4 Basic Workouts to Strengthen Muscles

Once your muscles are loose, try a few basic exercises like these to help you get stronger.

SIT-UPS

Lie on the ground with your knees bent and arms crossed on your chest. Have a friend hold down your legs by the calf muscle. (This keeps leg muscles from lending too much help to the gut muscles.) Using your stomach muscles, gently raise your shoulder blades off the ground. (Don’t jerk yourself up!) Lower yourself, but don’t rest on the floor. Your stomach muscles should be tight the whole time.

If at first you struggle, try the Plank. Clasp your hands, then form a tripod on your elbows and toes, with your feet together. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Rest for a minute, then repeat. Feel those stomach muscles? That’s your gut getting stronger.

Until you’re 14, keep working till you can do two sets of 25 to 30. Older guys can shoot for two sets of 50.

PUSH-UPS

Form a table on your toes and hands, with your hands shoulder-width apart. Keep your back and rear end flat. Use your arms to lower yourself halfway or farther, then push yourself back up. Remember to breathe!

Don’t be bummed if you struggle at first. If you can’t do any, try push-ups using your knees instead of your toes, or hold the table position without locking your elbows.

Until you’re 14, keep working until you can do two sets of 30. Older guys can shoot for two sets of 45 to 50. As you continue to improve, do more!

BODY-WEIGHT SQUATS

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Use your legs to lower yourself, as if you’re sitting down. As you sink, raise your arms in front of you. Once you reach a seated position, slowly stand up again while lowering your arms.

After you get the hang of this, try doing squats on one leg. You won’t be able to go as low as the double-leg squat. (To start, simply stand on one leg with your eyes closed. Sounds easy, right? Just try it!)

Until you’re 14, try to do 25 single-leg squats on each leg. Older guys can shoot for 40 to 50. As you improve, you can add some weight, such as a plastic milk jug full of water in each hand.

WEIRD-WALK LUNGES

Outside or in a large room, take a huge step. The knee of your back leg should nearly touch the ground. Repeat until you weird-walk 10 steps. Rest for one minute, then repeat. Do two to four sets.