4 Day Beginner Gym Workout Plan to Build Muscle

A 4-day gym plan to build muscle, built around an upper / lower split. Made for beginner lifters, using machines and dumbbells, with every set and rep written out.

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Week 1, day by day

Workout 1: upper body

≈ 26 min
Warm-up (5 min)
  • 2 minutes on the bike or rower at an easy pace.
  • 10 shoulder circles and 10 bodyweight squats.
  • On your first exercise, do one warm-up set with a very light weight.
  1. Machine chest press

    Machine chest press

    3 × 10 · rest 90 s

    Adjust the seat so the handles sit at chest height and press without locking your elbows.

  2. Wide-grip lat pulldown

    Wide-grip lat pulldown

    4 × 10 · rest 90 s

    Pull the bar to your upper chest while squeezing your shoulder blades together, without swinging back.

  3. Seated dumbbell shoulder press

    Seated dumbbell shoulder press

    2 × 10 · rest 90 s

    Keep your back against the pad, press the dumbbells overhead and lower them slowly to ear level.

  4. Rope triceps pushdown

    Rope triceps pushdown

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Keep your elbows fixed at your sides and spread the rope slightly at the bottom.

Workout 2: lower body

≈ 24 min

Same warm-up as the first session.

  1. Leg press

    Leg press

    3 × 10 · rest 90 s

    Set your feet shoulder-width apart and lower until your knees are well bent, keeping your lower back against the seat.

  2. Dumbbell stiff-leg deadlift

    Dumbbell stiff-leg deadlift

    2 × 10 · rest 90 s

    With legs nearly straight and a flat back, slide the dumbbells down your thighs by pushing your hips back.

  3. Seated leg curl

    Seated leg curl

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Keep your back firmly against the seat, curl your legs smoothly, then return slowly.

  4. Standing calf raise

    Standing calf raise

    2 × 15 · rest 45 s

    Rise as high as you can on your toes, pause, then lower all the way down.

  5. Plank

    Plank

    2 × 30 s · rest 45 s

    Rest on your forearms with your body straight from head to heels and your abs tight.

Workout 3: upper body

≈ 23 min

Same warm-up as the first session.

  1. Incline dumbbell press

    Incline dumbbell press

    3 × 10 · rest 90 s

    Set the bench to about 30 degrees and press the dumbbells up with your wrists straight.

  2. Seated cable row

    Seated cable row

    3 × 10 · rest 90 s

    Sit tall, pull the handle to your belly button while squeezing your shoulder blades, then return with control.

  3. Dumbbell lateral raise

    Dumbbell lateral raise

    2 × 15 · rest 45 s

    Raise your arms out to the sides up to shoulder height with soft elbows, using light dumbbells.

  4. Dumbbell biceps curl

    Dumbbell biceps curl

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Keep your elbows against your ribs and curl the dumbbell without swinging your torso.

Workout 4: lower body

≈ 23 min

Same warm-up as the first session.

  1. Hack squat

    Hack squat

    3 × 10 · rest 90 s

    With your back flat against the pad, lower until your thighs are parallel to the platform.

  2. Leg extension

    Leg extension

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Straighten your legs without snapping your knees, pause briefly at the top and lower over three seconds.

  3. Lying leg curl

    Lying leg curl

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Keep your hips on the pad, curl your heels toward your glutes, then lower slowly.

  4. Seated calf raise

    Seated calf raise

    2 × 15 · rest 45 s

    With knees bent, press up onto your toes and pause briefly at the top.

  5. Cable crunch

    Cable crunch

    2 × 15 · rest 45 s

    Kneel facing the cable, curl your torso down by rounding your back, with your hips still.

Weeks 2 to 4, adapted to you, are in Muskl.

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