Beginner’s Weight Training Plan

It’s here! This is the training program that I used when I started back at the gym. It targets the entire body, so it’s great if you only have time for 3 to 4 gym sessions per week. Just print it out and take it with you! Here a are a few guidelines before you get started.

1. Make sure you are fit enough to start training. Consult your doctor or personal trainer to make sure you have their go before starting any new training program.
2. Start by a quick cardio session (5 to 15 minutes) on your favourite machine to get warmed up before you head to the weight lifting section of your gym.
3. I’ve included pictures of each exercises so that you have a reminder of what they are once you hit the gym. I suggest checking them out on google before you start if they are unfamiliar. There is a ton of videos for each exercise, so you should have no trouble finding them.
4. I’ve included a suggested repetition and series number. 3 x 10-12 means that you should go for 3 series of 10 to 12 repetitions (so you do the exercise 3 times for 10 to 12 times). You can also see the rest period for each exercise. This is the rest period you should give your muscles to recover between each series. So you do your first 10-12 reps, rest 1 minute, do your second series, rest 1 minute and do your final series.
5. I’ve also included a tempo. Basically, each exercise here has an eccentric (the muscle lengthens) and a concentric phase (the muscles shortens). These two phases are kept equal in this plan and should last two seconds. For example, if you are doind the biceps curl, starting with the weights at the bottom with your arms straight, it should take you two seconds to bring the weights to your shoulder and then two seconds to bring your arms straights again, without any pause at the bottom or at the shoulders. That’s what the 2-0-2-0 means.
6. To know how much weight you should use, I suggest going through trial and error. Start at a low weigth and see if you can do no more than 12 reps. If you can do 13, 15, or even 20 reps, up the weigth. Let your muscles rest for 1 minute, and repeat the process until you find a weigth for which you can only do 12 reps and not one more.

I really hope you’ll give this program a try! Let me know what you think!

Click here to download the pdf !

Remember that I’m not a personal trainer, but simply a gym enthousiast. You should always check with a personal trainer, a kinesiologist or your health care practitioner before changing your exercise routine. Be careful and have fun!