Most people 40+ think they need a gym to build a strong, lean body....
Hannah - Apex Fitness Advisory@hannahapexfit
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Oct 05, 2026
~3 min read
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Most people 40+ think they need a gym to build a strong, lean body.
They don't.
After 9 years as a professional athlete and coaching hundreds of people — here are the 7 best exercises to train your full body from anywhere:
🧵
They don't.
After 9 years as a professional athlete and coaching hundreds of people — here are the 7 best exercises to train your full body from anywhere:
🧵
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Why this works:
▫️ No gym membership required
▫️ Minimal equipment — dumbbells and a chair
▫️ Every major muscle group covered
▫️ 40 minutes or less
The barrier was never the equipment.
It was always the system.
▫️ No gym membership required
▫️ Minimal equipment — dumbbells and a chair
▫️ Every major muscle group covered
▫️ 40 minutes or less
The barrier was never the equipment.
It was always the system.
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1. Romanian Deadlift (RDL)
Muscles: Hamstrings, Glutes, Spinal Erectors
▫️ Hinge at the hips — not the lower back
▫️ Push hips back as you lower
▫️ Stop when you feel the hamstring stretch
▫️ Do NOT round the lower back
The best posterior chain exercise you can do at home.
Muscles: Hamstrings, Glutes, Spinal Erectors
▫️ Hinge at the hips — not the lower back
▫️ Push hips back as you lower
▫️ Stop when you feel the hamstring stretch
▫️ Do NOT round the lower back
The best posterior chain exercise you can do at home.
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2. Split Squat
Muscles: Quads, Glutes, Hamstrings
▫️ Chest up, facing forward throughout
▫️ Slow eccentric on the way down
▫️ Stop just before the back knee touches
▫️ Brace your core throughout
Knee issues? Move the front foot further forward to keep the knee behind the toe.
Muscles: Quads, Glutes, Hamstrings
▫️ Chest up, facing forward throughout
▫️ Slow eccentric on the way down
▫️ Stop just before the back knee touches
▫️ Brace your core throughout
Knee issues? Move the front foot further forward to keep the knee behind the toe.
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3. Goblet Squat
Muscles: Quads, Glutes
▫️ Feet flat on the floor throughout
▫️ Drive hips straight down — not back
▫️ Work toward thighs parallel to the floor
▫️ Dumbbell held at chest height
Excellent for quad development and hip mobility simultaneously.
Muscles: Quads, Glutes
▫️ Feet flat on the floor throughout
▫️ Drive hips straight down — not back
▫️ Work toward thighs parallel to the floor
▫️ Dumbbell held at chest height
Excellent for quad development and hip mobility simultaneously.
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4. Push Up
Muscles: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps
▫️ Shoulder-width hand position
▫️ Slow eccentric — chest to the floor
▫️ Body in a straight line throughout
▫️ Explode back to the top
Not there yet? Start on your knees and build to it. Progress is the point.
Muscles: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps
▫️ Shoulder-width hand position
▫️ Slow eccentric — chest to the floor
▫️ Body in a straight line throughout
▫️ Explode back to the top
Not there yet? Start on your knees and build to it. Progress is the point.
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5. Dumbbell Pullover
Muscles: Lats, Chest, Serratus
▫️ Lie flat, dumbbell held overhead
▫️ Lower slowly behind your head — feel the stretch
▫️ Slight bend in elbows throughout
▫️ Drive back and squeeze
Underutilised. Outstanding for upper body width and definition.
Muscles: Lats, Chest, Serratus
▫️ Lie flat, dumbbell held overhead
▫️ Lower slowly behind your head — feel the stretch
▫️ Slight bend in elbows throughout
▫️ Drive back and squeeze
Underutilised. Outstanding for upper body width and definition.
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6. Lateral Raise
Muscles: Deltoids, Traps
▫️ Lighter weight than you think
▫️ Rotate wrists forward as you raise — pinky finger highest
▫️ Elbows slightly above wrists throughout
▫️ Slow and controlled — not a momentum exercise
Leave the ego behind. Execution is everything.
Muscles: Deltoids, Traps
▫️ Lighter weight than you think
▫️ Rotate wrists forward as you raise — pinky finger highest
▫️ Elbows slightly above wrists throughout
▫️ Slow and controlled — not a momentum exercise
Leave the ego behind. Execution is everything.
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7. Tricep Dip
Muscles: Triceps, Shoulders
▫️ Hands on a chair or bench behind you
▫️ Lower until elbows reach 90 degrees
▫️ Keep your back close to the chair
▫️ Press through the palms to full extension
Just a chair. One of the most effective tricep exercises available.
Muscles: Triceps, Shoulders
▫️ Hands on a chair or bench behind you
▫️ Lower until elbows reach 90 degrees
▫️ Keep your back close to the chair
▫️ Press through the palms to full extension
Just a chair. One of the most effective tricep exercises available.
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The session:
Pick one exercise for each muscle group.
2–3 sets. 8–12 reps. 60 sec rest between sets.
40 minutes. Every muscle group. Zero gym required.
Pick one exercise for each muscle group.
2–3 sets. 8–12 reps. 60 sec rest between sets.
40 minutes. Every muscle group. Zero gym required.
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I built my training around exactly this kind of system during seasons when access to a full gym wasn’t guaranteed.
Simple. Repeatable. Effective.
Theose who get the best results aren’t the ones with the best equipment.
They’re the ones with the best system.
It works...
Simple. Repeatable. Effective.
Theose who get the best results aren’t the ones with the best equipment.
They’re the ones with the best system.
It works...
4:05
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If you are ready for permanent change...
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We design complete health systems built around your body, your schedule, and your life.
If you are ready for permanent change...
Apply here for more info: form.typeform.com/to/CU7fFmTI#fi…
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PS.
If this was useful:
1. Follow @hannahapexfit
2. Retweet the first tweet
More threads like this every week for busy executives, parents and professionals...
If this was useful:
1. Follow @hannahapexfit
2. Retweet the first tweet
More threads like this every week for busy executives, parents and professionals...
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