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Don SaladinoDon Saladino
/Back To Basics GYM

Back To Basics GYM

Conditioning with Don Saladino

BACK TO BASICS: 9-week gym program 5 days per week with 3 periodizations. The rounds/reps will periodize in weeks 4 & 7. Periodize- simply means the rounds and/or reps will increase or decrease. Check the FAQ for interpretin... more

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Sessions (46)

5/5
0
1 min
Week 1 • Day 1
4.91/5
3
60 min
Week 1 • Day 2
5/5
0
60 min
Week 1 • Day 3
5/5
0
60 min
Week 1 • Day 4
5/5
0
60 min
+41 sessions more

Details

Category
Duration
9 weeks, 5 days/week, 45-60 min
Level
All Levels
Location
Gym

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I select my starting weight?
Everyone starts at different strength levels. When selecting weights, I recommend starting easy during the first week. Get familiar with the program & track your weights. (Playbook now has logging!) The goal of my programming is to work up to 1-2 reps from failure. In other words, when completing sets with a particular weight you should have enough “gas left in the tank” to hit 1-2 more reps. Never sacrifice form to increase weight.
How do I know when it’s time to increase the weight on a particular exercise?
If you complete your last set and you can complete an additional 3-5 reps, then it is time to increase the weight. Don’t be afraid to go heavy, as long as you don’t sacrifice form.
How to interpret the program when set & reps change throughout the program?
When the # of rounds or reps increase from one week to the next: You should try to maintain the same weight you used in the previous week. When the # of rounds or reps decrease from one week to the next: You should try to increase the weight (go heavier) you used in the previous week. When the # of reps remain the same from one week to the next: You should try to increase the weight (go heavier) you used in the previous week.
What should I do when a unilateral exercise is programmed?
For all unilateral (one-sided movement), perform the programmed number of reps on each side. Exercises labeled alternating, single arm, or single leg are easy to identify as unilateral movements. However, there are other unilateral movements that don’t have these indicator words such as walking lunges, hip flexor stretch, side planks, bear crawls, etc.
Why is there no rest time programmed during the warmup?
I never program rest during the warmup. The warmup is meant to increase your heart rate and therefore your blood flow which enables more oxygen to reach your muscles. The movements are not overly strenuous, and you do not need to rest between the rounds. However, if you need rest, take it!
Why is there no cool down in the program?
To cool down you simply need to reduce the intensity of the activity you are doing. Select an activity that will gradually reduce your heart rate. Gently stretching each of the main muscle groups will bring both your body and mind back to a resting state.
How do I know if I am completing the exercises properly?
Every exercise has a video tutorial. Please look through the exercises to ensure you know how to complete the movements properly. I recommend watching all the exercise you are unfamiliar with prior to starting your workout. This will ensure a smooth workout with little to no referencing the videos. — Which will overlap the music on your phone.
What is an NSV?
Non-Scale Victory! These are improvements that may go unnoticed if you are only focused on the scale. For example: your clothes fitting better, more active with your family, more energy for life, improved sleep, hitting new RPs, losing inches not pounds, improved mental health, improved medical markers (blood pressure & blood sugar levels). Your health journey is so much more than a number on a scale.
How to record a starting point before the program?
Take Pictures! You don’t have to post them anywhere. While you are burning fat you are also gaining muscle. The scale will not tell the whole story. Before and after photos are a great way to track body composition changes.

