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Workout Summary
Build Muscle
Split
Beginner
10 weeks
3
45 minutes
Dumbbells
Male & Female
Download WorkoutWorkout Description
Tired of looking for a dumbbell only routine to work out at home with? Don't want to buy any expensive equipment? Then here is a workout for you! All you need is an adjustable bench and some dumbbells. This is beginner - intermediate. If you have a pullup bar I highly suggest adding chinups or wide grip pullups to back day!
Daily Workout Schedule:
| Monday - Chest and Triceps | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chest | ||
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
| Incline Dumbbell Bench Press | 4 | 12,10,10,8 |
| Dumbbell Bench Press | 4 | 12,10,10,8 |
| Dumbbell Flys | 3 | 12 |
| Triceps | ||
| Dumbbell Skullcrusher | 3 | 12 |
| Dumbbell Tricep Kickback | 3 | 12 |
| One Arm Seated Dumbbell Extension | 3 | 12 |
Tuesday - Rest Day
| Wednesday - back and Biceps | ||
|---|---|---|
| Back | ||
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
| One Arm Dumbbell Row | 5 | 12,10,10,8,6 |
| Bent Over Dumbbell Row | 5 | 12,10,10,8,6 |
| Dumbbell Pullover | 2 | 12,10 |
| Biceps | ||
| Incline Dumbbell Curl | 3 | 10 |
| Standing Dumbbell Curl | 3 | 10 |
| Cross Body Hammer Curl | 2 | 10 |
Thursday - Rest Day
| Friday - Legs and Shoulders | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quads | ||
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
| Dumbbell Lunge | 4 | 12,10,10,8 |
| Dumbbell Step Up | 3 | 12 |
| Dumbbell Squat | 4 | 12,10,10,8 |
| Hamstrings | ||
| Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift | 4 | 12,10,10,8 |
| Calves | ||
| Seated Dumbbell Calf Raise | 2 | 15,12 |
| Dumbbell Standing Calf Raise | 2 | 12,10 |
| Shoulders | ||
| Standing Dumbbell Press | 4 | 12,10,10,8 |
| Dumbbell Lateral Raise | 3 | 12,10,10 |
| Bent Over Dumbbell Reverse Fly | 3 | 12,10,10 |
| Dumbbell Shrug | 4 | 12,10,10,8 |
Saturday and Sunday - Rest Days
1.1K Comments+ Post Comment
Dumb question from a beginner, when it says “4 sets, 12,10,10,8 reps” does that mean I’m picking up the weights 40 times and done or am I picking up the weights 40 times then repeating that 3 times?
Im not sure I understand your question correctly, but what it means is that on your 1st set, you do 12 reps, on 2nd set do 10 reps etc...
I can’t quite believe the author or an admin STILL hasn’t added that as the reps decrease in each set you’re supposed to increase the weight...
I’m pretty sure 90% of the people here are just using the same weight for each set 12,10,8 etc.
Why don’t you add it to the article? It’s pretty vital..
Also obviously makes this workout very difficult if you have to change the weights in between each set??
So how much weight should you add as the reps decrease?
Is it cool to do this program on a 4 day rotation? So I finish it twice every 8 days?
What is the recommended rest time between sets?
Will this build muscle/how long before I can see muscle growth? Also, how long can I use this workout for? Thank you!
Gabby
If you're a beginner it can take as little as 3 weeks to see great results if you work hard at it. And never do the same weightlifting routine for longer than 4 weeks, even if you just change some of the lifts it will greatly benefit you.
May you explain what you mean by "never doing the same routine for more than 4 weeks"? Though the program duration says 10 weeks.
This will sound dumb is it okay to do chest exercise after another chest exercise or triceps after triceps? Should it be like chest-triceps-chest-triceps?
It's good to break down the muscle your working so chest chest chest then tricep tricep tricep does a better job! With the recommended reps and sets.
It may be explained elsewhere and I just missed it, but what is the rationale for decreasing the rep count per set and increasing the weight per set? Does this approach offer any advantages over doing the same weight for an equal number of reps per set?
Really enjoyed this for the last 10 weeks, now moving on to the 3 day full body routine. Big increases in weight that I'm moving and noticeable visual muscle gains.
Thanks Josh!
With the different reps do we decrease in the weight?
I don’t see any core specific exercises in this split - does it exercise your core indirectly or should I add a core day in?
Could I do this workout 6 day's a week doing each workout twice a week with 1 rest day?
Hi Lee,
Yes, you could.
what percentage of my max should i be doing on these different exercises?
for the addition of pull ups on back day: how many sets and reps, and where should they be in the work out?
I won't have access to a bench until summer next year. What exercise should I use to substitute the ones that require an incline, such as the incline press and incline curl?
Hey, this is a bit of a stupid question:
I see this is a 'split' workout, meaning biceps for example are only worked once a week. How come this doesn't make it impossible to progress, given non-'split' workouts would be working each specifc muscle multiple times a week?
The key is Progressive Overload. If you're working at 85%-90% of your 1Rep Max, you will be pushing significant volume, which your muscles will need to rest from in order to grow. Muscles don't grow from the workout, they grow during the repairing rest process. Also, keep your rep ranges in the 4-6 range for that volume and follow the principle of: When you can do all sets for 6 reps, it's time to up the weight. If you're failing at 4 or 5 on any set, stay where you are until you get to 6 all sets, then up the weight. This is the progressive overload. This is where you get growth. Your muscles grow so to prepare you for handling more weight because you are telling your body through this process that you are going to be pushing more weight, and your body adapts.
