This program was actually designed by another personal trainer at a gym that I used to work at. It has been designed for both fat loss and hypertrophy (building muscle), which are my goals. It is also a full body workout program, not split training; and every exercise is a compound exercise (i.e. targets multiple muscles).
UPDATE 2016: After completing this workout program successfully for 8 weeks, I leaned down and lost body fat. My stomach got flat and super toned, BUT my legs became the biggest they had ever been and my back was so broad that my crop tops no longer fit. If you enjoy heavy weight lifting and like the results, this is a great program for you. If you don’t like too much muscle, then I would not follow this program.
Also, if you want to start a new workout program it’s good to know your body type. There are three main body types and some of them will build muscle and lose weight more easily than others. I highly recommend that you find out your body type first!
I’ve designed a Body Type Quiz you can take for free and get tips on how to train and eat according to your body type :)
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Weekly Outline
- Monday – weights program day 1
- Tuesday – 5km run
- Wednesday – weight program day 2
- Thursday – HIIT training
- Friday – weight program day 3 (upper body)
- Saturday – HIIT training (explosive)
- Sunday – REST
Monday
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Tempo | Rest |
| Barbell back squat | 4 | 10, 8, 6, 15 | 4:1 | 60 secs |
| Assisted chin ups (superset with split squats) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Front foot elevated split squats (superset with chin ups) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Kneeling one arm pull down (superset with cyclist squats) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Heels elevated cyclist squats (superset with one arm pull downs) | 3 | 10 | 5:5 | 40 secs |
| Prowler lateral drag | 4 | 20 seconds on | 40 secs |
Watch the workout video (from Day 1) here.
Tuesday
5km run, sometimes less, sometimes more. Just depends on how I’m feeling on the day. But I try to aim for 5kms.
Wednesday
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Tempo | Rest |
| Deadlifts | 4 | 10, 8, 6, 15 | 4:1 | 60 secs |
| Barbell shoulder press (superset with hip thrusts) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Hip thrusts (shoulder press) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Dumbbell pronating grip shoulder press (superset with back extension) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Back extension (superset with dumbbell shoulder press) | 3 | 10 | 5:5 | 40 secs |
| Airdyne | 4 | 20 seconds on | 40 secs |
- Airdyne is a piece of cardio equipment that is kind of cross between a bike and a cross trainer – it’s intense!
Thursday
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Rest |
| Medicine ball slams | 5 | 35 secs on | 70 secs off |
| Airdyne | 5 | 35 secs on | 70 secs off |
| Burpees | 5 | 35 secs on | 70 secs off |
| Jump squats | 5 | 35 secs on | 70 secs off |
Friday
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Tempo | Rest |
| Barbell chest press | 4 | 10, 8, 6, 15 | 4:1 | 60 secs |
| Barbell bent over row (superset with incline dumbbell chest press) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Incline neutral grip dumbbell chest press (superset with bent over row) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Seated row (superset with push ups) | 3 | 10 | 3:1 | 40 secs |
| Push ups (superset with seated row) | 3 | 10 | 5:5 | 40 secs |
| Reverse prowler drag/push | 4 | 20 seconds on | 40 secs |
Saturday
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Rest |
| Hill sprints | 4 | 10 secs on | 50 secs off |
| Heavy prowler sprint | 4 | 10 secs on | 50 secs off |
| Airdyne | 4 | 10 secs on | 50 secs off |
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! xx
It’s FREE
Hi Rachel I am confused which plan to buy either 3 steps to lean legs or lean legs video course? Can you tell me the difference. I am an endomorph
Hi lovely,
Thanks for reaching out :)
The Lean Legs Video Course is just the resistance workouts from the eBook, but in full length follow at home workout videos. Cardio and meal plan are not included.
The 3 Steps To Lean Legs Program (ebook) is an 8-week plan designed to help you get lean and toned without bulking, and it includes meal plans (vegan and regular), recipe eBooks, and resistance exercises in the form of short demonstration videos and photos.
There is a third product, the Premium Course, which is a bundle of these two :)
If you have any other questions, you can always write at info@rachaelattard.com, I’ll be happy to answer more of your questions :)
Love,
Sandra
Hi Rachel. Before doing these step I was wondering if your program has gym exercises as well, because to be honest, I’ll feel more motivated at gym than home.
Thank you, Alexandra
Hi lovely,
Thanks for reaching out! :) I completely understand and I’m happy to tell you that our Program can be done both at the gym and at home, it’s totally up to you! However, please keep in mind that our Program now is quite different from the routine that Rachael used to do (routine you can see in this blog post)!
Let me know if you have any other questions!xx
Love,
Marina
Hi Rachael – I am interested in your programme – I am just wondering how many workouts per week and can you break it down please before i commit. I’m currently doing Tracy Anderson but fitting the muscular workouts and daily cardio is quite exhausting and I’m wondering if I’m doing more harm than good. Tks so much.
Hi lovely,
The Lean Legs program is an 8 week workout and nutrition plan designed to help you get lean and toned without bulking. It will help you slim down your legs, but will also help you slim and tone your upper body and core too (the workouts are full body). It also includes a full meal plan, a separate recipe eBook and demonstration videos.
It’s a full program with workouts 5-6 days per week, so it would be difficult to fit in any other training.
