I love renegade rows—where you hold a plank and lift a dumbbell.
This move targets multiple muscle groups, builds balance and boosts anti-rotational core strength, which is essential for spine and pelvis stability.
That’s why I thought this renegade row-inspired dumbbell challenge by fitness coach Suzi Jalowsky would be a great addition to my circuits class.
While the group said it was challenging, everyone loved how it worked their upper body and core in a new way. The physical (and mental) challenge also gave them a confidence boost.
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One regular said they felt proud of themselves when they got to the end and realized that they could lift the final weight.
How to do the dumbbell challenge
Jalowsky starts with 10lbs (4.5kg) dumbbells and finishes with 40lbs (18kg) but I recommend adjusting the lightest and heaviest weights to your fitness level.
In my class we started with 4.5lb dumbbells, moving up to 6.6lbs, then 8.8lbs, finishing with 11lbs.
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If you don’t have a full set of dumbbells at home, this is one to save for the gym.
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How to do a renegade row
How To Do A Renegade Row – YouTube
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Benefit of lifting light to heavy
This workout follows an ascending pyramid training format, where you start with lighter weights and gradually progress to heavier ones within the same set.
It’s a training method that can help you reach muscle fatigue quickly, which can accelerate muscle growth.
Starting with lighter weights also serves as a dynamic warm-up, priming your muscles for heavier loads and helping you focus on form and technique, both crucial for performance and injury prevention.
The 2-2-2 workout is more than an internet trend. It’s a full-body, time-saving, and strength training workout that can be done in the gym or with dumbbells at home, any time. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s backed by science and an expert PT.
Alain Gonzalez popularised the workout most recently, but the longevity perks for women are clear. Strength training offers women benefits, like reducing the risk of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and cardiovascular disease. It also improves mobility and balance. However, we’re often the most time-stretched people in the gym, so anything we can do to shorten the time we need to spend there is appreciated, especially during the busy festive season.
The 2-2-2 workout has soared in popularity over the last few months, and it’s hardly surprising, says Sarah Campus, a certified PT and women’s fitness specialist. “It delivers balanced strength, cardio, and mobility benefits in a time-efficient and sustainable way,” she says, with variety that makes it easier to stay consistent in busy periods and while “juggling work, family, and energy”. Try it for yourself.
What is the 2-2-2 workout?
The 2-2-2 workout focuses on building strength in a time-efficient and effective way. It gets its name from the two workouts a week that are in the plan, the two sets you do in the workout, and the two days of rest you have between sessions.
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Both are full-body workouts, and the idea is that you work close to failure for each set. Doing so means your muscles are under more strain, leading to faster improvements.
The two days of rest between sessions give the body enough time to allow for hypertrophy to occur. This is when your muscle cells grow and repair after being put under tension and stress during a workout.
Quality over quantity in the definition of this workout, and it’s an approach backed by science. Research in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows people who lift weights twice a week see increases in strength and reductions in body fat over 12 weeks, compared to groups who only do cardio.
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How to follow the 2-2-2 workout
The most important part of the 2-2-2 workout is intensity. As you’re only pushing yourself two days a week, it needs to be a challenge. In fitness terms, failure means pushing yourself until it’s a struggle to do any more repetitions. Your movement speed will slow down, but you should still be able to maintain good form.
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Set yourself up safely in case you need to get out of the exercise quickly. For example, if you’re doing a squat with a barbell, set up the safety bars on the rack to a good height for you, or switch to dumbbells.
Here’s what the 2-2-2 workout could look like for you:
Workout 1
Squat: This works the entire lower body, including the quadriceps and glutes.
Bench press: This targets the chest muscles, shoulders, and arms.
Hip thrust: This is one of the best glute exercises, but it also engages the core and targets the hamstrings (back of thighs).
Rows: Using a set of dumbbells or a barbell, the bent-over row exercise targets muscles in the back and arms.
Romanian deadlift: This exercise targets muscles in the hamstrings, glutes, and the muscles that support the spine.
Overhead press: The press focuses on the shoulders, arms, and chest muscles. You can do this with a barbell or dumbbells.
Workout 2
Leg press: Use the machine in the gym or swap this to a squat if you’re exercising at home. It targets the leg muscles and glutes.
Deadlift: Repeat the same hip-hinge movement as the Romanian deadlift, but this time bring the weight off the floor. It’s a full-body exercise, targeting muscles from the calves to the upper back. Use a barbell, kettlebell, or resistance bands.
Walking lunges: This is a compound single-leg exercise, so it will make sure that you’re equally as strong in one leg as the other. Use dumbbells or a kettlebell for this.
Push-ups: This exercise targets the chest, shoulders, arms, and engages the core. If you can’t do a full one yet, start on your knees.
Lat pulldown: Utilise the cable machine in the gym or your resistance bands to do this exercise, which focuses on the back and arm muscles, at home.
