Search articles, products, brands

FREE SHIPPING on orders over $49 Details

ADVERTISEMENT

Programs

Build An Athletic Body In 8 Weeks!

Christopher Smith, CSCS
March 09, 2016 • 12 min read

Whether you're an athlete in the offseason or just want to train like one, look no further than this comprehensive 8-week plan. Get stronger, faster, and look the part!

There's a pretty good chance that, at some point, you've envied the physique of a pro athlete. Who hasn't? While the Arnolds of the world get plenty of attention for being inspirational, the
truth is that other types of athletes across various sports—football, basketball, soccer, boxing, you name it—have done just as much if not more to get lifters into the weight room.

When we imagine these athletes training, we don't imagine them spending an hour camped out on the cable cross-over machine. We imagine them performing dynamic and explosive
movements that highlight and improve their skills. After all, if you want an athletic physique, the saying goes, you need to train like an athlete.

But what does that really mean? Most of us don't get a chance to regularly hang out in NFL training centers. Of course, if you're training for a specific sport, there are going to be some big
differences between how you train and how other athletes train. A defensive lineman is going to do things a basketball point guard won't, for example. If you're trying to develop general
athletic ability, however, there are a handful of attributes that must be prioritized.

At a minimum, an effective athlete should have a balance of strength, explosiveness, and conditioning. Seems simple enough, but how do you put it all together? With a program that uses
the right balance of heavy lifts, fast lifts, and a time-proven approach to conditioning.

MANY PIECES, ONE PUZZLE

On face value, building strength, explosiveness, and conditioning together is simple: Lift something heavy, do something explosive, and run a little. Boom! You're an athlete. Unfortunately,
it's not that easy in practice. You need to have a plan, and that plan starts with building strength.

Any lifter worth the chalk on his or her hands knows you won't build a strong physique by only doing triceps kick-backs and calf raises. On the other hand, you can't just max out on the
big lifts all day, every day, either. So you start out with movements that develop overall strength effectively: squats, deadlifts, presses and pulls. Then you need to program them the right
way: heavy enough to stimulate strength, but not so heavy that you constantly crush yourself.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

IN THIS PROGRAM, YOU'LL FOCUS ON TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPLOSIVENESS: SPEED STRENGTH AND STRENGTH SPEED.

Explosive lifting is similarly crucial, particularly when it comes to maximizing the growth of type II muscle fibers. However, training those fibers isn't as simple as "lift faster." In this program,
you'll focus on two different types of explosiveness: speed strength and strength speed.

In simple terms, speed strength refers to moving as quickly as possible with a lighter weight, whereas strength speed is all about moving a heavier weight as quickly as you can. For
example, speed strength might be a medicine-ball throw, while strength speed could be a power clean. Working both is essential to developing an athletic physique.

The final aspect of our trifecta of athleticism is conditioning. To the average gym-goer, conditioning might simply mean throwing in 20 minutes of jogging on the treadmill after lifting. For
the athletic-minded lifter, however, conditioning is much more than that—and much tougher.

In the most basic sense, every athlete has both aerobic and anaerobic systems—yes this can be further broken down, but for our purposes, this simple distinction will do just fine. Aerobic
generally refers to lower-intensity work such as slow running, walking, or cycling; anaerobic is typically higher-intensity work such as sprinting or lifting.

Contrary to what some internet gurus have been trying to say recently, development of both systems is vital to overall athletic performance and maximum physique results.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Of course, it's not enough to just say: "This is what you need to train." You need a plan that challenges you in the right ways and at the right intensities, particularly when the goal is to
develop multiple attributes at the same time.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

YOU NEED A PLAN THAT CHALLENGES YOU IN THE RIGHT WAYS AND AT THE RIGHT INTENSITIES, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP MULTIPLE ATTRIBUTES AT THE SAME TIME.

The program below utilizes a block approach. The first month is an accumulation block, which means it has higher volume with comparatively lower intensities. You accumulate volume
over the course of the month.

