This is a real simple workout, folks. Simple, to the point, basic, but incredibly tough just the same. I find the simple workouts usually work out to be the toughest. Funny how that happens. As such, I don’t need to expound on this workout beyond just a few words.
Pace yourself. You could go all out and just bang out as many reps right off the bat as you can, or you could plan your attack. If you know you can do 20 consecutive pullups, try doing your pullups in sets of eight.
I’m not sure I need to say much more. Get out there, time yourself, and give it your all. And post your totals in the comment board.
A few things to remember:
Each rep should be completed with excellent form. If you find your hips dipping toward the ground on the pushups, if your chin begins grazing the pullup bar, and if squats start morphing into quarter squats, stop. Recover and resume the lifts when you can do them right. Just because we’re using lighter weights, doing the exercises without regard for form will establish poor neuromuscular patterns, and when you do decide to throw on some extra weight, your performance will suffer and your risk of injury will increase.
Rest about two minutes after each five minute block.
If you can only manage a couple consecutive real pullups, drop down a level and do them with your foot supported. Choose the right progression level for your ability.
Serious lifters: Do your pushups with a weight vest, weights stacked on your back, or with resistance bands to increase the difficulty; do your pullups with a weight vest on, weights hung from a belt, or weights trapped between your ankles; do your squats with a barbell and weights totaling your own bodyweight (so, 185 lbers should squat with 2 45s and 2 25s on the 45 lb bar).
What Are WOWs?
Workouts of the Week (WOWs) are an optional component of Primal Blueprint Fitness that add a fractal and often fun and playful quality to the basic PBF protocol.
In most cases WOWs should only be completed by those that have mastered Level 4 of each Lift Heavy Things Essential Movement. Also, it’s recommended that WOWs replace one or both Lift Heavy Things workouts or the Sprint workout (depending on the WOW) each week instead of being done in addition to the Lift Heavy Things and Sprint workouts.
Learn more about WOWs and Primal Blueprint Fitness by getting the free eBook. And access all Workouts of the Week in the WOW Archive.
Mark Sisson is the founder of Mark’s Daily Apple, godfather to the Primal food and lifestyle movement, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Keto Reset Diet. His latest book is Keto for Life, where he discusses how he combines the keto diet with a Primal lifestyle for optimal health and longevity. Mark is the author of numerous other books as well, including The Primal Blueprint, which was credited with turbocharging the growth of the primal/paleo movement back in 2009. After spending three decades researching and educating folks on why food is the key component to achieving and maintaining optimal wellness, Mark launched Primal Kitchen, a real-food company that creates Primal/paleo, keto, and Whole30-friendly kitchen staples.
