Gym Workout Routine For Beginners

Akash Sehrawat

5 min read | Jan 25, 2016

Introduction

 

One of the most disheartening things that you see in gyms now-a-days is a beginner following a routine of a champion bodybuilder. There are few reasons for this fact:

 

They want results fast, and foolishly adopt the ‘more is better’ philosophy. Two main sources condition their thinking- Popular fitness and muscle magazines (or websites) or gym trainers.

 

If you pick up any fitness or muscle magazine, you’ll see what I mean right away. They promote programs that are useless to the masses. these program require you to be in the gym almost everyday, do lot of isolated training and spilt routines and rely on boatloads of supplements and that’s what ultimately these magazines wants to sell.

 

Now, lets briefly talk about the trainers. Can they be counted as experts? No!

 

First of all, simply passing a certification exam doesn’t make them safe trainers. One needs to continually update their knowledge, which is a time-consuming and expensive ordeal and the fact is that there are very few who sincerely care for their clients and work hard to keep abreast of the latest developments in exercise and nutrition science.

 

I applaud their commitment for doing so. I also like to applaud you for reading this guide and taking matters into your own hands. In todays day and age, self education is the best form of education. It shows that you take your fitness seriously and want results.

 

Now, before we get started you need to ask a very important question.

 

Are You A Beginner?

 

Beginners are of two types:

 

Those who haven’t weight trained before, and other type who is an eternal one (They are never consistent with their workouts).

 

With the latter one I highly recommend to start with beginner routines especially when you have been off weights for more than a few monthss time. Of course you don’t need 3 to 6 months to get back in the groove, just 2 to 4 weeks of beginner workout should suffice.

Characteristics Of A Beginners Gym Workout Routine

 

1) Focus On Learning The Movement Before Anything Else

 

Don’t worry about anything else, just make sure you completely concentrate on learning the exercises. Contrary to conventional wisdom I only recommend working out either using your body as a weight (like pull-ups/dips) and/or with free weights and barbells BUT never machines (except for performing lat-pulldown).

 

You see, our muscular system is divided into prime movers (thigh, pecs, lats, etc.) and stabilizers (erector spinae, transverse abdominis). Prime movers create movement, whereas stabilizers, as the name implies, stablizes your body so that the prime movers can do their job properly.

 

With the machines, your stabilizers are not worked, which then increases the chances of you being injured.

 

Weight training is a skill and like any other sports, you need to train your neuromuscular system so that your muscles fire in correct sequence. Proper technique is the foundation of any workout program and will almost guarantee that you never ever injure yourself with weights.

 

2) Full Body Routines 2-3 Times A Week

 

Working out with full body routines 2 to 3 times a week will prevent overtraining, this way you don’t overtax both your muscular and nervous system which then accelerates your body’s recovery abilities that allows you to build a good foundation. The FBX workout routines are about working out maximum 3 times a week.

 

Related Article: 6 Awesome Benefits Of Working Out 3 Times A Week Using Fabulous Body (FBX) Workout Routines

 

3) Sets, Reps, Tempo, Total Volume And Exercises

 

For first three months, you start with 1 set of each exercise with a weight that you can handle 12 reps in perfect form. You will then slowly progress by increasing weights until you are performing 10 reps in a set (and never going below 10 reps ).

 

The tempo of the reps needs to be controlled and it should take about 4 to 5 sec to complete. Remember for beginners the focus should be on the muscles being worked and to learn the movement, don’t worry about the weight too much.

 

Most of the movement will be compound in nature i.e. squats, parallel-grip deadlifts, military press, dips and pull-ups. These movements require a tad bit more neuromotor control than what is required with machines but definitely less than what you require with any sport!

 

Now, most of you will probably not agree with the 1 set per exercise protocol. Well, how about an excerpt from Steve Reeves, the most admired bodybuilder of the century:

 

In Steve’s own words:

I recall that I used as much as I could handle for each exercise in perfect form (a practice I continued all through my championship years right up until present day) and this initial training program included only one set of each exercise.

It was a great beginners workout and served to prepare my body for the more demanding training I would later engage in.

I always took my workouts in stride and never tried to overload my body with too much exercise at a time when my system needed most of its energy for growing and for normal development.

