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Best Full Body Workout Ideas for Optimal Fitness Gains

Juggling work, family, and everything else makes finding time for a good workout tough. This makes discovering the best full-body workout ideas even more critical for busy professionals. This isn’t about quick fixes but efficient, effective routines built around compound movements. We’ll explore workout routines that are designed for lasting results. This guide prioritises functional strength, blending seamlessly with your daily life.

We’ll also cover the ideal training frequency for your workouts. This allows enough time for recovery and muscle growth. Whether you’re just starting with strength training or looking to level up, finding a balanced workout routine is a game-changer. Let’s look at some of the best full body workout ideas.

Table Of Contents:

Best Full Body Workout Ideas

Crafting Your Best Full Body Workout

Full body workouts efficiently work various muscle groups in a single training session. This training frequency is perfect for busy schedules. It’s more than just hitting every muscle; consider movement patterns, not just individual muscles. Full body training is great for strength building and overall physique development.

Prioritising Compound Movements

Effective routines hinge on compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, presses, and barbell rows. These engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, maximising your workout benefits. Compound lifts improve your workout by increasing muscle strength.

Squats hit quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. Deadlifts strengthen the posterior chain and contribute to overall health. Adding rows targets the back and overhead presses train shoulders. As a beginner, it’s important to seek guidance with these compound lifts to prevent injuries. This guidance helps to ensure you become strong and injury resistant.

Three Essential Building Blocks

  1. Upper/Lower Split: Alternate between upper and lower body focus. For instance, pair bench presses with squats, targeting major muscle groups in both areas. The following workout can consist of rows paired with deadlifts.
  2. Push/Pull/Legs: Categorise exercises based on their movement pattern. This split is a good option for longer gym sessions or specific goals. Dedicate one workout day to pushing exercises (bench press, shoulder press), the next to pulling (dumbbell rows, pull-ups), and the last to legs (squats, deadlifts). You can also do dumbbell curls to incorporate more bicep training into your full-body exercises.
  3. Total Body Blitz: Combine a squat, a press, a pull, and a core movement (like planks) in one workout. This style maximises calorie burn, great for overall fitness (learn more about full body workouts).

 

Choose the building block best suited to your needs and available gym time. Be sure to factor in the number of training days that work best for your training session and your full-body workouts. Finding your correct training frequency makes the difference between training hard with full-body exercises vs burning yourself out.

Tailoring Your Workout Based on Personal Preference

Whether you prefer a quick 20-minute routine or an hour-long workout session, tailor your full-body routine. Consider your personal preference and available time.

Dumbbells provide a balanced, accessible workout for muscle building. For time-crunched individuals, focus on high-intensity movements or an upper/lower body split (learn about upper/lower split). You can find the best workout routine with many types of body exercise, such as incline dumbbell bench press.

Best Full Body Workout Ideas: Frequency & Recovery

For compound movements like squats, give yourself two minutes of rest. This recovery time allows optimal performance and promotes muscle growth. Accessory work, like bicep curls, needs around 60-90 seconds of rest.

Full body workouts are highly effective because this training program allows for more frequent stimulation and increased volume which leads to muscle growth. With this approach, muscle groups are usually stimulated at the perfect timing, leading to increased lean muscle mass. Building muscle is the result of repeated stimulus via resistance training over and extended period of time. With this full body workout routine you should follow the suggested rest time so you train hard and do not exhaust your muscles. The correct training plans will build muscle and burn fat however do not forget to ensure the program is designed by a trained professional.

Finding the Ideal Workout Frequency: Full Body Workouts

When focusing on the best full body workout ideas, balance intensity with recovery. Three training sessions per week work well for beginners, with a rest day between sessions. Your training program is influenced by your experience level.

Studies have found working each muscle group every two days optimizes muscle protein synthesis for growth. Listen to your body. If you’re feeling fatigued, increase your rest days.

Experience Level Recommended Frequency Rest Time Between Workouts
Beginner 2-3 workouts per week 1-2 days
Intermediate/Advanced 3-4 workouts per week 1 day (or as needed)

On these resting days, something active but low impact is ideal, like a gentle jog or brisk walk. If your goal is gaining lean muscle, performing low intensity exercise like brisk walking on rest days burns more calories and helps reduce body fat.

Warming Up Right for Best Full Body Workout Ideas

Before jumping into your workout, prep your body. Spend time with pre-workout exercises that improve muscle function. A proper warm-up is critical to maximize energy burn and reduce the risk of injuries.

Dynamic Warm-Ups Over Static Stretching

Dynamic warm-ups, such as arm circles or leg swings, boost blood flow and prepare your muscles. They improve range of motion and activate the relevant muscle groups. Warming up is key before you embark on your best full body workout routine.

