3 days · 45 min
How to build a workout plan
Six decisions make a training plan. Get them in the right order and the sessions write themselves — here is the order, plus the four-week block those answers produce.
Get this plan built around meMost people start a plan by choosing exercises. That is the last decision, not the first, and it is why so many programs collapse in week three: nothing underneath them says how often to train, how hard, or what to do when a session goes badly.
The order that works is goal, schedule, movement patterns, volume, progression, deload. Every one of those choices narrows the next, and by the time you reach exercise selection there are only a handful of sensible answers left.
The plan shown below is what those six answers produce for a returning lifter training three days a week for 45 minutes. Change any answer and the block changes with it.
Who it's for
- Anyone writing their own training for the first time
- Lifters who keep restarting programs and want to know why
- People adapting a plan around limited time or equipment
How the block progresses
The exercises barely change across the 4 weeks. What changes is the load, the rep target and the volume — one variable at a time, so you always know what moved.
Week 1: Calibrate
Every set ends with two reps left in the tank. You are recording a baseline, not testing yourself.
Week 2: Add load
Smallest increment available on the main lifts. Accessories keep the same weight and chase an extra rep or two.
Week 3: Add volume
One extra set on two exercises per session. This is the hardest week of the block, and it should feel like it.
Week 4: Deload and reassess
Halve the sets, keep the loads, then answer the six questions again. Anything that broke this block is a question you answered wrong, not a character flaw.
The full 4-week block, week by week
Every session of every week, straight out of the live program engine for a 3-day, 45-minute setup — sets, reps, rest and the cue that matters.
Week 1 — Calibrate
Every set ends with two reps left in the tank. You are recording a baseline, not testing yourself.
Day 1: Lower Strength
Squat, hinge, single leg · 45 min
- Back Squat4 × 5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
- Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10
90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest
Day 2: Upper Strength
Press, pull, torso · 45 min
- Bench Press4 × 5
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dumbbell Bench Press3 × 8-10
Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest
- Single-Arm Dumbbell Row3 × 8-10
Ribcage still, shoulder blade moves first. No twisting to finish the rep. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Day 3: Full Body
Total body strength · 45 min
- Back Squat4 × 5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Bench Press3 × 8-10
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Week 2 — Add load
Smallest increment available on the main lifts. Accessories keep the same weight and chase an extra rep or two.
Day 1: Lower Strength
Squat, hinge, single leg · 45 min
- Back Squat4 × 5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
- Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10
90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest
Day 2: Upper Strength
Press, pull, torso · 45 min
- Bench Press4 × 5
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dumbbell Bench Press3 × 8-10
Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest
- Single-Arm Dumbbell Row3 × 8-10
Ribcage still, shoulder blade moves first. No twisting to finish the rep. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Day 3: Full Body
Total body strength · 45 min
- Back Squat4 × 5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Bench Press3 × 8-10
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Week 3 — Add volume
One extra set on two exercises per session. This is the hardest week of the block, and it should feel like it.
Day 1: Lower Strength
Squat, hinge, single leg · 45 min
- Back Squat4 × 3-5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
- Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10
90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest
