4-day beginner home workout plan to lose fat

This 4-session weekly plan helps you lose fat while keeping your muscle, at home with one pair of dumbbells. It is built for a beginner level: upper and lower body sessions in alternation.

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Week 1, day by day

Upper body 1

≈ 25 min
Warm-up (5 min)
  • 2 minutes of brisk marching or high knees on the spot.
  • 10 arm circles each way, then 10 hip circles.
  • 10 slow bodyweight squats.
  • 1 light set of your first exercise.
  1. Incline push-ups (hands on a counter)

    Incline push-ups (hands on a counter)

    3 × 10 · rest 60 s

    Hands on a stable counter or chair, body in a straight line, lower your chest toward it.

  2. Bent-over dumbbell row

    Bent-over dumbbell row

    3 × 12 · rest 60 s

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

  3. Standing dumbbell shoulder press

    Standing dumbbell shoulder press

    3 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Stand tall with your abs tight and press the dumbbells overhead without arching your back.

  4. Dumbbell biceps curl

    Dumbbell biceps curl

    2 × 12 · rest 45 s

    Keep your elbows by your sides and curl the dumbbells without swinging.

  5. Overhead dumbbell triceps extension

    Overhead dumbbell triceps extension

    2 × 12 · rest 45 s

    Hold one dumbbell with both hands behind your head and straighten your arms, elbows tucked in.

Lower body 1

≈ 23 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 with a straight back and your heels down.

  2. Dumbbell Romanian deadlift

    Dumbbell Romanian deadlift

    3 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Keep a slight knee bend, push your hips back and slide the dumbbells down your thighs.

  3. Glute bridge

    Glute bridge

    3 × 15 · rest 45 s

    Lie on your back, drive through your heels and squeeze your glutes at the top.

  4. Plank

    Plank

    2 × 30 s · rest 45 s

    On your forearms, body straight, abs tight, keep your hips from dropping.

Upper body 2

≈ 25 min

Same warm-up as the first session.

  1. Dumbbell floor press

    Dumbbell floor press

    3 × 12 · rest 60 s

    Lying on the floor, lower your elbows until they touch the ground, then press the dumbbells up.

  2. One-arm dumbbell row

    One-arm dumbbell row

    3 × 12 · rest 60 s

    One hand on a chair, back flat, pull your elbow toward your hip.

  3. Lateral raises

    Lateral raises

    3 × 15 · rest 45 s

    Keep a soft bend in your elbows and raise your arms to shoulder height without swinging.

  4. Neutral-grip bent-over dumbbell row

    Neutral-grip bent-over dumbbell row

    2 × 15 · rest 45 s

    Hinge with a flat back, palms facing each other, and drive your elbows back along your sides.

  5. Hammer curl

    Hammer curl

    2 × 12 · rest 45 s

    Palms facing each other, curl the dumbbells with straight wrists.

Lower body 2

≈ 25 min

Same warm-up as the first session.

  1. Dumbbell reverse lunge

    Dumbbell reverse lunge

    3 × 10 · rest 60 s

    Step back far and lower your back knee close to the floor, chest up.

  2. Dumbbell Romanian deadlift

    Dumbbell Romanian deadlift

    3 × 12 · rest 75 s

    Keep a slight knee bend, push your hips back and slide the dumbbells down your thighs.

  3. Single-leg glute bridge

    Single-leg glute bridge

    3 × 12 · rest 45 s

    Extend one leg, lift your hips without twisting and lower with control.

  4. Standing dumbbell calf raise

    Standing dumbbell calf raise

    2 × 15 · rest 45 s

    Rise onto your toes, pause at the top and lower slowly.

  5. Dead bug

    Dead bug

    2 × 12 · rest 45 s

    Lie on your back and extend opposite arm and leg, keeping your lower back on the floor.

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

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