Shoulder press: Repeat the shoulder press exercise from the first workout, using dumbbells, a barbell, resistance bands, or a kettlebell.
Benefits of the 2-2-2 workout
Reduces sarcopenia risk: After menopause, our risk of age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) skyrockets. Affecting everything from posture to balance, strength training is key for building muscle and reducing the chance of this condition being a problem for you with age.
Boosts muscle growth: Studies have shown that even one hard set of exercise can result in significant muscle growth when working close to failure. When you can’t perform that last rep, it’s called “technical failure,” according to the American National Academy of Sports Medicine(NASM). The closer you get to failure, the more your muscles grow, a recent Sports Medicine review found.
Less stress on the body than other workouts: “Using 2 sets reduces overall fatigue and recovery demands whilst still providing enough challenge to the body and mind to build and maintain strength, which is especially important for women over 40,” says Sarah. “Fewer sets make workouts shorter and more manageable, less joint and nervous system stress, and improved consistency over time.”
Easier to stay consistent: When we’re having a busy week, exercise is often the first thing to go, at least in my experience. Only having to make time for it two days a week lessens the time pressure and means you’re more likely to do it.
Versatile: Whether you pick up a barbell in the gym, use machines, or stay at home and use your favourite resistance bands and kettlebells, you can do the 2-2-2 workout.
Tips for doing the 2-2-2 workout
Focus on consistency: Consistency over perfection is key to the 2-2-2 workout, says Campus. “Start with weights that feel manageable and focus on good form over intensity,” she says.
Plan your session in advance: If you’re new to strength training and not sure what this workout could look like for you, try the example above. Alternatively, speak to a personal trainer to organise your sessions in advance.
Make workouts non-negotiable: “Treat the workouts as appointments in your day, and stay flexible if energy is low one day by reducing the reps, load, or pace instead of skipping it entirely,” she says.
Prioritise recovery: The key to the workouts is exercising to fatigue, which means good recovery is essential. “Prioritise recovery with adequate sleep, protein, hydration and mobility work, and pay attention to how your body responds week to week so you can adjust without guilt,” says Sarah, who is also the founder of LDN Mums Fitness.
In “The End of an Era,” Taylor Swift gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the workout routine that helped her prepare for her “Eras Tour.”
Episode 3 of the six-part Disney+ docuseries follows Swift as she hits the gym throughout the tour, which ran for nearly two years.
Since each show lasted over three hours, Swift enlisted the help of personal trainer Kirk Myers to help her focus on endurance so she could maintain her energy throughout each concert.
“There are a lot of things that we pulled off on this tour that I’ve never even attempted on past tours. I think the longest show I ever did before was 2 hours and 15 minutes,” she said during the episode. “I never would have believed you if you would have told me we would be doing a 3.5 hour show. Now, saying that is one thing. Doing that physically is another.”
In order to dance and sing for that long, the 36-year-old had to make certain lifestyle changes.
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“I really had to up my game in terms of physical training,” she said.
While reflecting on her workout routine, Swift joked that it wasn’t for the faint of heart. “I’ve never worked out this much in my life. It’s horrible,” she added.
Here are just a few of the exercises Swift focused on as part of her “Eras Tour” workout routine.
She Prioritized Strength Training
Episode 3 of the docuseries shows Swift in the gym prioritizing strength training. She can be seen doing the following moves:
Battle waves and wave slams
Ski machine
Resistance band-assisted pull-ups
Medicine ball sit-up throws
Overhead hammer slam
Assisted reverse crunch
Hanging knee raise
Medicine ball slams
Medicine ball Russian twists
Reformer plank pikes
Crossover crunch with ankle weights
Medicine ball side throws
Bosu ball squat and press
She Did Lots of Pull-Ups But Hated Them
Swift can be seen doing pull-ups assisted by a resistance band and revealed that she has a “strong dislike” for them.
“In no way do I ever apply this at any point in the show. I just want to flag that as I do every time I have to do pull-ups,” she quipped.
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Swift’s personal trainer encouraged her and said she’s gotten “stronger” throughout the years while performing the exercise.
“It’s from all the pent up rage and resentment I have for them,” she joked.
She Started Training 6 Months Before the Tour Began
While reflecting on her workout routine, Swift said she started planning for the tour early on.
“Six months ahead of my first rehearsal, (I was) running on the treadmill every single day at the tempo of the songs that I was playing while singing them out loud,” she said. “You just don’t want them to see you panting.”
Swift previously spoke about her intense treadmill workout in an interview with Time.
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“Every day I would run on the treadmill, singing the entire set list out loud,” she told Time. “Fast for fast songs, and a jog or a fast walk for slow songs.”
She Did a LOT of Cardio
Dancing and singing for over three hours is a killer workout, especially when you’re running around the stage all night long. In the docuseries, Swift noted that two of her songs are particularly difficult to perform.