Staying in this rep range is the Myofibrillar range where you are thickening the fibres of your muscles. Once you have hit the milestone of 135% of bod weight for bench, and 165% of body weight for Squat and Dead Lift, then you can add in some extra Sarcoplasmic reps in the 8-12 range to pump up the muscles more.
Don't get jacked up on the numbers. Do your best and forget the rest, as Tony Horton would say.
Try to jump too fast, and you risk injury and having to sit out for months which greatly impedes your growth. Don't let your ego write checks your body can't cash. Keep your ego out of it and focus on a healthy lifestyle that will have you turning heads at the beach.
Listen to your body and remember that this is a millimetre game. Gains happen slowly. Like a snail. But stay consistent and persistent and you will see the gains.
Remember too that nutrition contributes about 65% to your results. Not eating enough protein and carbs will impede gains. Too much fat and you'll look puffy. Not enough water or sleep and your body won't perform well. Track your food intake on apps like My Fitness Pal. Almost every jacked person you see knows their calories in and calories out numbers to some degree.
Every calorie you consume should also bring along a lot of friends; minerals, vitamins, etc.
And remember, alcohol inhibits fat oxidation. If your liver is too busy processing alcohol, it cant take care of the fat you're trying to burn, so it put it on hold. Nothing wrong with a couple now and then, but every day, or in great excess, you defeat your gains.
I'd say good luck, but the reality is that luck has nothing to do with it, other than some helpful genetics. So, instead I'll say: Good choices!
When doing 1 muscle at a time exercises like 1 arm dumbbell row or dumbbell lunges, do you do the required sets for each muscle side (left/right) or spread the sets between the 2 sides?
Hi Taran,
Yep, the sets would be done on each side.
Hope this helps!
I love this workout, but I also train in mma 2-3 times a week, can I add some plyo/explosive stuff at the beginning of workouts? Something like box jumps before legs and clap push up before chest
Is there another 3 day dumbbell workout that would be a good one to move onto AFTER completing this program? I enjoyed this program but would like to compound on it and improve in the future. Don't know where I should go to next after this one.
Hi Spencer,
Give this one a shot: https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/3-day-full-body-dumbbell-workout
What weight should I use in each arm?
How can anyone finish these set groups in 45min?!
Hey M&S!
Love the article! Also have a quick question.
I was doing another dumbbell routine that I have gotten somewhat bored as it was lighter than this one. I loving what I’m seeing with this one and was just curious if this would be a good routine to continue my fat loss journey or if you’d recommend a different routine for that?
I walk about 8-10 miles a day at work and do moderate lifting throughout my shift. I also have a pretty solid diet with one decent cheat meal a week. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Zachary
Hi Zachary,
This is a fine routine to use for fat loss goals. The most important thing to consider when achieving fat loss is how many calories you consume each day. You have to be in a calorie deficit to lose fat.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the reply! That’s the hard part haha. I eat healthy and definitely in a deficit. About 2 lb loss a week. I just struggle getting enough food sometimes. I may have to start meal prepping so I can insure that I’ll get enough nutrients for a healthy muscles growth.
Legs/Shoulders day is exhausting. When you say 4 sets of lunges and 3 sets of step-ups, how do we alternate legs? Do we just double up to 8 total sets of lunges and 6 sets of step-ups?
Can I do shoulders on a separate day and make this routine 4 days a week ?
Thanks for reply
Rah
Hi Rah,
Sure, that would be fine.
Hope this helps!
What is the idea behind the rep sceme? Are you supposed to keep the weight at the same level for each set, or increase the weight as the number of reps go down? Thanks!
For this routine, do you recommend that the exercises be done in the order listed? For example, on chest and triceps day, do you do all the chest exercises in sequence before moving to the triceps exercises? Or alternate, one chest exercise then a tricep exercise?
there is Dumbbell Pullover workout in back day !
how ???
The Dumbbell Pullover can work either the upper back or the chest, depending mostly on your arms: if you keep your arms straight during the exercise, you'll work your chest. If you bend them and go all the way down with the dumbbell, you'll work your upper back.
2 questions:
1. I have only 15 lbs and a 20 lbs dummbles, when should I increase my weight?
2. Should I rest 1 min. Between sets?
Hi Avi,
1. I'd recommend investing in new dumbbells over time. The rate in which you will progress will vary.
2. Yes, that is a fine rest period.
Hope this helps!
Hello,
How do I warm up for this routine ?
Hi Eli,
Start here: https://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/warming-up-for-dummies
Hope this helps!
Hi Eli,
Any curl and press variation using what you have available will do the trick.
Hope this helps!
Thanks Josh this article is great !
I was also wondering, as I don't have a bench, what exercises can replace the incline curl and incline press ?
Hey there! Thanks for posting this - I travel a lot, and most hotel gyms have dumbbells but no barbell, so this is SUPER helpful!
Quick q - on the exercises with decreasing reps, are you supposed to increase the weight with each set? Or keep it the same?
Ex: 12 reps of 25 lbs, 10 reps of 30 lbs, 8 reps of 35 lbs... vs. 12 reps of 30 lbs, 10 reps of 30 lbs, 8 reps 30 lbs...
Thanks, really appreciate it!
Hi RP,
Yes, as the reps decrease, increase the weight used.
Hope this helps! Thanks for giving the program a shot!
Hey Josh,
could you add this information to the article itself? This is very easy to miss if it stays hidden in the comment section. Also maybe add infos on how to progress and what to do if you fail a lift.
So I only have a 15, 25 (pair), 40 (pair) pound weights. Will that weight be enough to see some real gains?
Hi David,
It's a good place to start! You'll be able to notice some gains using those dumbbells if you're new to training, yes.
Hope this helps!