Looking to add muscle mass? Using only dumbbells and barbells, this workout hits each muscle group hard once a week over a 5 day schedule.
Workout Summary

Workout Description

Looking to add muscle mass? Maybe this is the right workout for you. Using only dumbbells and barbells, this workout hits each muscle group hard once a week over a 5 day schedule. This workout is intense, so you will get the best results if you supplement with creatine and protein. Remember to get plenty of rest and minimize cardio while you're trying to bulk up. Good luck.

Workout Schedule

  • Monday - Shoulders
  • Tuesday - Back
  • Wednesday - Chest, Triceps, and Abs
  • Thursday - Biceps
  • Friday - Legs
  • Saturday - Rest
  • Sunday - Rest

Dumbbell & Barbell Mass Workout

Monday - Shoulders

Exercise Sets Reps
Military Press 4 10-14
Seated Dumbbell Press 4 8
Dumbbell Front Raise 3 8-10
Dumbbell Lateral Raise 5 12, 10, 8, 8, 6
Dumbbell Reverse Fly 3 10

Tuesday - Back

Exercise Sets Reps
Wide Grip Pull Up 7 12 down to 6
Bent Over Barbell Row 4 12
One Arm Dumbbell Row 3 10
Deadlifts 4 10
Dumbbell Shrugs 4 8-12

Wednesday - Chest, Triceps and Abs

Exercise Sets Reps
Barbell Bench Press 4 8
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press 4 10
Decline Dumbbell Bench Press 3 8
Dumbbell Flys 4 12
Chest Dip 4 MAX (weighted)
Close Grip Bench Press 5 5
Tricep Kickback 3 12-15 light
One Arm Dumbbell Extension 3 8-10
Lying Tricep Extension 4 12 strict
Decline Sit Ups 4 MAX

Thursday - Biceps

Exercise Sets Reps
Standing Barbell Curl 4 8
Preacher Curl 4 8
Standing Hammer Curl 4 10
Concentration Curl 3 12
Reverse Barbell Curl 3 7-8

Friday - Legs

Exercise Sets Reps
Dumbbell Lunge 4 5 each leg
Squat 6 10
Stiff Leg Deadlifts 4 10
Standing Calf Raise 8 15-20

 

730 Comments
Badr
Posted on: Fri, 03/17/2023 - 00:14

Can i make it 1 rest day?

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Roger
Posted on: Fri, 03/24/2023 - 21:12

Two days of recovery would actually serve you best. You can do it with one day, but results may not be the same as they would be if you take both days off.

Lakshay
Posted on: Fri, 01/13/2023 - 12:48

This workout is great and absolutely
Best as a home workout! I just came to
The end To complete this program. So can
You please suggest me the next workout
Or what should be taken after this.

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Roger
Posted on: Mon, 01/23/2023 - 13:11

This should help you choose your next program, Lakshay. Thanks for reading M&S, and I hope you enjoy the workouts.

https://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/how-to-choose-your-next-train...

Ryan
Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2022 - 07:24

I feel dumb asking, but I am unclear on whether these workouts are meant to be done as a circuit or if I’m supposed to do all sets for one exercise back to back before moving on to the next. Could you clarify this for me?

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Roger
Posted on: Fri, 08/12/2022 - 09:07

Exercise 1:
Set 1, Rest, Set 2, Rest, Set 3, Rest, Set 4(if there is a set 4), rest. Then you move on to exercise 2.

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Roger
Posted on: Sun, 10/09/2022 - 15:44

Hey Vincent, if that is working for you, then keep going. It's great to burn calories and finish the workout faster. If you're more focused on building muscle & strength (see what I did there?), then you would be better off doing straight sets and resting between each.

Good luck!

Vincent
Posted on: Thu, 10/06/2022 - 16:21

I really enjoy this workout and have already seen great results. I have been doing exercise 1 then 2 etc and then repeating for set 2. . Should I change to the recommended above. What difference will it make? Thanks!!

