celebrity series #2: Yeezy

As we were finishing the Jlo Rise & Grind, I asked members if there were any requests for who to do the next week. The only stipulation was that it had to be a man, as we were going to alternate weekly between a guy and a girl.

One member said: “You know, I’d be really curious to see how Kanye works out.”

And that is how we landed on Mr. West. So how does Kanye workout? Answer: he doesn’t, apparently (anymore, at least).

Back in 2015 or 2016 when he had his mental health issues, he decided to focus on his physical health to aid in his recovery. At that time, Kanye would attend Barry’s Bootcamp, play basketball, jump rope, and focus on resistance and core training.

Today, according to a “source“, Kanye still sees a trainer, but they mostly just walk around the gym:

“Harley (the trainer) shows Kanye how to do a certain exercise on a machine, Kanye nods in agreement and then they walk over to another machine and do the same thing,” the insider explains.

So, the Kanye West was built based on his post-hospitalization routines.

Playlist I used here.

Equipment needed: chair, towel

Total time: 25 to 35 minutes (depending on if you do Round 3 once or twice)

ROUND 1 — “Barry’s upper body focus”, two parts per round 

Part 1: strength training
– 4 exercises
– 10 reps per exercise
– as many times around as you can in 4 minutes

1. tricep dips
2. push ups
3. towel lift and lower (hold towel tight between hands at shoulder height and width, slowly lift the towel above your head and lower back down while maintaining taughtness)
4. towel bicep curl (hold towel tight between shoulders, at shoulder height, but with your palms to the ceiling this time, keep shoulders at elbow height while you slowly execute a bicep curl)

Part 2: cardio tabata = mountain climber
– 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off
– 8 rounds = 4 minutes total

ROUND 2 — “Barry’s lower body focus”, two parts per round

Part 1: strength training
– 4 exercises
– 10 reps per exercise
– as many times around as you can in 4 minutes

1. single leg squat right leg
2. single leg squat left leg
3. curtsey lunge
4. side lunge

Part 2: cardio tabata = squat jumps
– 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off
– 8 rounds = 4 minutes total

ROUND 3 — 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off, one or two times through

1. skipping (with a rope or mime it)
2. chest press (lying on the floor just like the guy in the video, but using the towel held tightly between your hands)
3. shoulder press (but with your towel)
4. tricep skull crusher (lying on the floor just like the guy in the video, but using the towel held tightly between your hands)
5. foot taps (you can use something small to tap or just on the ground)
6. leg lifts
7. bicycle crunch
8. sit up

*Note — you might be like, “wtf is with the towel?” If you have actual weights at home, please feel free to use them. If you’re skeptical, try it out. Keeping the tension through the towel the whole time makes this WAY harder that you might think.