One of the crucial common exercises we’ve ever revealed at Nerd Health is our Newbie Body weight Exercise.
(Though Steve filmed the unique video together with his shorts inside out and backwards. True story!)
However after a number of weeks or months, it’s possible you’ll marvel:
“Cool, this works. However what ought to I do subsequent? Do I simply preserve doing the identical factor?”
Excellent news: you have got numerous choices!
If the exercise is beginning to really feel simpler, listed below are 5 methods to stage it up.
Notice: the following pointers work for ANY kind of body weight exercise. 💪
LEVEL 1: Add Extra Reps
That is the best development.
Attempt to add 1 rep every week.
Perhaps you begin with 10 pushups, you then strive 11, then 12.

So long as your approach stays stable, step by step growing reps is a good way to get stronger.
There isn’t any “magic” variety of reps.
The reps we advise within the exercise are there that can assist you discover the appropriate stage of problem.
Over time, you’ll be capable to do extra, and that’s nice! 🙌
LEVEL 2: Sluggish Issues Down (Tempo + Pauses)
This is likely one of the most underrated progressions.
Sluggish the motion down.
For instance, when doing a squat:
- Decrease your self for 3 seconds
- Pause on the backside for 1-2 seconds
- Stand again up usually.
The identical works for push-ups, rows, lunges, and extra.
Slower reps imply your muscle groups keep below pressure longer = extra problem!
LEVEL 3: Select a More durable Variation
As a substitute of doing extra reps, you may also make the train itself more durable.

Listed below are a number of examples:
Pushups
Wall pushups -> Incline pushups -> Flooring pushups -> Decline pushups
Squats
Body weight Squat -> Break up Squat -> Bulgarian Break up Squat -> Pistol Squat development
Rows
1-Arm Row -> Doorway Row -> Nook Tuck -> Ring Row
Similar motion sample.
Only a greater problem.
Do you know we truly constructed this for you?
It’s known as the Body weight Adventures. 21 exercises that incorporate all of those first 3 stage ups.
It helps you understand when to extend reps, change the tempo, or transfer to a more durable variation.
Should you haven’t seen it, simply hit reply and I’ll ship it your approach! 🙌
LEVEL 4: Add New Workouts
Another choice is to maintain the unique exercise the identical and add a number of additional workouts.
For instance:
Need extra core energy?
Attempt including Deadbugs, Hanging Knee Tucks, and so forth.
Need extra higher physique work?
Attempt including in Pike Push-ups, Bar Hangs, and so forth.
Need extra decrease physique work?
Attempt including Glute Bridges, Step Ups, and so forth.
These can add a bit little bit of enjoyable and selection in your exercises!
Notice: if you happen to’re brief on time, as an alternative of including it in, take into account subbing a motion out. I.e. exchange lunges with step ups, or planks with deadbugs. You get to get pleasure from extra selection with out making the exercise take too lengthy!
LEVEL 5: Add Resistance
Including a bit exterior resistance may assist.
And also you don’t want fancy tools.
You’ll be able to:
- Maintain a backpack full of books
- Fill some gallon jugs with water
- Or actually have a pal manually apply some mild resistance as you do the motion. (i.e. flippantly urgent down on shoulders as you rise up from a squat.)
That is additionally the place many individuals begin exploring energy coaching with weights.
(If that sounds fascinating, our Newbie Dumbbell Exercise and Power Coaching 101 information are nice subsequent steps.)
And also you don’t have to select one or the opposite. Body weight workouts are simply one other type of energy coaching. All of it counts and it’s all nice. 😃
—
One ultimate tip: don’t change every little thing, in all places, abruptly!

Decide one of this stuff so as to add to your exercises and see how you’re feeling.
Finally, it’s possible you’ll stack all of those collectively, however you don’t must be in a rush! Give your physique time to adapt. 💪
You bought this!
– Matt
P.S. Want you may ask a coach a query? Properly, now you’ll be able to! As an experiment, I arrange a Video Ask! It permits you submit a query to be answered by a coach. Test it out!



