounds – Not for time
10m Quadruped Crawl Forward
10m Quadruped Crawl Backward
5m Tall Plank Lateral Crawl R
5m Tall Plank Lateral Crawl L
30 Ring Mountain Climbers (15/side) 1010 tempo
10 Dual Arm Dumbbell Upright Row (11X1)
4. 4 Sets
6-8/arm Half Kneeling Cross Body Dumbbell Press (2111 tempo)
rest 15sec
10 Side Planks Clamshell/side
rest 15sec
10 Single Arm DB Powell Raise/arm
rest 90sec
5. 4 Sets
15 Jane Fonda’s/leg
15sec Single Leg Glute Bridge/side
rest 30sec
20sec Ring Row Hold
10 Banded Good Morning 20X0
rest 60sec
6. 3 Sets
6 Half Kneeling Bottom Up KB Press/arm
rest 15sec
15m Single Arm Bottoms Up KB Overhead Carry/arm
rest 15sec
15sec KB Star Plank
rest 15sec
8-10 Russian Kettlebell Swings (EXTEND HIPS FAST)
Rest 90sec
7. 10mins Continuous Movement – Not For Speed but instead For Quality
50 Single Unders
8-10 Kneeling Banded Hip Extensions (EXTEND HIPS FAST)
5 Dumbbell Single Leg RDL (30X0)/leg
20sec Bent Hollow Hold
8. 4 Sets Not For Time
5 Single Arm KB Z Press
Rest 15sec
10-12 Banded Side Bridges/side (2sec hold at top)
Rest 15sec
20sec Psoas March
Rest 90sec
9. Breathing + Shoulder + Hip Speed + Overhead Prep
5 Sets
Row 125/100m (increase pace with each set)
6 Single Arm DB Muscle Snatch R
6 Single Arm DB Push Press R
6 Single Arm DB Muscle Snatch L
6 Single Arm DB Push Press L
rest walk 45sec between sets
10. 3 Sets
2 Turkish Gets Up R
4 Single Arm KB Press R
2 Turkish Get Up L
4 Single Arm KB Press L
Rest 15sec
5m Tall Plank Theraband Lateral Walk/side
Rest 15sec
6 Cross Body Single Leg RDL 30X0/leg
rest 90sec
11. 4 Sets
5 Half Kneeling Anti Rotation Single Arm DB Press/arm 30X0
Rest 30sec
12 Prisoner Tall Kneeling to Standing (6/side)
Rest 30sec
30sec Kettlebell Dead Bug (or DB)
Rest 60sec
12. 9mins Continuous – Move with Purpose and Control
20 Mountain Climbers
15sec Passive Bar Hang
6 Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift 30X0
10 Tuck Ups
15sec Bent Hollow Hold
1. 3 Sets
10 Quadruped Hip Extensions/leg (hold 1sec at top of each)
rest 15sec
30sec Forearm Plank – Protract Shoulders as far as possible
rest 15sec
10 Side Plank Rotations/side
rest 15sec
10 Jefferson Curls (low load slow and controlled) focus on simply execution of correct postures – with a PVC, bodyweight, or a light kb or weight
rest 90sec
2. 3 Sets
10 Bird Dog/side
rest 15sec
20sec Single Leg Ring Plank per leg (or on floor if no rings)
rest 15sec
30sec Glute Bridge Static Hold
rest 15sec
5 Plank Walk Outs
rest 60-90sec
3. 3 Sets
10 Quadruped Thoracic Rotation/side
rest 15sec
30sec Reverse Plank
rest 15sec
15m Quadruped Crawl (move very slow and deliberately – get the shoulders warmed up)
rest 15sec
10 Jeffersons Curls Light (PVC, just bodyweight, or light weight if you have one)
rest 60-90sec
4. 4 Sets
8 Quadruped Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs) per arm
rest 15sec
1 Wall Walk
10sec Wall Facing Handstand at top of Wall Walks
10 Wall Facing Shoulder Taps
(Scale to Feet on Box Pike Walk – lower box for lower skill requirement)
rest 15sec
10 Glute Bridge March (3-5secconds/leg x 5 rep each)
rest 60sec
5. Every 3 Minutes x 4 sets
15m Bear Crawl Forward
12 Goblet Curtsy Squats (6/side) – or bodyweight
15m Bear Crawl Backwards
12 Reverse Crunches
*rest remainder of the 3 minutes after you’ve completed the prescribed movements
6. 4 Sets
10 Tall Plank Shoulder Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs)/arm
Rest 15sec
5 Single Arm KB Rack Curtsy Squat (try to control the lowering on each rep for 2-3 sec each rep) R (or bodyweight if you don’t have a KB)
5 Single Arm KB Rack Curtsy Squat L
Rest 15sec
10 Supine Flutter Kicks
10 Supine Scissor Kicks
5 Supine Leg Raises
Rest 60sec
7. 3 Sets
10 Cat Camel (hold 1sec in both positions for each rep)
rest 15sec
30sec Army Crawler
rest 15sec
10 Dumbbell Side Plank Rotations/side (or bodyweight)
rest 15sec
5 Weight Plate Good Morning 30X0 (or Prisoner)
5 Weight Plate Squats @ 30X0 Tempo (or Prisoner)
rest 90sec
8. 4 Sets
5m Dual Theraband Tall Plank Lateral Crawl R (without bands if you don’t have them)
5m Dual Theraband Tall Plank Lateral Crawl L
Rest 15sec
10 Dual Theraband Air Squat @ 20X0 Tempo
Rest 15sec
5 Prisoner Good Morning
5 Single Leg Prisoner Good Morning R
5 Single Leg Prisoner Good Morning L
Rest 90sec
This portion of our training programs is when we get into larger compound lifts, typically loaded with barbells for ease of loading heavier. The goal is to use a variety of strength prescriptions here to improve movement quality, some top-end strength, and generally provide a full-body stimulus that will activate a neuroendocrine response to help your muscles grow and adapt.
