Workout Summary
- Main GoalBuild Muscle
- Workout TypeFull Body
- Training LevelBeginner
- Program Duration8 weeks
- Days Per Week3
- Time Per Workout30 minutes
- Equipment RequiredBodyweight, Dumbbells
- Target Gender Male
- Recommended Supps
- Workout PDF Download Workout
Workout Description
Stuck at home and only have dumbbells? Maybe you're in a rut and what to try something different?
The dumbbell only home or gym full body workout focuses on the use of heavy compound lifts, and allows you to maximize muscle gains with minimal equipment. This workout can be run for an extended period of time. As long as you are experiencing strength and muscle gains, stick with this routine! Here are some key elements to maximizing progress:
- Progression. Never waste a set. Always push for more reps on every set using good form. When you can hit the top level of the recommended rep range on your first set of an exercise, add weight! This means that if an exercise calls for 3 sets of 6 to 12 reps, and on your first set you can perform 12 reps, add more weight the next time you perform this exercise.
- Failure. Do NOT train to failure. Train to the point where you believe you might fail if you attempt another rep.
- Food. You MUST eat more then it takes to maintain your bodyweight to pack on muscle mass. If you do not do this, you may add strength, but it will be very difficult to add muscle.
A note for women: Women can perform this workout. Recommend rep range is 10 to 15 for most sets.
You will be working out 3 days per week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Do not add additional exercises into this workout. Cardio can be performed first thing in the morning, or post-resistance training.
Recommended: Need help building muscle? Take our Free Muscle Building Course
Monday - Full Body
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Dumbbell Squat | 3 | 6-12 |
| Dumbbell Bench Press | 3 | 6-12 |
| One Arm Dumbbell Row | 3 | 6-12 |
| Standing Dumbbell Curl | 3 | 6-12 |
| Two Arm Seated Dumbbell Extension | 3 | 6-12 |
| Sit Up | 3 | 10-25 |
Wednesday - Full Body
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Dumbbell Step Up | 3 | 6-12 |
| Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift | 3 | 6-12 |
| Seated Dumbbell Press | 3 | 6-12 |
| Standing One Leg Dumbbell Calf Raise | 3 | 10-20 |
| Dumbbell Shrug | 3 | 10-15 |
| Dumbbell Side Bends | 3 | 10-15 |
Friday - Full Body
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Dumbbell Lunge | 3 | 6-12 |
| Dumbbell Floor Press | 3 | 6-12 |
| Wide Grip Pull Up | 3 | 6-12 |
| Standing Hammer Curl | 3 | 6-12 |
| Lying Dumbbell Extension | 3 | 6-12 |
| Lying Floor Leg Raise | 3 | 10-25 |
Post your post-workout swolfies in M&S gear on IG and tag @muscleandstrength, #muscleandstrength, or DM them to us to get a shoutout on Muscle & Strength stories!
2.1K Comments
Is it okey to do boxing HIIT workout (30 minutes) in Tuesdays and Thursdays along with this?
I believe that would be just fine, Rex. Go for it! Thanks for reading M&S!
Wondering how much rest I should do between sets?
60-90 seconds.
I have been doing sports for 3 years and i am at an advanced level (i think :D).Due to my job,i will have to do workout at home soon, so do you think i should do this program or would you recommend a more advanced another program with dummbels and barbells ?
What equipment do you have, Cihan? Is it only DBs and BBs you have, or do you have more to work with? I might be able to find you a better program here on M&S.
Hi there,
I'm currently on a walking of 15-20k steps with 25-30 minutes of running, 10 minutes of cycling in moving handle exercise bike, 100 diamond pushups, 100 sit ups & 4 minutes of plank (variants: straight arm, side plank with alternative arms, mountain climber, spiderman, forearm) everyday.
Are they good to have everyday with the above training schedule?
Moreover, if in any week, workout days are shifted a day i.e. Tue-Thu-Sat, should I have to maintain the same days in next week or I can reduce the weekend rest & resume from the next Monday?
Regards,
John
I don't think you need both the running and cycling. Alternating one or the other would be fine.
If you can feel you can go on Monday, go for it. Hope this helps!
I plan on using pushups to warm up before this workout.
Is it ok to do 100 reps of pushups spread out over 4x25 or 5x20?
Go with 5 x 20, Joseph. Also, keep in mind that these dumbbell workouts were meant for people that were limited and only wanted to use them. Bodyweight movements or additional equipment you have like a barbell or bands can be good to throw in as well.
I dont have access to pullup bars.I have access to
Only barbell and dumbbells.Are there any alternatives?
Pullovers are going to be your best bet. You can do those with either a bar or dumbbell.
Thanks
Is there an alternative to the "Wide Grip Pull Up" on day 3? I don't have access to anything in or nearby my house for this exercise. (Only have dumbbells).