“‘1989’ and ‘Reputation’ are very high cardio. Anything’s hard when you’re scaling a stage that goes the entire length of an NFL stadium,” she said. “I think I run like 8 miles in the show.”
We are inching towards the end of 2025, and it’s time for New Year fitness resolutions. Staying active during the year-end can be tough. Cold weather, holiday celebrations, and packed schedules often push workouts to the back, leaving many feeling sluggish or stressed. But you don’t have to wait for the new year to get moving. An exercise bike offers a simple, no-excuses solution, bringing effective workouts right into your home. It eliminates travel, weather, and time barriers, making it easy to stay consistent.No gym. No excuses. End the year fitter with a home exercise bike. (Adobe Stock)
Beyond convenience, cycling is a low-impact exercise that improves cardiovascular health, boosts mood through the release of endorphins, and helps manage holiday weight without straining the joints. Even short, daily rides can maintain energy, strengthen the heart, and support overall wellness, helping you finish the year fitter, healthier, and more active.
Why choose an exercise bike?
Exercise bikes offer a low-impact cardio that works. Here are some key reasons why an exercise bike may be better than doing no exercise at all!
Joint-friendly cardio
A report by the Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine Supplement states that cycling delivers an effective cardiovascular workout without the high-impact stress on knees and joints that comes with running, making it ideal for year-round use.
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Metabolic boost
Regular pedalling helps keep your metabolism active, supporting calorie burn even on lighter or rest days. Consistent cycling can help maintain an energy balance and assist in managing holiday weight gain.
Mental clarity
Beyond physical benefits, cycling serves as a form of active recovery. A short ride after a long day can help reduce stress, improve focus, and boost your mood, thanks to the release of endorphins and gentle movement that relaxes both your body and mind, reports Health Shots.
Helps you keep lifestyle diseases at bay
According to a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, cycling can help prevent diseases like heart attacks, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, which stem from living a sedentary lifestyle. If practised regularly, cycling can even help you manage or control pre-existing lifestyle diseases as well.
5 top-rated exercise bikes for home to stay active
If low-impact, joint-friendly workouts are your goal, HT Shop Now has shortlisted 5 exercise bikes for home based on user ratings, reviews, and overall feedback. Ideal for beginners or those returning to fitness, they support knee-friendly cardio, help maintain stamina, and make home workouts convenient and effective.
The Sparnod SAB-05 Air Bike Exercise Cycle is perfect for a full-body, low-impact workout at home. Its dual-action arms and legs provide simultaneous upper and lower body engagement, while adjustable resistance allows beginners and advanced users to tailor the intensity. Ideal for anyone looking to boost stamina, burn calories, or rehabilitate joints safely, the back support provides added comfort for longer sessions.
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The PowerMax Fitness BU‑201 Dual Action Air Bike stands out with its adjustable cushioned seat and moving handles, making it comfortable and versatile for users of different heights. The dual action design engages both upper and lower body for a more effective workout. Non‑slip pedals ensure secure footing, while adjustable resistance lets you tailor intensity. Ideal for home workouts, it supports up to 120 kg and enhances overall cardiovascular fitness.
Looking for an exercise bike that keeps you motivated? The Lifelong Fit Pro Spin Fitness Bike features a clear LED display, a smooth 7 kg flywheel, and adjustable resistance, allowing for fully customizable cardio workouts. Its cushioned, adjustable seat and non-slip pedals ensure comfort and stability, while supporting up to 120 kg. Perfect for home workouts, it helps track progress, burn calories, and stay consistent with daily fitness goals.
Looking for a cardio machine that’s easy on your joints? The Reach AB 110 Upright Air Bike provides a smooth, low-impact workout with adjustable resistance and both moving and stationary handles, offering varied exercise options. Its cushioned seat adds comfort for longer sessions, and the design minimises knee and joint strain. Ideal for home gym cardio, it supports up to 110 kg and helps you stay active safely.
Many users love the Cardio Max JSB HF175 Exercise Cycle for its ease of use and versatility in home workouts. The dual-action design allows you to work both your upper and lower body, while adjustable height and resistance make it suitable for all fitness levels. Easy DIY installation means you can start exercising quickly. Its sturdy build and smooth motion help users enjoy low-impact cardio sessions without straining their joints.
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₹20,000 for effective home workouts”>Looking for a budget-friendly treadmill? Explore Amazon’s top-rated picks under ₹20,000 for effective home workouts
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Home fitness made simple with Amazon’s highest-rated kettlebell options to support daily full-body workouts
Why choose an exercise bike for home workouts?
They offer low-impact cardio, easy accessibility, and consistent daily activity without the need for a gym.
Can exercise bikes help with weight management?
Yes. Regular cycling helps burn calories, boost metabolism, and support a healthy weight.
Are these bikes suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. Adjustable resistance and seats make them beginner-friendly and customizable.
Do exercise bikes strain joints?
No. Cycling is a low-impact activity that protects knees and joints while providing an effective workout.
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