Where to Start

If you’re a beginner or you’ve fallen out of good training habits, the simple act of starting a workout program can be one of the most challenging obstacles to overcome. Whether you’re intimidated or just stuck in a rut, some sort of mental block is holding you back. It may sound obvious, but the easiest way to clear those blocks is to get up and work out. Once you give yourself that initial nudge, momentum will build on itself to help you advance in your training.

Make no mistake: you have to want it and you have to stick with it. It is infinitely easy to avoid a workout, but you can either be your own ally or your own enemy. Meaningful progress takes work. If you’re willing to challenge yourself, the physical and mental benefits that come from committing to a great training program are profound and can reverberate throughout your life.

Assuming you’ve made the decision to try, we’re here to get you off the couch, get you into a rhythm, and guide you with tailored workouts that can help you become the best version of yourself. It’s all about pushing through what you think you’re not capable of, and spring is the perfect time to start your new growth.

Begin a new routine by making small, achievable goals and then build on your success. You cannot do it all at once, and you risk burnout or injury if you try to put yourself through the ringer right out of the gate. Find 20-30 minutes in your weekday routine that you set aside for training, no excuses.

Here are some great resources to get started.

BODYWEIGHT PROGRAMS

We recommend beginning with the MTNTOUGH Bodyweight programs. These programs require little-to-no equipment and are designed to perform either on your own or guided by a professional MTNTOUGH trainer through videos in MTNTOUGH+. They are also built to be adaptable to your own strength level so you can start small and seamlessly integrate more robust reps into your workout.

30-30 2.0 is an awesome program for beginners and does not require any equipment. But remember, no gear doesn’t mean it’s easy! This is our most popular bodyweight program, allowing you to work out anywhere while focusing on building muscle and improving endurance and mental toughness. Time commitment: 30 minutes per day, five days a week for 30 days (six weeks).

NG60 is a perfect next step for beginners. We created this bodyweight program under the “Always Ready” mantra. There is so much we can’t control in life, but we can control how we prepare, react, and adapt to what our environment presents. Time commitment: 30 minutes per day, five days a week for 60 days (12 weeks).

MINIMAL GEAR PROGRAMS

As your training progresses, consider investing in some simple pieces of equipment to diversify your workouts. These programs are more challenging than our bodyweight programs and are also fully coached to motivate, guide, and help you work without distraction.

HP20 is a four-week program built for mountain and military athletes. Using a rigid-frame backpack or rucksack with a series of sandbag kits, HP20 simulates what a rigorous backcountry mountain endeavor will demand of you both physically and mentally.

KB20 is a staff favorite at MTNTOUGH, and it’s another perfect home program. Using only a kettlebell and a pullup bar, this challenging program will put you through the paces in a hurry with intense 20-minute workouts that build strength and improve cardio.

Lastly, don’t forget your diet. It’s one of the easiest but most crucial things you can do every day to reach your peak performance and improve your mental state. Eat MTNTOUGH Nutrition program is an educational nutrition program to help you identify your body type, set nutritional goals based on your body type, and then achieve those goals.

SUBSCRIBE TO MTNTOUGH+

Get unlimited access to our Home Gym programs plus unlimited access to all MTNTOUGH programs, workouts, and content through MTNTOUGH+. Download the MTNTOUGH+ app to watch our videos on all of favorite devices and save videos to your mobile device so you can get inspired and work out wherever you are.

MTNTOUGH believes that mental toughness is just as important as physical strength and that the strongest muscle in the human body is the one between your ears. With a coaching staff comprised of former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers—the workouts aren’t easy. The goal is to prepare clients for both the unthinkable and the everyday—to have the mental capacity and physical stamina to self-rescue in an emergency, or grind through a 12-hour workday and still play with the kids after dinner. Ara Megerdichian, MTNTOUGH coach and former U.S. Army officer and Ranger, believes the best way to harden the mind is by reaching and exceeding physical boundaries, by taking challenges once considered impossible and making them attainable and repeatable.