Upper Body Focus Starter (3 day)

Two upper days and one lower day a week, for a beginner who mostly wants a bigger chest, back and arms but will not skip legs. Work up the rep range, then add weight.

  • Beginner
  • 3 days a week
  • About 45 min
  • Full gym
  • Build muscle

All programs

Free in Platesmith. Start this program in the app and it fills in your weights, times your rests and moves the weight up for you. No subscription needed for any program.

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How it progresses

Each exercise has a rep range. Stay at the same weight and add reps until every set reaches the top of the range, then add a little weight and work back up.

The workouts

Every exercise can be swapped in the app for one that works the same muscles, so missing equipment never stops you.

Upper A

ExerciseSets × reps
Barbell Bench Press3 × 6-10
Lat Pulldown3 × 8-12
Seated Dumbbell Press3 × 8-12
Seated Cable Row3 × 10-12
Barbell Curl2 × 8-12
Triceps Pushdown2 × 10-15

Lower

ExerciseSets × reps
Back Squat3 × 6-10
Romanian Deadlift3 × 8-10
Leg Press3 × 10-12
Standing Calf Raise3 × 10-15
Plank3 × 30-60s

Upper B

ExerciseSets × reps
Incline Dumbbell Press3 × 8-12
Pull-up3 × 5-10
Dumbbell Lateral Raise3 × 12-15
Chest-Supported Row3 × 10-12
Hammer Curl2 × 10-12
Skull Crusher2 × 10-12

Similar programs

General guidance, not medical advice. Start lighter than you think, and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition or injury.