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.
Change my answersWeek 1, day by day
Session 1: upper body
≈ 30 minWarm-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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Dumbbell biceps curl
2 × 12 · rest 60 s
Keep your elbows by your sides, curl without swinging and lower slowly.
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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 minSame warm-up as the first session.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Standing dumbbell calf raise
2 × 15 · rest 60 s
Dumbbells at your sides, rise onto your toes, pause, then lower slowly.
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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 minSame warm-up as the first session.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
14-day free trial.
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