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GORILLA FITNESS PLAN

Build

Add strength and size — train the whole body, eat enough, prioritize protein.

You want to get stronger and build muscle. That means eating at or slightly above maintenance — a lean-ish surplus — and training every major muscle group twice a week.

DAILY SHAPE

Calories

Eat at maintenance or a small surplus (about +200–300 cal). You can't build much on a big deficit. Prioritize protein and let the training drive the growth — adjust to how you're recovering.

The plate

A protein at every meal (bigger portions than Lean Down), smart carbs around training, and plenty of veg.

Protein

Protein is the build material — include a protein source at every meal and snack.

YOUR MEALS

A DAY ON THIS PLAN

Breakfast

Eggs with oats and a banana.

Lunch

Chicken with rice and veg.

Dinner

Beef or salmon with potato and broccoli.

Snack

Post-workout whey and a banana; later, Greek yogurt with peanut butter.

FOODS THIS PLAN IS BUILT AROUND

Whole-food staples, with their Gorilla score. Scan one in-store to check the exact product you're holding.

Protein

88

Chicken Breast

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Grocery item
82

Chicken Thigh

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Grocery item
78

Lean Ground Beef

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Grocery item
84

Lean Ground Turkey

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Grocery item
85

Eggs

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Grocery item
88

Plain Greek Yogurt

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Grocery item
82

Cottage Cheese

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Grocery item
90

Salmon

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Grocery item
84

Canned Tuna (in water)

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Carbs

88

Rolled Oats

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82

Brown Rice

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88

Quinoa

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84

Potato

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Grocery item
72

Whole-Grain Bread

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Grocery item

Fats

82

Natural Peanut Butter

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90

Almonds

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90

Walnuts

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85

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

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90

Avocado

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Grocery item

Produce

88

Banana

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Grocery item

Supplement

82

Whey Protein Isolate

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The treat

A bigger post-workout treat fits here — the surplus has room for it.

YOUR MOVEMENT

THE WEEK

Your Monday-through-Sunday split. Rest and walk days are part of the plan — they're when the work pays off.

Monday

Push (chest · triceps · shoulders)

Pushups

Pushups

beginner

Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart while holding your torso up at arms length. Next, lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.

Bench Dips

Bench Dips

beginner

For this exercise you will need to place a bench behind your back. With the bench perpendicular to your body, and while looking away from it, hold on to the bench on its edge with the hands fully extended, separated at shoulder width. The legs will be extended forward, bent at the waist and perpendicular to your torso. This will be your starting position. Slowly lower your body as you inhale by bending at the elbows until you lower yourself far enough to where there is an angle slightly smaller than 90 degrees between the upper arm and the forearm. Tip: Keep the elbows as close as possible throughout the movement. Forearms should always be pointing down.

Handstand Push-Ups

Handstand Push-Ups

expert

With your back to the wall bend at the waist and place both hands on the floor at shoulder width. Kick yourself up against the wall with your arms straight. Your body should be upside down with the arms and legs fully extended. Keep your whole body as straight as possible. Tip: If doing this for the first time, have a spotter help you. Also, make sure that you keep facing the wall with your head, rather than looking down.

Tuesday

Pull (back · biceps)

Pullups

Pullups

beginner

Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using the prescribed grip. Note on grips: For a wide grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance wider than your shoulder width. For a medium grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance equal to your shoulder width and for a close grip at a distance smaller than your shoulder width. As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, bring your torso back around 30 degrees or so while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position.

Chin-Up

Chin-Up

beginner

Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing your torso and a grip closer than the shoulder width. As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, keep your torso as straight as possible while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position. Tip: Keeping the torso as straight as possible maximizes biceps stimulation while minimizing back involvement.

Superman

Superman

beginner

To begin, lie straight and face down on the floor or exercise mat. Your arms should be fully extended in front of you. This is the starting position. Simultaneously raise your arms, legs, and chest off of the floor and hold this contraction for 2 seconds. Tip: Squeeze your lower back to get the best results from this exercise. Remember to exhale during this movement. Note: When holding the contracted position, you should look like superman when he is flying.