I am not seeing results, what now?
Take an honest look at your day. What are you doing with the other 23 hours? Training for 1 hour per day and then spending the remainder of the day anchored to a desk or motionless on the sofa will not lead to massive results. In addition to this program, I highly recommend getting around 10,000 steps per day. If you are nowhere near 10,000, just focus on improving.
Which is more important, consistency or intensity?
Consistency. Once consistency is mastered, you can start focusing on your intensity.
What is Pick Your Poison Cardio?
This means you can choose your own cardio modality! I use this type of programming so you can select what you not only have access to, but what you enjoy as well. Examples include: Outdoor Run, Treadmill, Outdoor Bike, Air Bike, Elliptical, Step Mill, Climber, Rower, Kettlebell Swings, Sled Pushes, Swim, Jump Rope

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I select my starting weight?
Everyone starts at different strength levels. When selecting weights, I recommend starting easy during the first week. Get familiar with the program & track your weights. (Playbook now has logging!) The goal of my programming is to work up to 1-2 reps from failure. In other words, when completing sets with a particular weight you should have enough “gas left in the tank” to hit 1-2 more reps. Never sacrifice form to increase weight.
How do I know when it’s time to increase the weight on a particular exercise?
If you complete your last set and you can complete an additional 3-5 reps, then it is time to increase the weight. Don’t be afraid to go heavy, as long as you don’t sacrifice form.
How to interpret the program when set & reps change throughout the program?
When the # of rounds or reps increase from one week to the next: You should try to maintain the same weight you used in the previous week. When the # of rounds or reps decrease from one week to the next: You should try to increase the weight (go heavier) you used in the previous week. When the # of reps remain the same from one week to the next: You should try to increase the weight (go heavier) you used in the previous week.
What should I do when a unilateral exercise is programmed?
For all unilateral (one-sided movement), perform the programmed number of reps on each side. Exercises labeled alternating, single arm, or single leg are easy to identify as unilateral movements. However, there are other unilateral movements that don’t have these indicator words such as walking lunges, hip flexor stretch, side planks, bear crawls, etc.
Why is there no rest time programmed during the warmup?
I never program rest during the warmup. The warmup is meant to increase your heart rate and therefore your blood flow which enables more oxygen to reach your muscles. The movements are not overly strenuous, and you do not need to rest between the rounds. However, if you need rest, take it!
Why is there no cool down in the program?
To cool down you simply need to reduce the intensity of the activity you are doing. Select an activity that will gradually reduce your heart rate. Gently stretching each of the main muscle groups will bring both your body and mind back to a resting state.
How do I know if I am completing the exercises properly?
Every exercise has a video tutorial. Please look through the exercises to ensure you know how to complete the movements properly. I recommend watching all the exercise you are unfamiliar with prior to starting your workout. This will ensure a smooth workout with little to no referencing the videos. — Which will overlap the music on your phone.
What is an NSV?
Non-Scale Victory! These are improvements that may go unnoticed if you are only focused on the scale. For example: your clothes fitting better, more active with your family, more energy for life, improved sleep, hitting new RPs, losing inches not pounds, improved mental health, improved medical markers (blood pressure & blood sugar levels). Your health journey is so much more than a number on a scale.
How to record a starting point before the program?
Take Pictures! You don’t have to post them anywhere. While you are burning fat you are also gaining muscle. The scale will not tell the whole story. Before and after photos are a great way to track body composition changes.

I am not seeing results, what now?
Take an honest look at your day. What are you doing with the other 23 hours? Training for 1 hour per day and then spending the remainder of the day anchored to a desk or motionless on the sofa will not lead to massive results. In addition to this program, I highly recommend getting around 10,000 steps per day. If you are nowhere near 10,000, just focus on improving.
Which is more important, consistency or intensity?
Consistency. Once consistency is mastered, you can start focusing on your intensity.
What is Pick Your Poison Cardio?
This means you can choose your own cardio modality! I use this type of programming so you can select what you not only have access to, but what you enjoy as well. Examples include: Outdoor Run, Treadmill, Outdoor Bike, Air Bike, Elliptical, Step Mill, Climber, Rower, Kettlebell Swings, Sled Pushes, Swim, Jump Rope
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Comments

M
Martha 23d ago
Added an extra set - really feeling the burn!
A
Alex 1mo ago
Thanks big dude!!
A
Andrew 2mo ago
Really super trainer! 👌👌👌
J
Josh 4mo ago
Audio is in and out