The Importance of Tissue Work:

Tissue mobilisation or work preps your muscles for high-impact training. It enhances flexibility, reduces muscle soreness, and prevents injury. Focus on muscle building exercises with adequate tissue work to make sure the body can handle it.

3 Key Steps to Prep Your Body:

  1. Get Moving: 5–7 minutes of light cardio, like jogging, raises your heart rate and increases blood flow. It helps prevent any overuse injuries and build strength so you have the best body workout you can.
  2. Mimic Movements: Perform a few repetitions of exercises included in your session. For example, bodyweight squats prep your lower body for weighted squats or deadlift variations like Romanian deadlifts later.
  3. Tissue Prep: Use a foam roller or lacrosse ball on any tight or stiff muscles. This boosts circulation and loosens muscles. Some prefer to apply hot water packs to any muscle tears before full-body workouts and dynamic stretches are also suggested. Hot water packs help stimulate circulation and dynamic stretches stimulate muscle tissue.

Sample Workout: Best Full Body Workout Ideas

This full-body workout uses simple but effective exercises.  It’s perfect if you’re looking to improve your fitness in Canberra.  This routine blends functional training and HIIT principles for a great workout.

Warm-up for 5 minutes with some light cardio, like jogging or jumping jacks. This will prepare your muscles for the workout.

Workout Concept: Best Full Body Workout Ideas

Perform each exercise for 45 seconds. Rest for 15 seconds between exercises. After each round, rest for 1 minute. Repeat the whole circuit three times.

  1. Squats: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your hips as if sitting in a chair. Keep your back straight and chest up.
  2. Push-ups: Start in a plank position. Lower your chest to the floor. Push back up to the starting position. Modify by doing them on your knees if needed.
  3. Walking Lunges: Step forward with one leg and lower your hips until both knees are bent at 90 degrees. Alternate legs with each step.
  4. Dumbbell Rows: Place one knee and hand on a bench. Hold a dumbbell in the other hand. Pull the dumbbell towards your chest, keeping your back straight. Lower the dumbbell slowly.
  5. Burpees: Squat down, kick your feet back into a plank position, do a push-up (optional), return to the squat, and jump up.
  6. Plank: Hold a plank position, keeping your body in a straight line from head to heels. Engage your core muscles.

 

This full body workout is great for building strength and improving cardiovascular fitness. It’s perfect for professionals in Canberra who want a quick but effective session.

Remember to cool down for 5 minutes after your workout with some stretching. This will help your muscles recover and improve flexibility.

This workout is a great starting point. But if you’re after more personalised full body workout ideas, working with a qualified personal trainer is always a good idea. They can tailor a program to suit your specific fitness level and goals.

Commonly Asked Questions

What’s the best full body workout if I’m short on time?

Pressed for time? You can still get a great full body workout. Try a circuit combining compound exercises. These exercises work multiple muscle groups at once. Think squats, push-ups, rows, and lunges. Do each exercise for 45 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds. Repeat the circuit three times. This type of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is super effective. Plus, it boosts your metabolism. You’ll feel energised all day. This is perfect for busy Canberra professionals.

What are some full body workout ideas for building strength?

If you’re keen to build strength, focus on compound exercises with heavier weights. Good options include barbell squats, deadlifts, and bench presses. Aim for 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions. Make sure you have proper form to avoid injuries. Our Canberra gym offers personal training to help you nail your technique.

Can I do a full body workout at home?

Absolutely! You don’t need fancy equipment for an effective full body workout. Bodyweight exercises are your friend. Try variations of squats, lunges, push-ups, and planks. You can also add resistance bands to increase the challenge. This is a great way to squeeze in exercise even with a busy schedule. Plus, you’ll build functional strength for everyday activities.

How often should I do a full body workout?

This depends on your fitness level and training goals. Beginners might start with two full body workouts a week, allowing rest days in between for muscle recovery. As you get fitter, you can increase to three or four sessions. Just listen to your body and don’t push through pain.

What are the benefits of full body workouts?

Full body workouts offer loads of benefits. They’re time-efficient, great for building muscle, and they burn serious calories. Because they work multiple muscle groups, they also improve coordination and balance. This makes everyday activities easier. They’re a great choice for improving your overall fitness.

What’s a good full body workout routine for beginners?

A good beginner routine might include squats, push-ups, rows, planks, and lunges. Start with bodyweight or light weights. Focus on good form. As you get stronger, you can gradually increase the weight or resistance. This is an excellent foundation for any fitness journey.

How can I make my full body workout more challenging?

To make your workout tougher, you can increase the weight, reps, or sets. You could also try more challenging variations of exercises. For example, progress from standard squats to jump squats. Another option is to reduce your rest time between sets. This keeps your heart rate up. This is ideal for building strength and endurance.