Wednesday

Legs (quads · glutes · hamstrings)

Bodyweight Squat

Bodyweight Squat

beginner

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. You can place your hands behind your head. This will be your starting position. Begin the movement by flexing your knees and hips, sitting back with your hips.

Bodyweight Walking Lunge

Bodyweight Walking Lunge

beginner

Begin standing with your feet shoulder width apart and your hands on your hips. Step forward with one leg, flexing the knees to drop your hips. Descend until your rear knee nearly touches the ground. Your posture should remain upright, and your front knee should stay above the front foot.

Natural Glute Ham Raise

Natural Glute Ham Raise

intermediate

Using the leg pad of a lat pulldown machine or a preacher bench, position yourself so that your ankles are under the pads, knees on the seat, and you are facing away from the machine. You should be upright and maintaining good posture. This will be your starting position. Lower yourself under control until your knees are almost completely straight.

Thursday

Push (chest · triceps · shoulders)

Incline Push-Up

Incline Push-Up

beginner

Stand facing bench or sturdy elevated platform. Place hands on edge of bench or platform, slightly wider than shoulder width. Position forefoot back from bench or platform with arms and body straight. Arms should be perpendicular to body. Keeping body straight, lower chest to edge of box or platform by bending arms.

Push-Ups - Close Triceps Position

Push-Ups - Close Triceps Position

intermediate

Lie on the floor face down and place your hands closer than shoulder width for a close hand position. Make sure that you are holding your torso up at arms' length. Lower yourself until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.

Kneeling Arm Drill

Kneeling Arm Drill

beginner

This drill helps increase arm efficiency during the run. Begin kneeling, left foot in front, right knee down. Apply pressure through the front heel to keep your glutes and hamstrings activated. Begin by blocking the arms in long, pendulum like swings. Close the arm angle, blocking with the arms as you would when jogging, progressing to a run and finally a sprint.

Friday

Pull (back · lower back)

Wide-Grip Rear Pull-Up

Wide-Grip Rear Pull-Up

intermediate

Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using a wide grip. As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar, bring your torso forward and head so that there is an imaginary line from the pull-up bar to the back of your neck. This is your starting position.

V-Bar Pullup

V-Bar Pullup

beginner

Start by placing the middle of the V-bar in the middle of the pull-up bar (assuming that the pull-up station you are using does not have neutral grip handles). The V-Bar handles will be facing down so that you can hang from the pull-up bar through the use of the handles. Once you securely place the V-bar, take a hold of the bar from each side and hang from it. Stick your chest out and lean yourself back slightly in order to better engage the lats. This will be your starting position.

Hyperextensions With No Hyperextension Bench

Hyperextensions With No Hyperextension Bench

intermediate

With someone holding down your legs, slide yourself down to the edge a flat bench until your hips hang off the end of the bench. Tip: Your entire upper body should be hanging down towards the floor. Also, you will be in the same position as if you were on a hyperextension bench but the range of motion will be shorter due to the height of the flat bench vs. that of the hyperextension bench. With your body straight, cross your arms in front of you (my preference) or behind your head. This will be your starting position. Tip: You can also hold a weight plate for extra resistance in front of you under your crossed arms.

Saturday

Legs (quads · glutes)

Freehand Jump Squat

Freehand Jump Squat

intermediate

Cross your arms over your chest. With your head up and your back straight, position your feet at shoulder width.

Step-up with Knee Raise

Step-up with Knee Raise

beginner

Stand facing a box or bench of an appropriate height with your feet together. This will be your starting position. Begin the movement by stepping up, putting your left foot on the top of the bench. Extend through the hip and knee of your front leg to stand up on the box. As you stand on the box with your left leg, flex your right knee and hip, bringing your knee as high as you can.

Single Leg Glute Bridge

Single Leg Glute Bridge

beginner

Lay on the floor with your feet flat and knees bent. Raise one leg off of the ground, pulling the knee to your chest. This will be your starting position.

Sunday

Rest

No session today — rest.

THE ROUTINE

Full-body, 2–3 sets of 8–12 reps, 3× a week (e.g. Mon/Wed/Fri) — hitting every major muscle group at least twice.

