Tired of sweating through multiple cardio sessions a week and still feeling like you're stuffed into your skinny jeans? Start pumping more iron! This total-body workout was designed exclusively for SHAPE by certified strength coach Nick Tumminello, owner of Performance University, to help you add more metabolically active (i.e. fat-burning) lean muscle mass to your frame. The routine is made up of four supersets (two exercises performed back to back with no rest in between) to help you burn the maximum amount of calories in the least amount of time.
How it works: Perform each exercise in the superset back to back, resting 60 to 90 seconds between sets (2 exercises = 1 set). Complete all sets of the first superset before moving on to the second and so on.
For best results, Tumminello recommends doing this workout three nonconsecutive days per week, for up to five weeks. You'll alternate rep/set schemes each time you do the routine (as noted). This not only mixes things up and keeps your muscles guessing, but it's also a more effective method of developing muscle than doing the same rep count every time, Tumminello says.
You'll need: Two sets of dumbbells (a light and a heavy pair, but both should max you out by the end of the set), a resistance band, and a weight bench (or similar object, such as a platform or box).
