Workout Summary
- Main GoalLose Fat
- Workout TypeSplit
- Training LevelIntermediate
- Program Duration8 weeks
- Days Per Week3
- Time Per Workout30-45 minutes
- Equipment RequiredBarbell, Bodyweight, Dumbbells, Medicine Ball
- Target Gender Male & Female
- Workout PDF Download Workout
Workout Description
![Density training]()
Max Out and Cut Fat
Max Out and Cut FatI hear it every time I ask someone their opinion on fat loss. I see it every time I go online. Looking to lose fat? Cardio, cardio and more cardio! Well I have a problem with that, and I think every other muscle-bound guy out there does as well. I don’t like killing myself on the stationary bike in the gym while wearing a garbage bag and having the thermostat cranked up into the triple digits.
Also, another problem I have with this method, is the loss of muscle size and strength during cutting phases. So why not lose some fat while lifting heavy? I’ve devised a density program to reduce or eliminate strength and size loss during a hardcore cutting phase by placing emphasis on the powerlifts.
I promise, you won’t have to touch an elliptical, treadmill, or stationary bike. This program should be a favorite among heavy lifters because it allows you to have a max effort on a powerlift every day, even though it’s a cutting cycle. Because of its uniqueness and difficulty to adapt to, you may even see gains in size and strength while simultaneously cutting fat.
This program is designed as a full body workout with emphasis on a powerlift each day.
- Day 1: Bench Press
- Day 2: Deadlift
- Day 3: Squat
Core work is not included, but can be done as a warm up or cool down. However, stay away from erector muscles, they get plenty of training during the actual workout, and any more activity may lead to overtraining and injury.
A sample day may look like this:
- 5 Minute Dynamic Stretching/ General Warm Up (Done to stretch muscle fibers while raising heart rate)
- 5 Minute Specific Warm Up (Ex. Bench on bench day, etc…)
- Max Effort 1RM on Powerlift
- 5-10 Minute Core Work
- Density Workout
- 5 Minutes Static Stretching/Cool Down
Constructing the program for you:
- Each of the powerlifts should be done at 80% of your 1RM.
- Assistance exercises should be done with 70-75% of your 1RM (possibly more or less depending on your strengths and weaknesses).
- When med balls are called for, use a weight you are comfortable with, if the med ball is too light, you might not receive benefits of that exercise; too heavy, you may be placing emphasis on the wrong muscle groups, or you may experience too much joint stress.
- During the max effort portion, don’t make any more than three attempts at a lift, this will too greatly hurt performance in the later density circuit.
Rules of the Program
- Plyometric/bodyweight exercises can be done with dumbbells if an exercise feels too light.
- Weights should not be increased throughout the program unless a weight feels drastically too light/too heavy.
- Exercises in the program should be repeated through for 25 minutes NO MORE, NO LESS.
- Each exercise in the set should be done back to back, any rest needed should be taken between sets.
- The goal is to add a set done every time through the workout.
- Separate each workout by at least a day to avoid overtraining.
| Day 1 | |
|---|---|
| Bench Press Day | |
| Exercise | Reps |
| Bench Press | 5 |
| Push Up | 20 |
| Overhead Press | 10 |
| Medicine Ball Jump Snatch | 15 |
| Incline Dumbbell Bench Press | 10 |
| Chest Dip | 15 |
| Day 2 | |
|---|---|
| Deadlift Day | |
| Exercise | Reps |
| Deadlift | 5 |
| Back Extension | 20 |
| Barbell Curl | 10 |
| Close Grip Chin Up | 15 |
| Dumbbell Lunge | 10 |
| Split Squat | 15 |
| Day 3 | |
|---|---|
| Squat Day | |
| Exercise | Reps |
| Squat | 5 |
| Tuck Jump | 20 |
| Upright Row | 10 |
| Inverted Row | 15 |
| ATG Front Squat | 10 |
| Dumbbell High Pulls | 15 |
So there it is. If you want to lose some fat, put down the cell phone and stop texting for 25 minutes to get in the best shape of your life. You’ll look better, and still be able to bench an impressive load. Try this program for a month or two, and then come back and do it again the next time you want to lose a little fat. Have fun maxing out on the powerlifts, but be ready to sweat your ass off when it’s time to work.
434 Comments
Hi There,
Going to try this program shortly after my bulk, what should i do on the off days? Just walks? No cardio at all?
Hey Conor - you can add in cardio on your off days.
