I am going to share with you how I got started lifting weights.
The first workout routine I ever did was the “125 routine”.
I call it the “125 routine” because most of the lifts are done in sets of 25.
First, I would do 5 sets of 25 push-ups (so 125 push-ups total).
I knew how to do push-ups from gym class, but beyond that I had no idea what I was doing at that point. I would take as long of a rest as I needed between each set.
Next, even though I had no clue this was actually working my shoulders, I would lift the barbell I had over my head for about 15 reps. I couldn’t get to 25 reps back then!
So I would do 5 sets total of 15 reps for each set of those overhead presses.
Then I would do sit-ups, just on the floor, nothing special.
I would do 5 sets of 25 sit-ups. Again, just like with push-ups, if I couldn’t finish a complete set of 25, I would rest a few seconds, and then pick right back up where I left off! I would always finish the set, no matter how long it took!
Then I would get my dumbbells out, sit down in my humble wooden chair, and do concentration curls.
I would do 5 sets of 15 reps of concentration curls, just like the shoulder presses.
Believe it or not guys, that’s all I started out with! I didn’t know what the hell I was doing but I still got good results because of one reason and mainly just this one reason.
I got results because I was CONSISTENT!
I did this routine almost everyday, not matter how much I hated it or didn’t want to do it. And that’s why I got results after about 2 – 3 months of doing nothing else but this.
I didn’t know about diet at the time so I was just eating what any typical teenager would eat!
If you are a beginner, if you don’t want to be seen yet at the gym lifting little weights (no that there’s anything wrong with that – we’ve all been there!), or if you just don’t have enough money yet to join a real gym, this home routine is PERFECT for you.
Here’s a summary of the whole routine:
The John Doe 125 Routine
Push-ups – 5 sets of 25 reps
Overhead presses – 5 sets of 15 reps
Sit-ups – 5 sets of 25 reps
Curls – 5 sets of 15 reps for each arm
This is a great routine for anyone new to lifting weights or for any lifter who wants to go back to the basics (never a bad idea!).
As always, train hard!
Over and out.
– JD
bro you are bad ass thank you thank you
Thank you. Very useful.
John,
Thanks for this, with all of the paralysis by analysis its nice to see some old school simplicity. I will be sticking with this one for awhile.
JJ