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.
Change my answersWeek 1, day by day
Workout 1: upper body
≈ 26 minWarm-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.
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Machine chest press
3 × 10 · rest 90 s
Adjust the seat so the handles sit at chest height and press without locking your elbows.
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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.
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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.
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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 minSame warm-up as the first session.
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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.
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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.
-
Seated leg curl
2 × 12 · rest 60 s
Keep your back firmly against the seat, curl your legs smoothly, then return slowly.
-
Standing calf raise
2 × 15 · rest 45 s
Rise as high as you can on your toes, pause, then lower all the way down.
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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 minSame warm-up as the first session.
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Incline dumbbell press
3 × 10 · rest 90 s
Set the bench to about 30 degrees and press the dumbbells up with your wrists straight.
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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.
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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.
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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 minSame warm-up as the first session.
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Hack squat
3 × 10 · rest 90 s
With your back flat against the pad, lower until your thighs are parallel to the platform.
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Leg extension
2 × 12 · rest 60 s
Straighten your legs without snapping your knees, pause briefly at the top and lower over three seconds.
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Lying leg curl
2 × 12 · rest 60 s
Keep your hips on the pad, curl your heels toward your glutes, then lower slowly.
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Seated calf raise
2 × 15 · rest 45 s
With knees bent, press up onto your toes and pause briefly at the top.
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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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