Could you please explain how a typical Bench day would be. I'm a little confused as to what are the reps given and repeating which part for 25mins? Please explain. Thank you
the workout is great and i had fun, but doing it first time i wasnt able to pull much weight, what diet should be followed with this? also can we swap the sequences of the exercises mentioned?
Chetaan,
Your nutrition will depend upon your goals (muscle gain or fat loss). If you're looking to gain muscle then you'll need a caloric surplus. Alternatively, if you're looking to lose body fat then you must maintain a caloric deficit.
There are some exercises which could be swapped but it would depend. Which ones were you looking to move around?
can you explain properly what you meant by calorie deficit? u mean eating less?
Chetaan,
A calorie deficit means you're burning more calories than you're consuming.
thanks, i will cut down on my carbs, n include more of fibre, n protiens but reducing carbs will also make me reduce the weights in this programme
as someone who has a hard time shedding fat and gaining muscle, I can say this program is amazing. I did it a couple of years ago. I was expecting it to not be as good as it really is. I went from 216 lbs to 194!! This program, mixed with a good diet is amazing for results. Thanks John !
What was your diet like?
Hey!
This workout looks sound but I have couple of questions for me. Could you please help?
1. I don't have medicine ball at my gym. Can I replace that particular exercise with something else?
2. I can't do chin-ups. I know its embarrassing, but the maximum I can do since my childhood is too hold the bar. I can do 50 pushups instead. Any suggestion here? Either to replace workout or to make my strength for the chin ups?
It sounds to me that I need to be at the gym all by myself to be able to performe this exercise correctly, without having to wait at every station.
Hi John,
I'm thinking to try this workout soon but I have a question about how schedule my week workout.
I would add 2 sprints days with Tabata system (20 secs on + 10 secs off, repeated 4 minutes) but i don't know if add them on workout days or another days; what do you suggest??
I post you 2 different programs, tell me what is the best in your opinion:
PROGRAM 1:
Mon -> Density w/o (day 1)
Tue -> sprint (tabata system)
Wed -> Density w/o (day 2)
Thu -> rest
Fri -> Density w/o (day 3)
Sat -> sprint (tabata system)
Sun -> rest
PROGRAM 2:
Mon -> Density w/o (day 1) + sprint (tabata system - AFTER density workout)
Tue -> rest
Wed -> Density w/o (day 2)
Thu -> rest
Fri -> Density w/o (day 3)
Sat -> sprint (tabata system)
Sun -> rest
NOTE: in program 2 I put the second sprint day on Sat; it's an arbitrary choice, if you have better ideas please modify it.
Thanks a lot,
Max
It's crazy, it's insane, it's effective!
im still a little confused. i plan on doing this workout three days a week as suggested but when you say, Exercises in the program should be repeated through for 25 minutes NO MORE, NO LESS, does that mean i spend 25 min on each specific execise then move on to the next, or is the entire workout including all the exercises, for that day, supposed to be done in 25 minutes? plus warm up and cool down.
Can you do this for 40 mins instead of 25 cheers
quick question when you say Each of the powerlifts should be done at 80% of your 1RM.by powerlift do you mean the 5 rep ex on the specific day? so bench, deadlift and squat
and by assistance ex you mean any other exercise which isn't the 5 rep ones?
Can you give more information about the diet that could be effective with this workout for fat loss while maintaining or even gain muscle?
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Starting my fifth week of this program. Although I've had to substitute a couple of exercises due to lack of equipment, I've been loving every minute of it. My only question is: why so adamant regarding the 25 minute time frame? I realized early on that I couldn't finish much more than 2 circuits in 25 minutes, so I just took as long as needed to finish 3 circuits - usually 30-35 minutes. This week I expect to be able to finish 4 circuits in that amount of time. I feel great with this routine, but would it be more effective if I compress more of a workout into a shorter period of time? Thanks.
What would be a good diet to supplement this plan ?
This workout is very effective..I added a Tabeta session at the beginning of the workout, and did 3 sets of 3 Abs (upper, lower, obliques) exercises, then I jumped into this workout...awesome results..thanks John...
So if I understand this correctly....refereeing to sample workout at the top... I would warm up ... Do a max effort 1rm say bench on bench day then do the 25minute circuit?
Diet: Should I go on a calorie deficit during this workout? I have done that while lifting heavy before and I felt very tired all the time and malnourished. Just wondering what you do during a workout like this... Thanks!
