3 day beginner home dumbbell workout plan to get back in shape

A home workout with dumbbells: upper body, lower body, then full body. Made for beginners with just one pair of dumbbells, no bench or barbell.

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Week 1, day by day

Session 1: upper body

≈ 30 min
Warm-up (5 min)
  • March in place or do high knees for 2 minutes.
  • Do 10 arm circles in each direction.
  • Do 8 bodyweight squats, then 5 incline or knee push-ups.
  1. Countertop push-ups

    Countertop push-ups

    3 × 10 · rest 75 s

    Hands on a sturdy counter, body in a straight line, lower your chest toward it and press back.

  2. Bent-over dumbbell row

    Bent-over dumbbell row

    4 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Hinge forward with a flat back and pull the dumbbells toward your hips, squeezing your shoulder blades.

  3. Standing dumbbell shoulder press

    Standing dumbbell shoulder press

    3 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Start with dumbbells at shoulder height, press overhead without arching your back and brace your abs.

  4. Dumbbell biceps curl

    Dumbbell biceps curl

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Keep your elbows by your sides, curl without swinging and lower slowly.

  5. Triceps kickback

    Triceps kickback

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Keep your elbow tucked in, extend your arm back without moving your shoulder.

Session 2: lower body

≈ 31 min

Same warm-up as the first session.

  1. Dumbbell squat

    Dumbbell squat

    3 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, sit your hips back as you lower, back straight and heels flat.

  2. Dumbbell stiff-legged deadlift

    Dumbbell stiff-legged deadlift

    3 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Soft knees, push your hips back and keep the dumbbells close to your legs with a flat back.

  3. Dumbbell lunge

    Dumbbell lunge

    2 × 10 · rest 75 s

    Hold a dumbbell in each hand, step forward and lower your back knee toward the floor with your torso upright, then push back to the start.

  4. Glute bridge

    Glute bridge

    3 × 15 · rest 60 s

    Lie on your back with feet flat, lift your hips squeezing your glutes and pause at the top.

  5. Standing dumbbell calf raise

    Standing dumbbell calf raise

    2 × 15 · rest 60 s

    Dumbbells at your sides, rise onto your toes, pause, then lower slowly.

  6. Plank

    Plank

    2 × 30 s · rest 60 s

    Elbows under shoulders, body straight from head to heels, abs and glutes tight.

Session 3: full body

≈ 33 min

Same warm-up as the first session.

  1. Dumbbell sumo squat

    Dumbbell sumo squat

    3 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Wide stance, toes out, hold one dumbbell with both hands between your legs and lower with your knees tracking over your toes.

  2. Dumbbell stiff-legged deadlift

    Dumbbell stiff-legged deadlift

    2 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Knees slightly bent, push your hips back and slide the dumbbells down your thighs with a flat back.

  3. Dumbbell floor press

    Dumbbell floor press

    3 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Lie on the floor with knees bent, lower until your elbows touch the floor, then press the dumbbells up.

  4. One-arm dumbbell row

    One-arm dumbbell row

    4 × 12 · rest 75 s

    One hand and knee on a chair, pull the dumbbell to your hip without twisting your torso.

  5. Dumbbell lateral raise

    Dumbbell lateral raise

    2 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Raise the dumbbells out to the sides to shoulder height with soft elbows and lower with control.

  6. Bird dog

    Bird dog

    2 × 10 · rest 60 s

    On all fours, extend opposite arm and leg without rotating your hips.

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

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