Pullovers would be your best bet.
Is it cool to do some running - sprints or a 5k or so - on the Tuesday and Thursday? Or will that kill everything?
You should be fine doing that, Bernie.
Can I do yoga on the Tuesday & Thursday rest days?
Sure can, Nikki!
How is this different from this program? https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/3-day-full-body-dumbbell-workout
Outside of rep schemes and bodyweight exercises, they are indeed very similar.
Thanks for the work out routine!
I dont have anything to do pullups, what exercise can I replace it with?
What do you have access to? Let me know, and I will try to offer some alternatives.
How do I stop my abs from painful cramps? It feels like my entire abdomen is being twisted when I do sit ups
Hydration and longer rests between sets can help, Vincent. If you're still feeling cramps after taking longer breaks, talk to a doctor.
Great guide.
I've had issues with ab and core development in the past, what's the best way to fix that while also maintaining the workout schedule in this guide?
Also, I dislike running or jogging for cardio so I was wondering if there are suitable substitutes I can use to replace them. When should I perform cardio and how should I cool down after a workout?
Thanks for the information.
Hi, Ebube. Here is a great ab workout you can do while on this program.
https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/27-home-based-ab-workout.html
As for cardio, any bike or machine you have access to would work. Do cardio in the morning or after your weight training. If you train in the morning, do the weights first, then the cardio. Hope this helps!
What could I replace the dumbbell step ups with?
I was thinking about the upper lower split routine but then saw this one. Which one do you recommend for someone at an intermediate level, who does not have a whole lot of time to workout nowadays?
What are the issues with the step ups? Want to make a good substitution that will help you.
Hi, for me it's hard to have chest gains. May I do two exercices for chest each day or it's dangerous for my remover?
Two movements for chest should be fine, Paul.
Hi, I believe that my body can handle more than beginners because I have finished my workout program on another website as well before coming across this website. And my concern is that I want to try the intermediate level of these workout sets, 3 days is my ideal plan so is there any way I can modify it to meet my standard, for example, increase sets or reps or pick another workout program?
Hi, See Boon. Another program may be the best bet in your case. If you really want to stick with this one, then one or two more sets per exercise would be the best way to do it.
Hi, thanks for replying appreciate it. The reason I wanted to stick with this program is that I only have dumbbells at the moment, and I couldn't find any workouts regarding the intermediate level of 3 days full body with dumbbells only. Thx for the suggestions btw, by any chance that I can receive the link for the workouts you mentioned that might suits me?
If you want to go with another one, try this one. It's more suited for people who want to use more volume and train three times a week.
https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/frankoman-dumbbell-only-split...
There are also ways to make this workout harder such as slow negatives, longer contractions, and rest-pause sets. Consider those as well.
Hi
Thank you for this great article
Do you recommend doing cardio on weight training days or on off days
Your reply is very much appreciated, Thank you..
Regards
Hi, Ahmed. Yes, do cardio on off days. 20-30 minutes of either moderate level or 15-20 minutes of HIIT would suffice.
Hi , why all the work outs have a duration? in this case .. after 8 weeks should i change the workout type??
Anthony, the durations are recommended so you can consider more options based on your progress. If you enjoy this one, keep going.
You could run it one more time, and you could still see progress. I definitely suggest changing it up after two runs in a row.
Would I still be able to achieve gains if I continue with the program after the 8 weeks or would I find more success in another program?
Hello,
I've completed 11 weeks of this program and will have access to a gym in a few weeks. Thank you so much for this routine as its been so useful as a beginner. Do you have any reccommendations about any 3-4 day gym routines that would be best as a progression from this workout routine.
Hey John, try this one. https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/4-day-maximum-mass-workout
Hello,
If I have the energy in between workout days, should I continue with full body workouts, or would it better to increase sets on my workout days instead?
Hi, Kevin. Try adding a set to each exercise on the workout days. Save the off days for recovery. Those are important for your overall progress.
Hey.. How can i add pushups in all three days?
Hi, Smith. If you really want to add in pushups, use them to help you warmup before the workout begins, or you can do them at the end of the session for a good burnout. Try both and see which works best for you.
Would it be alright to perform Dumbbell Squats 3x a week (removing Dumbbell Step Ups and Dumbbell Lunges) in this workout?
Hi, John. The step ups and lunges offer different benefits than dumbbell squats, so keeping them in the program would be best. If for some reason you can't do them, then check out the M&S Exercises section to find other alternatives that you feel you can do.
I've been doing this workout for a few weeks now, and I love it! Quick question: Would the workout lose any of its effectiveness if you split up the six exercises for a particular day, for example, doing three in the morning and three in the evening? Thank you!