Shawn
Posted on: Fri, 07/22/2022 - 20:36

Just a quick question. What do you mean on an exercise that says strict?

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Roger
Posted on: Tue, 07/26/2022 - 19:45

Don't allow cheating to assist and the form should be perfect.

One example would be on a standing shoulder press, some people use their legs to help. On a strict press, you would only use the shoulders.

Nash
Posted on: Sat, 07/09/2022 - 09:02

Why is the chest day so packed compared to the other days?
Like double the amount of exercises.

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Roger
Posted on: Mon, 07/18/2022 - 08:28

I counted five for shoulders, back, chest, biceps, and four for triceps and legs. I do feel more leg work would be a plus here. If the chest work is a concern, cut out either dips or decline press and the flye. That will bring it down to three. Close grip is meant for triceps.

Nash
Posted on: Mon, 07/18/2022 - 09:34

Yeah, I was thinking more about the number of exercises that day, not specifically chest exercises

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Roger
Posted on: Tue, 07/26/2022 - 19:43

That is because of the ab exercises. Do those separately if you like.

Mariah Swarts
Posted on: Fri, 07/01/2022 - 14:02

I was wondering if you guys have a more advanced workout with dumbells and a barbell, I've been doing this plan for a couple weeks now and was wanting a more advanced plan.

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Roger
Posted on: Fri, 07/08/2022 - 09:14
asad
Posted on: Mon, 04/11/2022 - 19:51

hello trainer can you suggest me a workout plan which train each muscle two times a week.

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Roger
Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2022 - 09:49

How long have you been training, Asad? If you're relatively new to the iron game, training each muscle group twice a week with a lot of volume isn't the best idea. Now, if you're talking about full-body type workouts, we have several of those to choose from.

DJ
Posted on: Wed, 03/23/2022 - 09:03

Hi, What rest period do you advise between sets?

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Roger
Posted on: Tue, 03/29/2022 - 20:03

60-90 seconds between sets, DJ.

DJ
Posted on: Sun, 04/03/2022 - 14:08

Thanks

Jason
Posted on: Mon, 03/14/2022 - 22:49

I love this workout program. At 48yrs-old I want to see how much mass I can put on while increasing my strength. (I have always been a hard gainer)

This program is easy to follow and after a week I'm confident that I will be able to add more weight soon. Thank you for this.

Jaryd
Posted on: Mon, 09/13/2021 - 00:35

Hi is there a way to make this a PPL routine for a 6 day split?

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Roger
Posted on: Thu, 09/23/2021 - 18:52

Hi, Jaryd. Have you considered splitting up chest and triceps? You can also focus on training abs on their own day if you prefer.

Vanja Kåsereff
Posted on: Tue, 08/17/2021 - 12:52

Hi! I'm doing the leg workout right now and everytime it's killing my legs. Im just wondering what you mean with the lunges. Is it 5 on each leg (10 in total) or is it something different? Using weights in both hands

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Roger
Posted on: Thu, 09/02/2021 - 18:15

Hello, Vanja. Yes, it is five reps for each leg (10 total). You can use weights in both hands. If you have trouble with that, start with your bodyweight only, and add weight to the hands as you get stronger.

Lance Lasker
Posted on: Sun, 08/15/2021 - 15:45

Hi

I only have dumbbells and barbells, no bench or any other equipment. Are there any alternatives to the following workouts using only dumbbells and barbells?

Tuesday:
- Wide grip pull up

Wednesday:
- Incline barbell bench press
- Decline dumbbell bench press
- Dumbbell flys
- Chest dip
- Close grip bench press
- Lying tricep extension
- Decline sit-ups

Thursday
- Preacher curl

Friday
- Squat
- Standing calf raise

Thank you

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Roger
Posted on: Thu, 09/02/2021 - 12:47

Lance, thanks for the comment. This workout has several options for you to swap in for the exercises you listed. https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/dumbbar-supersets

You can also check out the Exercise Video section here at M&S to find movements with the equipment that you do have access to.

