Phase 1: Foundation•Week 1 • Friday

Day 5: Unilateral day

Full Body Strength C

45 minutes

Today's workout

Unilateral work. Balance, stability, single-leg strength.

Warm up (5-7 min)

Easy walk or bike (5 min)

Walk, bike, or row at a light conversational pace for 5 minutes. The goal is to raise core temperature and move blood to the muscles you're about to train. You should break a light sweat but still be able to talk easily.

→Start slow and build gradually
→Breathe through your nose if possible
→If you're sweating hard, you're going too fast

Leg Swings (10 per direction per side)

Stand next to a wall for balance. Swing one leg forward and back like a pendulum for 10 reps. Then swing the same leg side-to-side across your body for 10 reps. Switch sides.

→Only go as high as you can without tilting your pelvis
→Stay upright - don't lean to swing higher
→Controlled swings, not momentum-driven kicks

Walking Lunges (8 per side)

Step forward into a lunge, dropping back knee toward the floor. Drive through the front foot to bring the rear leg forward into the next lunge. Move slowly - this is preparation, not a workout.

→Front shin stays vertical
→Step long enough to feel the back hip open
→Upright torso

Arm Circles (10 per direction)

Stand tall, extend arms straight out to the sides at shoulder height. Make small forward circles, gradually increasing size over 10 reps. Reverse for 10 backward circles.

→Start small, build to bigger circles
→Keep shoulders down, not shrugged
→Arms stay at or near shoulder height

Scapular Push-Ups (10 reps)

Set up in a plank position (on knees or toes). Keep your arms straight the entire time. Pinch your shoulder blades together, letting your chest sink slightly. Then push the floor away, spreading your shoulder blades apart. This is a small, deliberate movement.

→Arms stay locked straight throughout
→Small range of motion - 2 to 3 inches
→Move slowly - this is activation, not cardio

Showing gym version. Switch to home above if needed.

1. Split Squat

3 x 10 per side

Rest 60 sec • dumbbells

Form cues

→Staggered stance, back heel up
→Drop straight down, not forward
→Front leg does the work

Common mistakes

✗Stepping too narrow - this stresses the knee, widen your split stance
✗Pushing off the back foot - the front leg does most of the work
✗Not going deep enough - aim for back knee a few inches from floor

Easier

Split squat to bench or box
Hands on counter for balance

Harder

Bulgarian split squat
Deficit split squat

Home: Bodyweight split squat

2. Single Leg Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift

3 x 8 per side

Rest 60 sec • dumbbells

Form cues

→Soft bend in standing leg
→Hinge forward, back leg extends behind
→Return with control

Common mistakes

✗Twisting open at the hip - keep both hip bones pointing down
✗Lifting the back leg too high - it's a balance lever, not a kick
✗Rounding the back - brace core like the two-leg version

Easier

Kickstand RDL (back toe lightly touching floor)

Harder

Heavier dumbbells
Deficit single-leg RDL

3. Push-Up (incline, knee, or standard)

3 x 8-12

Rest 60 sec • bodyweight

Form cues

→Hands under shoulders
→Body in straight line
→Lower chest to hand level

Common mistakes

✗Sagging hips - brace your core like a plank
✗Flaring elbows out to 90 degrees - tuck them to about 45 degrees
✗Partial range - lower until chest is at hand level

Easier

Wall push-up
Incline push-up on bench or counter
Knee push-up

Harder

Deficit push-up
Weighted push-up
Archer push-up

4. Band Face Pull

3 x 12-15

Rest 45 sec • bands

Form cues

→Anchor band at eye level
→Pull hands toward ears, elbows high
→Squeeze upper back at end

Common mistakes

✗Pulling to chest instead of face - keep band at eye level
✗Rounded shoulders - pack shoulder blades down first
✗Too much momentum - slow and controlled

Easier

Lighter band, closer anchor

Harder

Heavier band, slower tempo

5. Side Plank

3 x 20-30 sec per side

Rest 45 sec • bodyweight

Form cues

→Hips stacked and lifted
→Feet stacked or staggered
→Breathe through the hold

Common mistakes

✗Hips sagging toward the floor - actively lift
✗Twisting torso forward - stack hips and shoulders in a straight line
✗Head drifting - keep neck neutral, eyes straight ahead

Easier

Knee side plank
Side plank on forearm with top foot in front

Harder

Side plank with leg lift
Side plank with hip dips

Cool down (5 min)

•5 minutes easy walk
•Standing quad stretch x 30 sec per side
•Figure-4 stretch x 30 sec per side
•Deep breathing x 2 minutes

Today's nutrition focus

Fiber check: are you getting enough?

Most women get 12-15g of fiber daily. You need 25-30g. The gap is usually vegetables and beans. Add a cup of veg to every meal today and notice the difference in satiety and energy.

Mindset brief

Strong on one leg, strong on both

Single-leg work fixes imbalances you didn't know you had. Most women have a stronger dominant side and a weaker non-dominant side. The split squat, the single-leg RDL - they expose this and slowly correct it. That's why bilateral strength goes up too.

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