It's that time of the year, folks: You've had your cake—and probably eaten it—and now it's time to torch all those extra calories you tucked away over the festive season. While December is all about packing on the mass, January is about working on that sculpted physique you've been promising yourself.
There's no better way to start than with this countdown circuit workout from elite fitness model and top personal trainer Kizzito Ejam. "This is the circuit workout I love to use at the beginning of the year to prime my body and get me back into the gym groove after indulging over the holidays," Kizzito says. "Its purpose is to rev up the metabolism, activate latent muscle groups, and prime the body to be able to achieve those fitness goals we all like to set for ourselves."
This is called a countdown circuit for a reason; the reps count down as the sets add up. You begin by completing 10 reps per exercise, followed by a brief rest period. For the second circuit, you complete 9 reps per exercise and then rest again. As the program continues, you repeat each circuit of exercises with 1 fewer rep per set until you reach your 10th circuit, where you perform just 1 rep per exercise.
The first week is all about utilizing your bodyweight, so there are no excuses about having to lift any heavy weights. The rest periods change week to week. As your rep counts decrease toward the end of each circuit, try to reduce your rest periods.
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- Step-by-Step Instructions
Quickly read through our step-by-step directions to ensure you're doing each workout correctly the first time, every time.
BodyFit
$6.99/month- 2,500+ expert-created single workouts
- 3,500+ how-to exercise videos
- Detailed workout instruction
- Step-by-step workout tips
- Training at gym or at home
- Access to Workout Plans
- Access to Bodyfit App
- Store Discounts
Already have a Bodybuilding.com account with BodyFit? Sign In
What comes with BodyFit?
- Instructional Videos
Don't risk doing a workout improperly! Avoid injury and keep your form in check with in-depth instructional videos.
- How-to Images
View our enormous library of workout photos and see exactly how each exercise should be done before you give it a shot.
- Step-by-Step Instructions
Quickly read through our step-by-step directions to ensure you're doing each workout correctly the first time, every time.
BodyFit
$6.99/month- 2,500+ expert-created single workouts
- 3,500+ how-to exercise videos
- Detailed workout instruction
- Step-by-step workout tips
- Training at gym or at home
- Access to Workout Plans
- Access to Bodyfit App
- Store Discounts
Already have a Bodybuilding.com account with BodyFit? Sign In
What comes with BodyFit?
- Instructional Videos
Don't risk doing a workout improperly! Avoid injury and keep your form in check with in-depth instructional videos.
- How-to Images
View our enormous library of workout photos and see exactly how each exercise should be done before you give it a shot.
- Step-by-Step Instructions
Quickly read through our step-by-step directions to ensure you're doing each workout correctly the first time, every time.