One of the major ways to structure a solid workout program is to begin with compound exercises. These are exercises that have movement including more than one joint, which involves multiple major muscle groups. Doing so allows you to stress large swaths of muscle with heavier weight, which is great for building strength as well. The reason we advocate for these types of lifts first in your routine is so that you don’t end up bottlenecking your performance by tiring out smaller muscles earlier. Compound exercises include deadlifts, squats and lunges. Use a barbell or add a press to your squat or lunge to really elevate the heart rate and tax the entire body.