Your new favorite workout format — the PYRAMID WORKOUT! This full body dumbbell workout combines strength exercises with full-range, total body movements to raise your heart rate; resulting in a 30 minute strength and cardio workout at home!
Since I introduced this pyramid workout format on my Instagram feed a couple months ago, it’s been a huge hit! And you’ve been asking for more of these workouts on the blog, so here it is in full-length, 30-minute workout video you can do at home.
PYRAMID TRAINING. I dive deeper into exactly what the pyramid workout format is in the FAQ section of this post. It’s personally, one of my favorite ways to structure a workout. In fact, if you were around when I first launched NML and my workout DVD’s {back in 2015} you know this format showed up several times in my original workout videos. If you haven’t tried my original 20-Minute Pyramid Workout Video you defiantly should!
There’s something so mentally satisfying about the way pyramid workouts flow — the add-on, take-off structure breaks the full workout down into smaller, manageable parts.
At its core, a pyramid workout is based on an upward, then downward, sequence. You climb up the pyramid, and then go back down. This pyramid format can be used to structure a complete workout, as I’m doing for this 30-minute strength and cardio workout at home.
But you can also use this pyramid format around a single exercise. For example, say you’re doing squats, you could increase or decrease either the number of repetitions or the weight you are squatting in a pyramid-style.
There’s also some interesting research on strength training in regards to the benefits of “ascending” pyramids {gradually increasing weight with each set} versus “descending” pyramids {starting at the heaviest weight of the day and dropping with each set}, but both are proven to increase muscle endurance and mass.
You’ll reap the benefits of both strategies by ascending AND descending in this 30-minute pyramid workout.
There’s a lot I love about strength training exercises, but one of the main things is how fundamentally efficient and adaptable strength training moves are for EVERY-BODY. Slight changes in how you perform the exercises can adapt the workout to better fit your personal needs.
For example, if you want this 30-minute workout to be more strength-focused, use heavier weights and perform each exercise at a slower pace. On the other hand, if you want more heart-pumping cardio at home, use medium-to-light dumbbells and perform each exercise at a faster, tempo pace. Each full body exercises is done in a timed, 30 second interval. So you choose your pace and weights to meet your personal fitness goals.
Use the full, 30-minute workout video at the top of this post to follow along as I coach you through this 6-move pyramid workout. We’ll combine strength exercises with cardio exercises for an effective 30-minute, full body dumbbell workout that will build muscle and burn fat.
You’ll need a medium-to-heavy set of dumbbells. I suggest using 8-15 lbs, but you can always grab a lighter and heavier set of dumbbells if you have them available.
Perform each exercise for 30 seconds. We’ll add on exercises as we climb up the pyramid. So it will look like this — perform move 1 for 30 seconds, rest 30 seconds; then move 1 and 2, rest 30 seconds; then move 1, 2, 3, rest 30 seconds…and so on until we complete moves 1-6. Then we’ll go back down the pyramid in reverse order, dropping off exercise 1, then exercise 2, then exercise 3, and so on.
Warm Up — I suggest this 5-Minute Warm Up for At-Home Workouts.
Cool Down — I suggest flowing through these 8 Mobility Exercises.
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Thanks for sharing the video and article. I’ve been doing keto exercise and wanted to try this as well. I think this is work for my cardio exercise hope this will be effective
Hi Jimmy! So glad you stumbled over here and I hope you find this workout video helpful in addition to your keto exercises. It really is a great strength + cardio combo workout! -Lindsey
Thanks for sharing the video and article. I’ve been doing keto exercise and wanted to try this as well. I think this is work for my cardio exercise hope this will be effective.
Just want to say I love everything about your website!! It’s soooo well done. The workouts are so easy to follow. I’ve done quite a few now. Love how you put moves in text but often have video too. I have 30 day challenge PDF on home screen of my iPhone! Always works!!
Keep coming back for new workouts but find myself discovering more awesome stuff every time. Love your recipes b/c they’re easy and KID FRIENDLY! My kids love spinach banana pancakes.
Just now find myself getting sucked into “what I’m wearing” links! Prices! You must have a great web team.
Keep killing it girl!! Very happy I found your site!!
Hi Kristin! Thank you so much for your kind words about my site + content! I’m so happy to hear you’re loving the workouts + the workout videos! I love that you keep coming back for more — there are plenty of workouts on the blog to try! And yes, we’re all about kid-friendly recipes over here. Those Spinach Banana Pancakes are a favorite in our house as well! Thank you so much for following along + trying the workouts + recipes! Really appreciate it! -Lindsey
If you’ve decided to rank cardio exercise, you’ll want to work up to training 3-5 days per week for a combined minimum of 150 minutes of motion. As you surge your cardio, add sporadic upper and lower body-weight training customs 3-4 times per week to help you make the most of your weight loss
Thanks for the info!
This was a great workout! Just found your site last week and can’t wait to try more. I’ve been looking for a way to bolster my home workouts.
Lauren! So glad you came across my site and thanks for giving this Pyramid Workout a try! There are several more full-length workout videos on the blog for you to try! Keep up the great work! -Lindsey