ALL THE MOVES

Beginner-friendly, no equipment. Start with the gentle version and only progress when it feels good.

Bodyweight Squat

Bodyweight Squat

beginner

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. You can place your hands behind your head. This will be your starting position. Begin the movement by flexing your knees and hips, sitting back with your hips.

Freehand Jump Squat

Freehand Jump Squat

intermediate

Cross your arms over your chest. With your head up and your back straight, position your feet at shoulder width.

Bodyweight Walking Lunge

Bodyweight Walking Lunge

beginner

Begin standing with your feet shoulder width apart and your hands on your hips. Step forward with one leg, flexing the knees to drop your hips. Descend until your rear knee nearly touches the ground. Your posture should remain upright, and your front knee should stay above the front foot.

Scissors Jump

Scissors Jump

beginner

Assume a lunge stance position with one foot forward with the knee bent, and the rear knee nearly touching the ground. Ensure that the front knee is over the midline of the foot. Extending through both legs, jump as high as possible, swinging your arms to gain lift.

Incline Push-Up Medium

Incline Push-Up Medium

beginner

Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands about shoulder width apart.

Pushups

Pushups

beginner

Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart while holding your torso up at arms length. Next, lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.

Incline Push-Up

Incline Push-Up

beginner

Stand facing bench or sturdy elevated platform. Place hands on edge of bench or platform, slightly wider than shoulder width. Position forefoot back from bench or platform with arms and body straight. Arms should be perpendicular to body. Keeping body straight, lower chest to edge of box or platform by bending arms.

Butt Lift (Bridge)

Butt Lift (Bridge)

beginner

Lie flat on the floor on your back with the hands by your side and your knees bent. Your feet should be placed around shoulder width. This will be your starting position. Pushing mainly with your heels, lift your hips off the floor while keeping your back straight. Breathe out as you perform this part of the motion and hold at the top for a second.

Plank

Plank

beginner

Get into a prone position on the floor, supporting your weight on your toes and your forearms. Your arms are bent and directly below the shoulder. Keep your body straight at all times, and hold this position as long as possible. To increase difficulty, an arm or leg can be raised.

Side Bridge

Side Bridge

beginner

Superman

Superman

beginner

To begin, lie straight and face down on the floor or exercise mat. Your arms should be fully extended in front of you. This is the starting position. Simultaneously raise your arms, legs, and chest off of the floor and hold this contraction for 2 seconds. Tip: Squeeze your lower back to get the best results from this exercise. Remember to exhale during this movement. Note: When holding the contracted position, you should look like superman when he is flying.

Knee Circles

Knee Circles

beginner

Stand with your legs together and hands by your waist. Now move your knees in a circular motion as you breathe normally.

Step-up with Knee Raise

Step-up with Knee Raise

beginner

Stand facing a box or bench of an appropriate height with your feet together. This will be your starting position. Begin the movement by stepping up, putting your left foot on the top of the bench. Extend through the hip and knee of your front leg to stand up on the box. As you stand on the box with your left leg, flex your right knee and hip, bringing your knee as high as you can.

Double Leg Butt Kick

Double Leg Butt Kick

beginner

Begin standing with your knees slightly bent. Quickly squat a short distance, flexing the hips and knees, and immediately extend to jump for maximum vertical height.

How to level up

Move to harder variations (knee → full push-ups; add a step for step-ups) and add sets or reps over time. Making it harder is the whole game.

This is guidance, not a prescription. These plans are sensible starting points built for a general beginner — they are not medical or dietitian advice. Everyone's body and needs are different.

  • Talk to a professional before starting a new nutrition or exercise plan, especially if you have any health conditions, injuries, or take medication.
  • The numbers are starting points, not targets to chase. Adjust to how you feel. Never push into very low intakes — under-eating backfires.
  • If food or your body feels like a source of stress or control rather than health, please reach out to a professional. Health is the whole point here — not a number.
  • Ease in. Start with the gentle version of every exercise and only progress when it feels good. Stop if something hurts.

Gorilla Fuel scores products so you can choose well — it doesn't replace a doctor, dietitian, or trainer.

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