BUTTS & GUTS | WEEK 33 | 08/08/2021
Butts and Guts is posted once a week, on Sundays. These workouts are for anyone who wants more work on the posterior and midline and can be added in whatever day makes most sense for you!
We typically suggest that when you add this workout in to the regular program - or even to one of the other accessory workouts - to treat it as a finisher as opposed to doing it before. You can find suggestions for which workouts the Butts and Guts workouts will fit in with best in the write ups for Program A, B, and C each week!
WARM UP
LOWER BODY DUMBBELL WARM UP
WORKOUT
Every 4 Minutes for 20 Minutes
8 Farmer Carry Step Up w/ 3-Sec Lower, Right
8 Farmer Carry Step Up w/ 3-Sec Lower, Left
16 DB Squats
30 Sec Side Plank Hip Drop, Right
30 Sec Side Plank Hip Drop, Left
Suggested Weight
Men: 30-40# DBs
Women: 15-25# DBs
Score: Weight Used for Step Ups
COACHES NOTES
You should be getting at least 30 seconds of rest. If not, customize one or more of the movements for the remaining rounds so that you're able to move through the work a little faster.
Choose a weight for the step ups that allows for a 3-sec lower! If you can't lower that slow - go lighter. If you need to go unweighted, do that! Also - if you find that one leg is stronger than the other - don't use a different weight for it. The weaker leg should determine the weight you use on both. You can use a different weight for the squats! Shoot to knock out 10-16 hip drops per side per round.
FARMER CARRY STEP UP W/ 3-SEC LOWER
Stand at your box/step with a dumbbell in each hand at your sides. Make sure you step up with your foot completely on the box. Drive out of the heel for each rep and avoid the knee caving in. Stand up all the way at the top of the box and make sure both feet are planted. Then lower with control, taking a full 3 seconds before your back foot touches the ground. Make sure you choose a weight and a height that you are comfortable stepping up AND down with control!
If you don't have something to step up onto, or if you are uncomfortable stepping up right now you can sub alternating lunges. Each lunge counts as one rep.
DUMBBELL SQUAT
Hold the DBs at the shoulder. The feet should be shoulder width apart. Heels down. Raise the chest and tighten the belly. Reach the butt back and down and drive the knees out. Get the butt lower than the knees at the bottom. No collapsing or rounding the back at the bottom! Stand all the way up at the top.
SIDE PLANK HIP DROP
Get into the plank position by lying on one side of your body. Support your torso by propping yourself up onto the forearm/elbow of the arm closest to the floor. Stack your shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles directly above one another then press into your grounded foot and elbow to lift your hips. Once at the top of the plank, lower your hip down slow and controlled until it touches the floor then explode back up to the top of the plank. Keep your supported shoulder pressed as far away from your ear as possible the entire time. Be sure that your top hip does not rotate too far forward. If you are having trouble touching the floor while keeping your hips stacked, just shorten the distance you drop your hip or do a static side plank hold.
Side Plank Hip Drops
Side planks can be a really great tool for core strengthening during pregnancy and postpartum but if you notice that you're bearing down, holding your breathing, coning/doming, or feel unstable with this movement, feel free to modify to Side Plank Hold, any variation of Functional Progression 2, DB Windmills, Paloff Press, Bear Pose Shoulder Taps, Bear Crawl, or Functional Progression 1.
DB Step Ups
If you have any pubic symphysis pain or SPD focus on keeping your pelvis neutral and your hips level. You could always do lighter weight, smaller or shorter step/less range of motion. You can also try stepping laterally onto a stack of plates or something instead of stepping forward and up, sometimes this helps create some control in managing the position of the pelvis. Option to sub: Single Leg Glute Bridge, Hip Thrusts, Air Squat, Goblet/DB Squat
DB/Back/Front/Air Squat
If you have a hard time maintaining control and a stable midline in the bottom of the squat or if you find yourself bearing down to get out of the bottom, try subbing a target or assisted squat to shorten the range of motion. A box squat is always a great idea especially during pregnancy to strengthen the posterior chain and balance out the growing belly.