For more info have a read of this post:
https://www.rachaelattard.com/how-to-get-skinny-legs-series-summary/
Love, Lean Legs Club support
xx
I have recommended your skinny legs ebook for a gal that asked for advice to help tone up her legs in preperation for a modeling competition. She will be going off to college in about a month and I worry about the days she can’t find two seperate times to complete the workouts. If she only has one hour to dedicate to the workout would you recommend doing morning/afternoon all at once or just doing one part? For example on Monday. Should she warm-up, walk for 20, jog for 20, then cool down? Tuesday warm-up, walk for 20, circuits, stretch? What is your best advice?
Hi Amy, I think what you suggested is good! Always try to do some walking as part of your workout, and if you do the circuits, it’s better to walk after :) xx
Hey hai rachael??Is the above exercise suitable for endomorphs…if not please suggest one so that I can reduce my thighs and butt.i don’t want bulky one but a skinny one…please suggest me what I should do and what not.and also how much time.
Hi Maggy, I really leaned down on this program, however my legs bulked up a bit. I would recommend this program that I posted, otherwise check out the Victoria’s Secret blog posts and my eBooks for exercises specifically to slim down legs xx
Hey hai rachael??Is the above exercise suitable for endomorphs…if not please suggest one so that I can reduce my thighs and butt.i don’t want bulky one but a skinny one…please suggest me what I should do and what not.and also how much time..my height is 5’5 and weight is 60..
Hey Rachael!
Your blog is amazing and so is your routine. I’m kinda changing my workout routine and I used to have a rest day between every workout, because that’s what everyone says you need (so did a trainer at the gym). But you only have 1 restday, so should i be able to have only 1 too? Thanks for your answer! X
Hi Maaike, Rachael here. Thank you! You definitely don’t need to have a rest day after every workout. 1 rest day per week is plenty. You could have 2 if your workouts and super heavy or intense xx
Thank you so much for this post! It goes to show that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and commitment to be fit and healthy. Once question, what does tempo 4:1 really means?
Thanks hun! It means 4 seconds and 1 second. You do 4 seconds for the easier part of the exercise, and 1 second for the harder part. So for example the squat, you would come down for 4 seconds and then stand up in 1 second. I hope that makes sense xx
Hi Racheal,
I would love to tell you that you are very inspirational,wonderful and a lovely person. Thank you for taking you time sharing to us your amazing workout and everything. <3
p/s hope to see some picture demo for each exercise though i still google each exercise one by one haha *beginner weight lifter* shy
much love
malaysia fan !
Thank you Eve! I will post a workout video tomorrow and put the link on this blog post ;) xx
Hey Rachael,
love that you show us your workout schedule. I would love to see what you do for warmup and stretching as well!
xx,
Christina
Thanks Christina! I will be putting up a revised workout program soon so I will add in my warm up. I will also do a separate post on stretching xx
ciao i don’t understand how many sets e reps should i make each leg exercise
Hi Sissi,
I’ve specified how many reps and sets for each exercise. For each leg exercise it is 5 sets in total and the reps change. You start with 20 reps, then 15 reps and then 10 reps x
Rachel, how can i know ehat protein should i take?
Hi Mary,
I have some information on my website about what to look for in a protein powder. Have a read of this section
http://www.rachaelattard.com/resources/
I use Shape Health natural whey protein which is great because it has no preservatives and tastes really good. Plus has lots of protein and very little carbs and fat. If you’re in Australia and want to try it out, you can buy it here
http://shape.com.au/shop
You can also get a 10% discount if you use my discount code ‘rachaelattard’
I hope that answers your question! x
It’s me, again. Sorry, if I torment you with all these questions, but is it the same, if I train my legs once a week, instead of doing it a little at a time?
No, it’s different. Training your legs once per week will fatigue them more so you won’t be able to train them again for several days. Leg exercises burn the most calories so it’s good to spread them out and it won’t fatigue your legs as much. Everyone’s different though. I would recommend a full body weights program, but if you prefer training legs all in one day, then that is fine too! :)
Wooowww how do you lift 50kg in squats !!!!!!my pb is I struggle lifting the bar up on my shoulders with 20kg !!!!! Not so much for he squat (even though back hurts a little after) you go,!!!!!!!!! Also whats difference between squat (monday) and front squat friday ? :) :) xoxo
Haha just lots of practice and consistency! If you use a squat rack it is easier to get under the bar ;) Monday’s squats are with a barbell on my back. Friday’s squats are holding the bar in front of me above my chest – they’re much more difficult! xx
Hi Rachel,
very impressive post! Thank you so much for sharing your training routine.
One proposal: Since I am from germany I don’t know every exercise (because we use different names). Maybe you could add a picture to each excercise? Would make it a lot easier for me and propably for your international fans!
Thanks so much!
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
Thank you very much! Yes I will try to include some pictures and more videos etc! Thank you for the advice x
Hi Rachael,
Just wondering if you could suggest any exercises for beginners to get rid of fat in the ‘armpit’ area??
Hi Amy, thanks for your comment! Unfortunately losing fat in that area will be mostly due to diet rather than exercise. Exercise may help tone the area but won’t reduce fat so my advice is to work on reducing your overall body fat x
Hi Rachael,
Would you be able to post videos or some picture explanation of how you do the exercises in the weight training days?
Thanks so much for your blog posts! They are amazing.
Sara
Hi Sara,
Thank you! Yes I will try to post more videos with the exercises :) x
Hi Rachael! Can I substitute the 20 mins of power walk with a HIIT workout of 20 mins?
Hi Giulia, you most definitely can. I find that after these weights sessions I am usually pretty exhausted and don’t feel much like running! But if you can handle HIIT then go for it! x