As soon as I was able to complete 12 repetitions in perfect form, I would increase the resistance I was using five pounds and would drop back to 10 repititions once more.

I followed this program for the first three months of my bodybuilding career after which I used the same exercises, the same system of increasing poundages and the same number of reps, but I did two sets of each exercise instead of one.

Soon my bodyweight was 163lbs (up from 153lbs). It felt incredible.

Overall, the main benefits from this type of training are:

 

1) You establish a solid foundation for more years to come.

2) You prevent over-training

3) Understand and learn the important skill of how to perform key compound exercises properly

4) Don’t overtax your nervous system

5) Accelerate your body recovery abilities that allows you to build good amount of lean mass

 

Training with 1 set (maximum 2 sets) per exercise was pretty much a norm in the golden age of bodybuilding and once steroids were introduced in the 1960’s there was no looking back. Multiple sets, isolated training, high volume spilt routines gained popularity and now, in every gyms around the world they are pretty much a norm—sad but true.

 

With FBX I strongly recommend a multi-faceted approach towards one’s fitness and that means on your off workout days you are not sitting ideal but will perform other functional movements like Yoga or even a swim.

Gym Workout Routine For Beginners

 

Phase 1 is from 0-3 months and

 

Phase 2 is from 3-6 months

 

Once you have built enough skill to perform the compound movements I have mentioned in the following workout routine, and you have gained around 10lbs-15lbs of muscles you are ready for the intermediate workouts.

 

 

 

I have listed more FBX workouts for intermediate and advanced levels, you can find them in my free course, The FBX Training.

 

Final Note

 

Don’t be surprised by the volume prescribed here. For a beginner it’s ample. The entire Phase 1 workout should take no more than 30 to 35 minutes including warmup and cool down. In Phase 2, it should take 10-15 minutes more to perform the added set in each exercise.

 

In every exercise, use a weight which is light enough for you to perform 12 reps and heavy enough to do 10 reps. Focus on learning the movement properly.

 

The above movements are compound and functional in nature and will require more concentration than when someone uses a machine. There is ample information on the internet for anyone who wants to teach themselves how to perform every movement in a correct manner.

 

For your lower body, I prescribe either squats or parallel grip deadlifts (or both) depending upon your structural build up. You can read about my definitive guides on how to squat and parallel grip deadlifts for further assistance.

 

Related Articles:

 

Trap Bar Deadlift: The Definitive Guide

 

How To Squat: The Definitive Guide

 

What do you think about this beginner guide? Have any questions. Let me know in the comments below!

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About Akash Sehrawat

Akash is a creator of 25+ programs and certificate courses in which more than 200,000 students have enrolled both on Udemy and Fabulous Body's native platform. Akash is also an author of three books that can be found on Amazon. His answers on Quora have gathered more than 12 million views in less than a year.

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Venkatesh Jaisankar
Venkatesh Jaisankar
8 years ago

Hey akash, i have been lifting for about 3 months now. i am an ectomorph. I do isolation workout 4 times in a week. Lately, I have been reading at many places saying that compound movements yield better results than isolation workouts. What is your take on that?

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
Reply to  Venkatesh Jaisankar
8 years ago

Hey Venkatesh,

As we know compound movements are multi-joint (squat, deadlifts, military press, dips, bench press etc ), whereas isolated exercises are single joint like lateral raise, bicep curls, calve raises etc. For a beginner I strongly recommend only compound exercises to build good foundation of muscle mass. Once you enter the intermediate phase depending upon your goals, you can start including isolated exercise to build a symmetrical and proportionate physique. isolated exercises in relation to your training are what your supplements are to your diet!
Compound exercises may seem intimidating at first, but learn how to do them properly and establish good form and that should be the main focus of your training. Since C.E. works more musculature, it helps release more growth hormone and testosterone. Lastly, with C.E. you just need to workout only 3 times a week maximum which i strongly recommend too…

let me know if you need to know anything else….

Vishal Bansal
Vishal Bansal
7 years ago

Hey Akash

That is one useful guide.
I joined gym few months ago but hve to quit due to work and travel . I am an ectomorph. I am 6’1 tall and 68 kg. Can i follow above mentiones routine. Also. what should be the diet plan as I am a vegetarian.

