This 3-Month Workout Plan Will Help You Shed Fat and Tone Your Body From Head to Toe

Fact: people who lose weight slowly and consistently are more likely to keep it off, and that's exactly what you'll do with this three-month workout plan, developed by NASM-certified trainers Jess Cifelli, a master instructor at CycleBar in Wyckoff, NJ, and Gretchen Raddatz, a master coach at Row House in New York City. While shedding pounds fast can be satisfying, you won't find any crash diets or intense workout regimens here. Instead, you'll steadily tackle your goals with a mix of cardio, strength, and toning exercises, then take the weekends off so you can grocery shop and meal prep for the week ahead. (Like any workout routine, this one works best with a balanced nutrition plan.) Ready to get started? Keep reading for the workouts.

Weeks 1-3
Getty | Tassii

Weeks 1-3

These first few weeks will help you build a foundation for the rest of the plan. "Use added weight only when you feel stable and confident in the movements," Cifelli told POPSUGAR. "As you move into the second and third weeks, you'll notice that you can add weight and start to limit your rest to a few seconds while increasing your work time. These three weeks should allow progression in weight, repetitions, or both."

Monday: Lower Body

Perform eight to 12 reps of the moves in each circuit, unless otherwise noted. Use light to moderate free weights for any exercises that require them.

Circuit 1:

Circuit 2:

  • Squats
  • Lunges
  • Rest for 60 to 90 seconds and repeat the circuit two to three times.

Tuesday: HIIT Cardio

Aim for 45 minutes to an hour of high-intensity intervals or intense cardio. (One of the workouts below can help get you started.) Warm up with a 10-minute jog and cool down with some static stretching.

Getty | Patrik Giardino

Wednesday: Full Body

Perform each exercise in the circuit for 20 to 30 seconds, resting for 30 seconds in between. Use light to moderate free weights for any exercises that require them.

Thursday: Cardio or Yoga

Aim for 60 minutes of a steady pace cardio and/or yoga. Choose from the workouts below.

Getty | FatCamera

Friday: Upper Body

Perform the exercises in each circuit for 20 to 30 seconds, resting for 30 seconds in between. Use light to moderate free weights for any exercises that require them.

Circuit 1:

Circuit 2:

Circuit 3:

Weeks 4-6
Getty | kovaciclea

Weeks 4-6

"At this point in the plan, you'll be getting stronger," Cifelli said. "Limit your rest time and increase your work time to yield better results."

Monday: Lower Body

Perform 10 to 15 reps of the moves in each circuit, unless otherwise noted. Use moderate free weights for any exercises that require them.

Circuit 1:

Circuit 2:

Tuesday: HIIT Cardio

Aim for 45 minutes to an hour of high-intensity intervals or intense cardio. (One of the workouts below can help get you started.) Warm up with a 10-minute jog and cool down with some static stretching.

Getty | EmirMemedovski

Wednesday: Full Body

Perform each exercise in the circuit for 30 to 60 seconds, resting for 15 to 30 seconds in between. Use moderate free weights for any exercises that require them.

Thursday: Cardio or Yoga

Aim for 60 minutes of a steady pace cardio and/or yoga. Choose from the workouts below.

Getty | Paul Bradbury

Friday: Upper Body

Perform 10 to 15 reps of the moves in each circuit. Use moderate free weights for any exercises that require them.

Circuit 1:

Circuit 2:

Circuit 3:

Weeks 7-9
Getty | svetikd

Weeks 7-9

"The second part of this plan adds more complex movements that will hit your upper and lower body while testing your balance," Raddatz told POPSUGAR.

Monday: Lower Body

Warmup:
Perform each dynamic stretch in the circuit for 45 seconds, resting for 15 seconds in between. Once you've completed the stretches, finish warming up by jumping rope. Do three sets of 100 jumps, resting for one minute in between.

Circuit:
Use moderate free weights for any exercises that require them. Once you've completed the circuits, end your workout with five minutes of static stretching.

Tuesday: Cardio

Aim for 60 minutes of a steady pace cardio and/or yoga. Choose from the workouts below.

Getty | Halfpoint Images

Wednesday: Full Body

Perform each exercise in the circuit for 40 seconds, resting for one minute in between the first week, 45 seconds the second week, and 30 seconds the third week. Use moderate free weights for any exercises that require them. Once you've completed the circuits, end your workout with five minutes of static stretching.

Thursday: HIIT Cardio

Complete this 24-minute running HIIT workout. Warm up with a seven-minute light or fast jog, and cool down with another three minutes of jogging and some static stretching.

  • 1-minute fast pace run (80 to 100 percent effort)
  • 1-minute recovery (walk or slow jog)
  • Repeat for 12 rounds.
Getty | spyderskidoo

Friday: Upper Body

Warmup:
Perform each dynamic stretch in the circuit for 30 seconds, resting for 10 seconds in between. Once you've completed the stretches, finish warming up by jumping rope. Do three sets of 100 jumps, resting for one minute in between.

Circuit:
Use a heavy set of free weights for these exercises. Once you've completed the circuits, end your workout with five minutes of static stretching.

Weeks 10-12
Getty | svetikd

Weeks 10-12

Monday: Lower Body

Warmup:
Perform each dynamic stretch in the circuit for 45 seconds, resting for 15 seconds in between. Once you've completed the stretches, finish warming up with 40 seconds each of high knees, jumping jacks, and squats, resting for 20 seconds between each exercise.

Circuit:
Use a heavy set of free weights for these exercises. Once you've completed the circuits, end your workout with five minutes of static stretching.

Tuesday: Cardio or Yoga

Aim for 60 minutes of a steady pace cardio and/or yoga. Choose from the workouts below.

Getty | Hiraman

Wednesday: Full Body

Perform each exercise in the circuit for 40 seconds, resting for 20 seconds in between. Use a heavy set of free weights for these exercises, and try to increase the number of reps you squeeze into that 40-second window each week. Once you've completed the circuits, end your workout with five minutes of static stretching.

Thursday: HIIT Cardio

Do a Tabata-style workout, which focuses on 20 seconds of effort, followed by a 10-second rest. Choose from one of the workouts below.

Getty | svetikd

Friday: Upper Body

Warmup:
Perform each dynamic stretch in the circuit for 30 seconds, resting for 10 seconds in between. Once you've completed the stretches, finish warming up with 40 seconds each of high knees, jumping jacks, and squats, resting for 20 seconds between each exercise.

Circuit:
Perform these exercises with a set of heavy free weights or a medicine ball. Once you've completed the circuits, end your workout with five minutes of static stretching.