The second month is an intensification block, which places a higher focus on developing maximum strength. This approach extends to the conditioning element of the program as well.
You'll notice that the accumulation block places an emphasis on aerobic conditioning, while the intensification block focus on anaerobic development.

Now let's get down to the part you probably skipped ahead to anyway!

EVLUTION: STACKED PROTEIN

ORDER AND AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A 25% DISCOUNT AT CHECKOUT ON EVLUTION NUTRITION STACKED
PROTEIN, 4 LBS. IN THE FLAVOR OF YOUR CHOICE!
GO NOW!

APPLY THIS PROGRAM IN BODYSPACE

PHASE 1 ACCUMULATION/AEROBIC BLOCK

ENERGY SYSTEM TRAINING

ONE DAY PER WEEK (AFTER LIFTING OR ON A REST DAY)

 1 RUNNING
Store Sales Top 50 Share
1.5-2.0 miles for time

ONE DAY PER WEEK (AFTER LIFTING OR ON A REST DAY)

2 RUNNING OR CYCLING (SLOW)

20 min.

WEEK 1, DAY 1: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 JUMP SQUAT
4 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

FRONT SQUAT
4 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 90 sec.

TRISET

2 WALKING LUNGE
4 sets of 15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

GLUTE-HAM RAISE
4 sets of 10-15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

AB ROLL-OUT
4 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec.
WEEK 1, DAY 2: UPPER BODY
Store Sales Top 50 Share

1 PLYOMETRIC PUSH-UP
4 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 PAUSED BENCH PRESS

4 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 60 sec.

PULL-UP
4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 SINGLE-ARM DUMBBELL PRESS (HALF-KNEELING)

4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

SINGLE-ARM CABLE ROW

4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 1, DAY 3: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 POWER CLEAN
4 sets of 6 reps, rest 90 sec.

DEADLIFT (FROM BLOCKS BELOW KNEES)

4 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 2 min.

TRISET
 2 BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUAT
4Store
sets of 10-15 reps, rest 30 sec. Sales Top 50 Share

LEG CURL
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

RUSSIAN TWIST
4 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 1, DAY 4: UPPER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 PUSH-PRESS
4 sets of 6 reps, rest 90 sec.

WEIGHTED CHIN-UP
4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 DUMBBELL INCLINE BENCH (LOW INCLINE)

4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

DUMBBELL ROW (WITH PAUSE)

4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 BARBELL CURL
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

SKULLCRUSHER
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

WEEK 2, DAY 1: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 JUMP SQUAT
5 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

FRONT SQUAT
5 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 90 sec.

TRISET

2 WALKING LUNGE
4 sets of 15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

GLUTE-HAM RAISE
4 sets of 10-15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

AB ROLL-OUT
4 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 2, DAY 2: UPPER BODY

 1 PLYOMETRIC
Store PUSH-UP Sales Top 50 Share
5 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 PAUSED BENCH PRESS

4 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 60 sec.

PULL-UP
4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 SINGLE-ARM DUMBBELL PRESS (HALF-KNEELING)

4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

SINGLE-ARM CABLE ROW

4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 2, DAY 3: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 POWER CLEAN
4 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

DEADLIFT (FROM BLOCKS BELOW KNEES)

4 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 2 min.

TRISET

2 BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUAT

4 sets of 10-15 reps, rest 30 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

LEG CURL
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

RUSSIAN TWIST
4 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 2, DAY 4: UPPER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 PUSH-PRESS
4 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

WEIGHTED CHIN-UP
4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 DUMBBELL INCLINE BENCH (LOW INCLINE)

4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

DUMBBELL ROW (WITH PAUSE)

4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 BARBELL CURL
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

SKULLCRUSHER
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

WEEK 3, DAY 1: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 JUMP SQUAT
6 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

FRONT SQUAT
6 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

TRISET

2 WALKING LUNGE
4 sets of 15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

GLUTE-HAM RAISE
4 sets of 10-15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

AB ROLL-OUT
4 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 3, DAY 2: UPPER BODY

 1 PLYOMETRIC
Store PUSH-UP Sales Top 50 Share
6 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 PAUSED BENCH PRESS

5 sets of 5 reps, rest 60 sec.