Thanks
Vishal

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
Reply to  Vishal Bansal
7 years ago

Hi Vishal,
Thank you for your comment. Your ideal weight range starts at 77kg and goes upto 87kg provided that your body fat is below 15%. I have written a post on what one should eat to build muscle. Here it is:https://fabulousbody.com/qanda/indian-bodybuilding-diet-for-muscle-gain-and-fat-loss/, https://fabulousbody.com/qanda/vegetarian-diet-plan-to-build-muscle/. Hope this helps:)

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
6 years ago

Hi Gerald,
Yeah I have a book:https://www.amazon.com/Fabulous-Body-Muscle-Optimize-Health-ebook/dp/B01B4DJZL6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1498878866&sr=8-1

You will get a link to a bonus report giving your 15+ Fbx workout routines divided into intermediates and advanced workout routines.

All the best,

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
6 years ago

Hi Dipesh,

Tempo of a rep is the time it takes you to complete all three actions: Concentric, eccentric and isometric.
For example, while doing a bicep curl when you do down, you are in eccentric phase, and going up is concentric phase and holding the weight in a flexed position is isometric phase.
Generally recommended tempo for a rep is:
2 sec for concentric
0-1 sec for isometric
2-3 sec for eccentric

Dan DePriest
Dan DePriest
6 years ago

Akash, your links above to the “definitive guides on how to squat and parallel grip deadlifts” aren’t hyperlinked at “here” and “here.” They’re just un-hyperlinked text.

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
Reply to  Dan DePriest
6 years ago

Dan, rectified. Thanks for pointing it out!

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
6 years ago

Hey Mary, start using cables, use light weight and so forth. Check this post out: http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2015/01/23/weight-training-older-adults.aspx

jay soni
jay soni
6 years ago

hello akash sir ,
I’m 5’9 and 71 kg male.i have nearly 15 percent body fat.Being veg its hard to meet as recommended daily 1.4g/kg protein need. i’m beginner and have been doing calisthenics from past month 4 to 5 days per week before coming across your program. please guide me what should i do given that i dont have time to go for gym.

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
Reply to  jay soni
6 years ago

Jay I replied to your email. If I still havent aplogies and do let me know I’ll give you a brief here….

Daniel Probst
Daniel Probst
5 years ago

Hi Akash,

should I also perform specific warm-up sets for each of the exercises in the beginner routines, in addition to the general warm-up of 5 to 10 minutes of aerobic activity?
If so, how many warm-up sets should I perform for each of the exercises and what kind of weight should I use for the warm-up sets?

Many thanks in advance for your answer!
Daniel

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
Reply to  Daniel Probst
5 years ago

Specific warm up sets are always required. Ideally the best is to perform around 2 sets with 20% and then 50% of the load you plan to lift for the main sets. Hope this helps!

Daniel Probst
Daniel Probst
Reply to  Akash Sehrawat
5 years ago

Thank you so much Akash! This does indeed help!
I purchased both your Lean and your Shred program on Udemy recently. I am excited to start with the Lean program once I have been on the beginner workout for a while and then eventually continue with the Shred program after I have finished the Lean program.
Again many thanks for your help!

Akash Sehrawat
Akash Sehrawat
Reply to  Daniel Probst
5 years ago

Daniel,

Thanks for placing your trust in me:) I wish you all the best and at any point of time, you have any doubts/queries, don’t hesitate to email me. Thanks!

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mobile legends hack unlimited money and diamond
4 years ago

Whoa! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a entirely
different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Excellent choice
of colors!

Anonymous
Anonymous
4 years ago

Hey akash im new to gym and wanted to know the full day diet for me
my height is 5’4 and weight is 51.

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mobile legends hack
4 years ago

Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe that this site needs
far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for
the information!

Komal Mohnani
Komal Mohnani
3 years ago

Hi Akash, I have taken most of ur courses finished some n want to thank you for the tips and knowledge I have gained, I have started following most of what u teach, started adapting healthy lifestyle, even working on my kid giving her all healthy n no junk, all thanks to ur lectures. I am so happy to have u as my trainer. I am working towards weight loss n healthy lifestyle.