Master Bodyweight Pushups: Top Variations for Perfect Form
The most basic of bodyweight moves just got more effective with these tweaks.
Read articleJeff Seid is a model, social media influencer, and most recently became the 2024 Natural Olympia champion in the Men’s Physique division. Here, the man himself explains how the “King of Aesthetics” gets his week started right; by building his triceps, chest, and calves. Jeff Seid’s workout is one that is challenging, but can help anyone make upper-body gains.
Seid, who has one of the largest social media followings in the fitness industry, recently talked exclusively to M&F about his training and recent Natural Olympia win. And, for those who want to replicate his phenomenal physique, the man himself has now provided this killer workout from his own logbook for our readers to try:
Flat Barbell Bench Press: 5 Sets of 5 Reps
Incline Smith Machine Bench: 4 Set of 12, 10, 8, 6 Reps
Cable Crossovers: 4 Sets of 15, 12, 10, 8 Reps
Pushups: 5 Sets of 20 Reps (aim to complete within 3 minutes)
Incline Skull Crushers: 3 Sets of 10, 8, 6 Reps
Rope Pushdowns: 4 Sets of x 15, 12, 10, 8 Reps
Single Arm Cable Cross Body Pushdown: 3 Sets of 12-15 Reps
Single Arm Cable Overhead Extension : 3 Sets of 12-15
Standing Calf Raises: 4 x 50, 25, 12, 8 Reps
Seated Calf Raises: 3 × 15 Reps
“I always do a few warmup sets before each exercise,” explains Said. “This helps me get ready for my working sets and also lowers the risk of injury.” In terms of resting between working sets, the bodybuilder says that the length depends on the season. “When I am close to competition, in shred mode, I do 60-90 second rest periods,” he shares. “But when I am bulking, trying to add muscle, I’ll do 3-minute rest periods.” The star says that short rest periods increase his heart rate, helping him to shred more fat, while longer rest periods are designed for him to really dial-in and concentrate on those heavy lifts for maximum muscle gain.
Seid, who has been an athlete since childhood, excelling in wrestling and football, has been training for many years. While some may find his workout to be too epic on first glance, you can tweak it to match your own level of progress by lowering the number of sets in each exercise. In terms of reps, Seid bases this number on how long it takes him to reach hypotrophy, exhausting his muscles to failure.
This is the key point: Make sure you perform every last safe rep that you can, and you’ll be prompting those muscles to build back stronger. “I take C4 Whey Protein powder immediately after my workout,” shares the man with the hellagood hair. “This is to start my recovery post workout, as soon as possible.” For those wondering how the rest of the bodybuilding champs week pans out: “My workout splits change throughout the year, I like to switch it up,” he explains.
If you are interested in following Jeff Seid’s current workout current split, he has shared it below. As you will see, the Men’s Physique competitor is making sure to really hammer his calf exercises throughout the week, but you could switch this up for a body part that you would like to focus on with more frequency, so long as you don’t overtrain:
Monday: Chest/Triceps/Calves
Tuesday: Back/Biceps/Abs
Wednesday: Legs/Calves
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: Shoulders/Arms/Abs
Saturday: Legs/Calves
Sunday: Rest
For more fitness inspiration follow Jeff Seid on Instagram