Condoleezza Rice's No-Excuses Workout

Circuit 3: 3. Deadlift/Reverse Flye

Targets: Upper back, glutes, hamstrings

a. Stand with feet wider than shoulder-distance apart, arms in front of body with palms facing thighs, holding lighter set of dumbbells. Hinge forward from hips as you push glutes back, keeping knees slightly bent. Holding here, bend elbows 90 degrees out to sides and slightly behind you, bringing arms to shoulder height as you squeeze shoulder blades together. Stand back up and repeat. Do 12-15 reps.

b. Hinge forward again from hips and do another 12-15 raises.

c. Stand back up and bring weights in front of thighs. Do 30-40 deadlifts. Rest 10-30 seconds.

4. Push-Ups

Targets: Chest, shoulders, core, hips

Get on the floor and do as many full push-ups as you can for 60 seconds (if you need to, drop to your knees when you can no longer maintain form or eek out another rep).

5. Triceps Dip

Targets: Triceps

Sit on chair with hands on seat next to hips, fingers facing forward and feet about 2-3 feet in front of chair. Lift hips off seat and slide forward. Bend elbows 90 degrees behind you and lower down, keeping back near the front edge of the seat. Repeat, doing as many dips as you can for 60 seconds.

6. Crunches

Targets: Abs

Lie faceup on floor, hands behind head with knees bent and feet down. Keeping a grapefruit-size space between chin and chest, crunch up, lifting head, neck and shoulders off floor. Repeat, doing as many crunches as you can for 60 seconds.

Originally published on FitnessMagazine.com, March 2008.