We generally group these into major movement categories. Below you will find a list of movement patterns that we train for absolute strength. Categories are broken down by the pattern (ie. Vertical Pressing). I will give you some ideas on how to navigate eat pattern with a bodyweight or low equipment prescription to get an adequate dose response for this period of time.
Remember we are never going to replace externally loaded exercises with bodyweight movements. But we can do our best to provide enough stimulus to maintain this strength during this phase.
Normally this would be the part of your training where you load up heavy. Rep ranges would look like anything from 1 or 2 reps HEAVY, up to 8-10reps Moderately Heavy. What we are going to be doing with these movement patterns is to up the repetition ranges and TIME UNDER TENSION to try and achieve a similar dose without access to the larger loads that might be present at the gym.
RECOMMENDATION – Try to get at least 1, maybe 2, of each pattern in per week.
Back Squat, Front Squat, Overhead Squat, Thruster, Squat Clean, Squat Snatch – Sub with one of these:
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List (see bottom section)
Bodyweight Only
Deadlift, Sumo Deadlift, Power Clean, Power Snatch, Good Morning, Barbell Hip Thrust, Barbell Glute Bridge
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Press, Push Press, Jerk
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Bench Press, Close Grip Bench Press, Incline/Decline Bench Press, Floor Press, Dips
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Strict Pull Ups, Wtd Pull Ups, Strict Muscle Ups, Legless Rope Climbs, L-Pull Ups
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Prone Barbell Rows, Bent Over Rows, Pendlay Rows
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
This is really some of the most important work that we do in Functional Bodybuilding. This is the strength balance, unilateral, and small muscle work that accompanies all of our programs to ensure great foundational strength.
Single Arm Rack Squats, Single Arm Thrusters, Single Arm OHS
With Dumbbells
Cossack Squats, Curtsy Squats, Step Ups, Step Downs, Lunges, Split Squats, Pistols
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Single Arm DB Romanian Deadlift, Single Arm Cross Body DB RDL, Single Arm Cross Body Jefferson Curl, Landmine Single Leg RDL
With Dumbbells
Single Leg RDL, Cross Body RDL, Single Leg Hip Thrust, Single Leg Glute Bridge, Single Leg Good Morning
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Half Kneeling SA Press, Tall Kneeling Single Arm Press, Filly Press, Single Arm Z Press, Single Arm Push Press, Landmine Press
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Single Arm Bench Press, Glute Bridge Single Arm Bench Press, Single Arm Floor Press
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Single Arm DB Upright Row, Single Arm Bias Pull Up, Archer Pull Ups
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
DB Single Arm Row, Chainsaw Row, Chinese Row, Plank DB Row
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Landmine Twist, Russian Twist, KB Windmill, Turkish Get Up, Banded Chops
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Hollow Rocks, Strict Toes to Bar, Strict Knees to Elbows, Sit Ups, Turkish Sit Ups, V-Ups, Tuck Ups, L-Sits, Tuck L-Sits, L-Hangs, Tuck L-Hangs, Bent Hollow Holds
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
Side plank, Clamshell plank, Adduction Side Plank, Star Plank, Single Arm Plank, Single Leg Plank, Contralateral Plank, Body Saw
With Dumbbells
With Recommended Home Equipment List
Bodyweight Only
We approach conditioning many different ways in FBB programs. We cover a broad spectrum of time domains and utilize different energy systems in our weekly prescriptions.
Anaerobic – This is our higher power work that is anywhere from 20sec to 2mins long and intentionally done at a non sustainable pace. REMEMBER these workouts are all about HIGH POWER intent. You are not pacing these. Aerobic workouts are longer and more sustainable and described further below. Choose a mix of time domains and efforts throughout your week for balance.
Traditional FBB Examples
Low Equipment/Home FBB Examples
Traditional FBB Examples
Low Equipment/Home FBB Examples
Traditional FBB Examples
Low Equipment/Home FBB Examples
This is our moderate to lower power output work that is performed at sustainable paces and covers a broad range of time domains. Some of our favorite applications of this sort of work show up in the following formats.
Remember this category of conditioning work is all about the sustainable pace you choose. Everything you do here should feel repeatable from set to set. Focus on quality, keep the breathing rate high, and make an effort to not go into the PAIN CAVE.
EMOM/Every 2mins/Every 3mins, etc; prescribed in a 1:1 work rest fashion.