PULL-UP
5 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 SINGLE-ARM DUMBBELL PRESS (HALF-KNEELING)

4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

SINGLE-ARM CABLE ROW

4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 3, DAY 3: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 POWER CLEAN
5 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

DEADLIFT (FROM BLOCKS BELOW KNEES)

5 sets of 5 reps, rest 2 min.

TRISET

2 BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUAT

4 sets of 10-15 reps, rest 30 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

LEG CURL
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

RUSSIAN TWIST
4 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 3, DAY 4: UPPER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 PUSH-PRESS
5 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

WEIGHTED CHIN-UP
5 sets of 6-8 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 DUMBBELL INCLINE BENCH (LOW INCLINE)

4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

DUMBBELL ROW (WITH PAUSE)

4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 BARBELL CURL
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

SKULLCRUSHER
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

WEEK 4, DAY 1: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 JUMP SQUAT
3 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

FRONT SQUAT
3 sets of 5 reps, 75% of Week 3, rest 90 sec.

TRISET

2 WALKING LUNGE
3 sets of 15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

GLUTE-HAM RAISE
3 sets of 10-15 reps per leg, rest 30 sec.

AB ROLL-OUT
3 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 4, DAY 2: UPPER BODY

 1 PLYOMETRIC
Store PUSH-UP Sales Top 50 Share
3 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 PAUSED BENCH PRESS

3 sets of 5 reps, 75% of Week 3, rest 60 sec.

PULL-UP
3 sets of max reps (unweighted), rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 SINGLE-ARM DUMBBELL PRESS (HALF-KNEELING)

3 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

SINGLE-ARM CABLE ROW

3 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 4, DAY 3: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 POWER CLEAN
3 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

DEADLIFT (FROM BLOCKS BELOW KNEES)

3 sets of 5 reps, 75% of Week 3, rest 2 min.

TRISET

2 BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUAT

3 sets of 10-15 reps, rest 30 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

LEG CURL
3 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

RUSSIAN TWIST
3 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 4, DAY 4: UPPER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 PUSH-PRESS
3 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

WEIGHTED CHIN-UP
3 sets of max reps (unweighted), rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 DUMBBELL INCLINE BENCH (LOW INCLINE)

3 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

DUMBBELL ROW (WITH PAUSE)

3 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 60 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 BARBELL CURL
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

SKULLCRUSHER
4 sets of 12-15 reps, rest 30 sec.

PHASE 2 INTENSIFICATION/ANAEROBIC BLOCK

ENERGY SYSTEM TRAINING

ONE DAY PER WEEK (AFTER LIFTING OR ON A REST DAY)

1 RUNNING
8 sets of 1/4 mile, rest 1 min.

ONE DAY PER WEEK (AFTER LIFTING OR ON A REST DAY)

2 GET UP AND SPRINT

5 sets of 30 yards, rest 2 min.

Note: Sprinting the day before a lower-body workout will impede your performance in the strength training.

WEEK 5, DAY 1: LOWER BODY

1 DOUBLE LONG JUMP

3 sets of 3 reps, rest 2 min.

2 SQUAT (HIGH BAR)

4 sets of 4-6 reps, rest 2 min.
 3 ROMANIAN DEADLIFT
4Store
sets of 8 reps, rest 90 sec. Sales Top 50 Share

PAIRED SET

4 BARBELL REVERSE LUNGE

4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 30 sec.

REVERSE CRUNCH
4 sets of 20 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 5, DAY 2: UPPER BODY

1 MEDICINE-BALL CHEST PASS

3 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 FLOOR PRESS
4 sets of 4-6 reps, rest 90 sec.