Best Full Body Workout Ideas

My Starting Position

Right, so you’re keen to give this whole fitness thing a red hot go, but not sure where to begin? That’s fair enough. Most of us have been there. Maybe you’re a complete beginner, or maybe you’ve dabbled a bit in the past. Either way, finding the right full body workout can be tricky. This is especially true if you’re in Canberra and looking for a top-notch gym with a supportive community.

Before you jump into any full body workout ideas, it’s good to get a handle on your current fitness level. This will help you choose exercises that are challenging but also safe. A good starting point is to think about how much exercise you get now. Are you regularly active, or is this a fresh start? Be honest with yourself, because there’s no point pretending you’re an Olympian if you haven’t hit the gym since high school.

Next, think about any niggling injuries or health conditions you have. This is important, because you don’t want to make anything worse. If you’re unsure, have a chat with your GP or a physio. They can give you the all-clear or suggest modifications. Once you’ve got a handle on your current situation, you can start looking at full body workout ideas that suit your needs.

Now, full body workouts are a great way to build strength, improve your fitness, and burn some calories. Plus, they can be more time-efficient than targeting specific muscle groups on different days. This is especially helpful if you’re a busy professional juggling work and life in Canberra.

There are loads of different full body workouts you can do regardless of your starting position, whether you prefer functional training or HIIT. Some popular exercises include squats, push-ups, lunges, rows, and planks. You can do these exercises with just your body weight, or you can add weights or resistance bands to make them harder. But remember, it’s always best to start slow and gradually increase the intensity as you get fitter. That way, you’ll avoid injuries and stay motivated.

This can also be a great time to start looking for a gym that focuses on proper form and good programming. This will make sure you get the most out of your workouts and reduce your risk of injury. Plus, a supportive gym community can give you that extra boost of motivation. If you’re looking for a functional and HIIT gym in Canberra, it’s worth doing your research and checking out a few different places. See what vibe they have and if it feels like a good fit for you.

Fuelling Your Workouts and the Best Full Body Workout Ideas

It’s crucial to prioritise nutrition alongside your training. Both pre- and post-workout nutrition affect your progress and influence muscle growth. Protein consumption, spread throughout the day, optimises muscle protein synthesis and muscle building. You should aim to eat three meals per training day to maximize body fat burning.

A simple guide: three protein-rich meals and two high-protein snacks will aid muscle recovery and support a healthy diet (learn more about diet). Remember, this applies to people of different body fat percentages from Queensland to Victoria, etc.

FAQs about Best Full Body Workout Ideas

What is the best overall full body workout?

The “best” workout varies depending on your experience level, body training preference and body fat. An effective routine includes compound exercises like conventional deadlifts, squats, presses, and rows. Tailor the specifics to your fitness level, equipment, and time constraints. Choosing the correct exercise selection ensures you can stay lean.

Which one exercise is best for the whole body?

If you could only choose one, the deadlift engages multiple muscle groups across the entire body. However, variety in your training program supports more thorough results.

What activity is best for a full body workout?

Activities like swimming, rock climbing, or even a brisk walk combined with bodyweight exercises engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously.

Are 4 exercises enough for full body?

Yes. Focusing on compound exercises with heavier weight during three different types of split movements optimizes growth. This is especially true compared to isolating small muscle groups alone. Remember to squat, press, pull and train your core for effective full body training and body training overall.

If training for general fitness, this approach is often adequate. There are various ways to train efficiently and enhance your physique through a diverse exercise regimen, including flexibility training. Don’t just target upper body; do arm dumbbell exercises, too.

It’s more important to perform a small range of effective exercises consistently with intensity than lots of exercises poorly with lighter weights or fewer sets. Be sure to incorporate proper rest between sets for weight training, so give yourself 60 to 90 seconds rest for smaller movements such as leg curls, and up to 120 seconds rest for major lifts such as the squat movement.

Best Full Body Workout Ideas

Conclusion

Finding the best full body workout ideas depends on incorporating compound exercises like dumbbell press, dumbbell row, shoulder press, and more, and tailoring the routine to your lifestyle. Begin with our three workout approaches. Remember, consistency and balance are key for lasting change.

As your capabilities improve, so should your training plan. Consider adjusting the weight, sets, reps, and exercise selection as you progress. Feel free to experiment to find what suits you best. By sticking to a routine, you’ll notice significant improvement in your body workout routine. This will result in increased muscle building and muscle growth, regardless of the body workout split you decide on. The proper squat sets and deadlifts performed will make a difference in strength training and the overall full body workout experience.

Elements4Life Gym in Canberra is an opportunity to enhance your fitness and lifestyle. Engage in our SmartTeam training system or work directly with a FocusPT coach to optimise your results.

Get started at Elements4Life and #Train4Life.

Learn more and sign up today at www.elements4life.com.au.

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