Traditional FBB Examples
Low Equipment/Home FBB Examples
(rest and repeat for a number of sets)
Traditional FBB Examples
Low Equipment/Home FBB Examples
Traditional FBB Example
Low Equipment/Home FBB Examples
Traditional FBB Examples
Low Equipment/Home FBB Examples
Below are some of our favorite Functional Bodybuilding tools that you can use anywhere, and will continue to serve you for a long time to come. You can get a great set of tools for under $150, or add weight for a little more. You will likely have at least a few of these already or can substitute (sturdy chair or bench for the box, for example). A dumbbell or two and a kettlebell are all you need for loading if you want to add these on. Prices are likely to shift around but they are listed here to give you a ballpark of what the costs will be.
If you want to follow a done for you minimal equipment program, gather these items and join Persist! (Bodyweight options also available within the program.)
Mini Band set – $11
Jump stretch band #1 (light) – $13
Pull up bar – $29
Sliders – $9
Glute Loop – $11
Wood Plyo box, 3 heights in 1 – $45
Stability Ball – $20
Jump Rope – our favorite is the RPM Session which you can get for $55 and up (use code FILLY10 for a discount!). If this is out of your price range try this one (let us know if you like it).
Dumbbells – Amazon Basics start at $37 for a 35#. You can also get coated hex from CAP Barbell for a little more. You will need two of moderate weight for you for our upcoming free program.
Kettlebell – powder coat starts at $47 for a 35# or check out Kettlebell Kings for a great selection and free shipping! Choose a single KB of moderate weight for you for our program.
Glute Loop Moves
Slide Board Moves
Pull Up Bar Moves
Physio Ball Moves
The example templates below will help you fill in a plan based on how often you’d like to train.
Monday
Warm-Up of Choice
Upper Pull and Squat Resistance Training
A1. Absolute Squat
A2. Absolute Pull
B1. Structural Single Leg x 3 sets
B2. Structural Core Flexion x 3 sets
C. EMOM x 10-12mins
1 – Breather Movement 30sec
2 – Breather Movement 30sec
Tuesday
30-60min Walk
Wednesday
Warm-Up of Choice
Upper Push and Hinge Resistance Training
A1. Absolute Hinge
A2. Absolute Push Horizontal
B1. Structural Single Leg Hip Ext x 3 sets
B2. Structural Push Vertical x 3 sets
C. AMRAP 15mins – Sustained Pace
1 – Breather Movement for 30-45sec
2 – Crawling Variation 30-40sec
3 – Plank Variation for 20-30sec
Thursday
30-60min Walk
Friday
Warm-Up of Choice
Full Body Structural Balance w/ Breathing
4 Sets
A1. Structural Squat
rest 30sec
A2. Structural Horz Pull
rest 30sec
A3. Structural Rotational core
rest 30sec
A4. Structural Horz Push
rest 30sec
A5. Structural Single Leg Hinge
rest 30sec
A6. Breather movement for 30-45sec
rest 90sec
B. Anaerobic – Short Sprint Work – 10-20sec High Effort movement w/ full rest x 6-8 sets
Monday
Warm-Up of Choice
Upper Pull and Squat Resistance Training
A1. Absolute Squat
A2. Absolute Pull
B1. Structural Single Leg x 3 sets
B2. Structural Core Flexion x 3 sets
C. EMOM x 10-12mins
1 – Breather Movement 30sec
2 – Breather Movement 30sec
Tuesday
Warm-up of Choice
Sustained Aerobic Work
Wednesday
Warm-Up of Choice
Upper Push and Hinge Resistance Training
A1. Absolute Hinge
A2. Absolute Push Horizontal
B1. Structural Single Leg Hip Ext x 3 sets
B2. Structural Push Vertical x 3 sets
C. AMRAP 15mins – Sustained Pace
1 – Breather Movement for 30-45sec
2 – Crawling Variation 30-40sec
3 – Plank Variation for 20-30sec
Thursday
Round the World – Easy Pace
1min – Easy Run
1min – 30sec side plank/side
1min – Easy Jump Rope Singles
1min – 30sec Superman hold/30sec Bent Hollow Hold
1min – Prisoner Step Ups
x 6-8 Rounds
Friday
Warm-Up of Choice
Full Body Structural Balance w/ Breathing
4 Sets
A1. Structural Squat
rest 30sec
A2. Structural Horz Pull
rest 30sec
A3. Structural Rotational core
rest 30sec
A4. Structural Horz Push
rest 30sec
A5. Structural Single Leg Hinge
rest 30sec
A6. Breather movement for 30-45sec
rest 90sec
B. Anaerobic – Short Sprint Work – 10-20sec High Effort movement w/ full rest x 6-8 sets
Saturday
Full body Sustainable Aerobic Work
10min AMRAP @ 75%
30 Double Unders
15 Air Squats
12 Sit-Ups
30sec Crawl
rest 3misn
10min AMRAP @ 75%
3 Wall Walks with 5sec hold at the top
16 Walking Lunges
200m Run
rest 5mins x 2 (start back at the top)
SUNDAY – Reflect and Rest