Finally, you can use the floor instead of a bench for pressing movements. It would be hard to do anything incline, but floor presses are great for chest development as well. Hope this helps.

Rene
Posted on: Fri, 08/13/2021 - 10:58

what dose the terms "light and "strict' mean on this program?

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Marina
Posted on: Fri, 08/13/2021 - 11:10

Rene - "light" refers to lighter weight. "Strict" is just another way to reiterate that you want proper form on all reps.

Rene
Posted on: Mon, 08/16/2021 - 08:06

Thx for clearing that up! I have another question wh would be a good warm-up for this program. I just finished a strict barbell program (I'm adding dumbells to mix) where you would do the same program just lighter weight, would that apply to this too? Thx again in advance!

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Marina
Posted on: Mon, 08/16/2021 - 10:08

Rene - that would be fine.

We also have a great article that shows different dynamic warm-up exercises depending on what body part you're working on that day.
https://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/warming-up-for-dummies

Harsh
Posted on: Mon, 07/12/2021 - 19:53

I need intermediate and advanced workout pdf with same equipment plz provide fast

Harsh
Posted on: Mon, 07/12/2021 - 19:49

Give after this workout pdf I have completed 8 weeks program give me next level workout but with same equipment

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Abigail
Posted on: Tue, 07/13/2021 - 09:44

Hey Harsh - you can repeat this program if you enjoyed it. You can alter the reps, sets, and rest time to make the workout more challenging.

Peter
Posted on: Mon, 07/12/2021 - 08:57

I don’t have a pull up bar home , what can I do instead of wide pull ups?

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Abigail
Posted on: Mon, 07/12/2021 - 11:09

Hey Peter - you can do wide grip barbell rows.

stevepax
Posted on: Fri, 07/09/2021 - 06:40

How about dividing the volume so that you hit each muscle x2 times a week? You think that's viable with the current volume of this routine?

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Abigail
Posted on: Mon, 07/12/2021 - 11:11

Hey stevepax - you could rearrange this program to hit each muscle group 2x per week

Shahin Ibrahim
Posted on: Sat, 06/19/2021 - 17:23

Which homeworkout is best for muscle building

gregory
Posted on: Wed, 06/02/2021 - 20:01

I have one week left of this routine, i am trying to build muscle but i have dumbbells, barbell and a bench what new routine will be good to go to next that will allow me to build muscle. I would like to workout at least 5 to 6 times a week.

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Abigail
Posted on: Fri, 06/04/2021 - 10:00

Hey gregory - are you enjoying this program and have you seen results from it? If so, you can repeat this program!

Hope
Posted on: Sun, 05/30/2021 - 18:34

For excercises given in ranges...we have to keep adding weight till we get to the lowest rep...right?...those excercises are barb curl,shrugs and tricep kickbacks

Jay
Posted on: Fri, 05/28/2021 - 13:06

Hello, so now im searching for a workout routine where i can do ppl of 3 days after eachother and then 1 rest day and keep that cycle going. I have weights and can do some bodyweight training but i dont have any machines. Do u have any programs to recommend?

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Abigail
Posted on: Tue, 06/01/2021 - 10:12
Rushi
Posted on: Sat, 05/08/2021 - 09:25

Hi, I'm working from home and I don't have option of incline and decline dumble bench press due to unavailability of bench. Any alternative?

Niall
Posted on: Fri, 05/07/2021 - 07:58

Thanks, great plan, have been using it a few weeks and I'm already showing vast muscle increase!

Caine
Posted on: Tue, 05/04/2021 - 06:15

One more question, I can only do a max of 7-8 pulll ups, should I then still do 7 sets?

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Abigail
Posted on: Wed, 05/05/2021 - 11:39

Hey Caine - I'd still do 7 sets and do as many strict pull ups as you can for each set. Give yourself plenty of rest between sets.

Caine
Posted on: Tue, 05/04/2021 - 05:18

For the exercises where all sets have the same amount of reps, should all sets be done with the same weight? And what about the sets stating f.e. 10-14 or 12-7?