Just started the program . Great workout, not use to 25 min of 100 percent out put. Been doing it with my son he's 24 iam 52 we are drenched when were done. I like it because its quick and intense . Going to keep doing it,great change up .
do i take a rest day between workout days and will this make me overtrain
Then why does it say "Split" routine
alternate exercise for Medicine Ball Jump Snatch cause there is no medicine ball in the gym
I am interested in starting this workout routine. I am 32 yrs old currently and weigh about 235. I want to get down to about 205-215 but gain muscle mass while getting lean. Will this type of routine help?
Is there an alternative to the medecine ball jump snatch?
I'm currently doing the "Insanity Program," which is basically a max interval cardio type training to lose weight. Do I risk over training if I do the program alongside it? Thanks for the input
John,
Did day 1 today and WOW, talk about a burn. Have a question though, from start to finish (warm up, specific warm up, 1RM, density workout) all suppose to be done in the 25 min time frame? I didn't start the 25 min until I finished the 1RM, was smoked after 3 rounds and still had 5 min left.
Thanks for any advice. I've currently lost 40lbs and have plateaued. Still have about 10-15lbs to go.
John,
I recently came across your workout and I'm thinking it's going to be great. Just one question, is everything from general warm up, Specific Warm Up, Max Effort 1RM on Powerlift, Density Workout to cool down suppose to be done within the 25 min. time frame? After doing the warm up, specific warm up, 1RM then 25 min of the density workout, I was smoked. After 3 rounds I couldn't finish the dips anymore and still had 5 min. left. Thanks for any assistance you can give. I've lost 45lbs this past year and down to 200. I'm looking to get to about 185-190 and think along w/ my cardio it'll do the trick.
Okay I've got a a question. So for example, day 1 (bench press day). If I finish before 25 minutes, do I repeat the whole entire workout again until my 25 minutes is up?
Hi there,
I need to try this, but i am also going to ride my bicycle to the gym. which is 20 mins way from gym.
so i will give it a go.
Plus I am planning to start with a good diet this upcoming week.
My body has gained extra fat and its preety annoying cause i am still young.
Thought i would start cardio but this seems better to keep the muscle i still have.
anyhow thanks for providing this.
I will defentely let you know about my progress a month or 2.
I'm curious: After I am done the 25 minute workout, what else can I do? 25 minutes seems a little short to be at the gym and I was wondering what I should do after I am through with the circuit? Or should I not do anything at all?
Hi Alex here. Im 18 and i started weight lifting 4months ago but i mostly did cardio to lose fat i weighed 210 and now i weight 165 and i have been trying to get muscle and lose the rest of the fat couls this be done for mon, tues, and wed, then thrusday we rest then we can do it again friday saturday and sunday?
Hi Alex here. Im 18 and i started weight lifting 4months ago but i mostly did cardio to lose fat i weighed 210 and now i weight 165 and i have been trying to get muscle and lose the rest of the fat couls this be done for mon, tues, and wed, then thrusday we rest then we can do it again friday saturday and sunday?
I don't have access to any medicine ball at my gym. Are there any workouts I can use to replace Medicine Ball Jump Snatch?
Currently, I am trying to shred some fat while improving my cardio, speed and overall strength for both soccer season and spring break. Is this an appropriate plan? Also, 25 minutes seems like a very short time?
Are you still answering questions?
i did this workout today en pffff what can i say its verry intense i am *$%ed:P this was my first day i wil be back when i see changin in my bodyy respect for this workout .
I can't do bodyweight chinups. can i just do it on a machine?
Yes, this program relies more on hitting the appropriate rep ranges than it does on the weight, so yes, you can use the machine, but set it at a weight so that all of the sets are demanding.
hey.....I just want to know if i can do cardio during the program (40min running each day)?? thanks
Cardio can be done in addition to the program, but should be done after the workout, in a completely different workout, or on off days.
Sorry but should i do i first do max bench then when i start the program do 5 reps?
You can max first to get a gauge where you are starting at, but it is not mandatory to see results
Hi, just started this program today, so far I'm loving it. I've tried other programs over the years with little success mainly due to the amount of time needed to complete the routines and the boring cardio. I have high hopes for this program. One question though, is there a nutrition program that goes best with this lifting program?
Thanks!
There hasn't been one established yet, but I am in the planning stages of creating a fat loss guide which can be used in conjunction with this program. So look for it in the near future.
-John