MIXED-GRIP PULL-UP (WEIGHTED)

4 sets of 8 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 BEHIND-THE-NECK PRESS
4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 60 sec.

FACE PULL
4 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

WEEK 5, DAY 3: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 POWER CLEAN
4 sets of 4 reps, rest 2 min.

DEFICIT DEADLIFT
4 sets of 4 reps, rest 2 min.

TRISET

2 DUMBBELL STEP-UP
4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

GOOD MORNING (WITH BAND IF POSSIBLE)

4 sets of 15 reps, rest 30 sec.

PALLOF PRESS
4 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 5, DAY 4: UPPER BODY

1 PUSH-JERK
3 sets of 4 reps, rest 2 min.
PAIRED SET
Store Sales Top 50 Share
2 WIDE-GRIP PULL-UP
4 sets of max reps, rest 90 sec.

DUMBBELL BENCH PRESS

4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 CHEST-SUPPORTED DUMBBELL ROW

4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 60 sec.

REAR-DELT RAISE
4 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.

PAIRED SET

4 INCLINE DUMBBELL CURL

4 sets of 10-12 reps, rest 30 sec.

OVERHEAD TRICEPS EXTENSION

4 sets of 10-12 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 6, DAY 1: LOWER BODY

1 DOUBLE LONG JUMP

4 sets of 3 reps, rest 2 min.

2 SQUAT (HIGH BAR)

4 sets of 4-6 reps, rest 2 min.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

3 ROMANIAN DEADLIFT
4 sets of 8 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

4 BARBELL REVERSE LUNGE

4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 30 sec.

REVERSE CRUNCH
4 sets of 20 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 6, DAY 2: UPPER BODY

1 MEDICINE-BALL CHEST PASS

4 sets of 5 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 FLOOR PRESS
4 sets of 4-6 reps, rest 90 sec.

MIXED-GRIP PULL-UP (WEIGHTED)

4 sets of 8 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 BEHIND-THE-NECK PRESS
4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 60 sec.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

FACE PULL
4 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 6, DAY 3: LOWER BODY

PAIRED SET

1 POWER CLEAN
5 sets of 4 reps, rest 2 min.

DEFICIT DEADLIFT
5 sets of 4 reps, rest 2 min.

TRISET

2 DUMBBELL STEP-UP
4 sets of 10 reps, rest 30 sec.

GOOD MORNING (WITH BAND IF POSSIBLE)

4 sets of 15 reps, rest 30 sec.

PALLOF PRESS
4 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 6, DAY 4: UPPER BODY

 1 PUSH-JERK
4Store
sets of 4 reps, rest 2 min. Sales Top 50 Share

PAIRED SET

2 WIDE-GRIP PULL-UP
4 sets of max reps, rest 90 sec.

DUMBBELL BENCH PRESS

4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

3 CHEST-SUPPORTED DUMBBELL ROW

4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 60 sec.

REAR-DELT RAISE
4 sets of 15 reps, rest 60 sec.

PAIRED SET

4 INCLINE DUMBBELL CURL

4 sets of 10-12 reps, rest 30 sec.

OVERHEAD TRICEPS EXTENSION

4 sets of 10-12 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 7, DAY 1: LOWER BODY

1 DOUBLE LONG JUMP

5 sets of 3 reps, rest 2 min.
 Store Sales Top 50 Share

2 SQUAT (HIGH BAR)

4 sets of 3 reps, rest 2 min.

3 ROMANIAN DEADLIFT
4 sets of 8 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

4 BARBELL REVERSE LUNGE

4 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 30 sec.

REVERSE CRUNCH
4 sets of 25 reps, rest 60 sec.

WEEK 7, DAY 2: UPPER BODY

1 MEDICINE-BALL CHEST PASS

5 sets of 3 reps, rest 90 sec.

PAIRED SET

2 FLOOR PRESS
4 sets of 3 reps, rest 90 sec.

MIXED-GRIP PULL-UP (WEIGHTED)

4 sets of 8 reps, rest 90 sec.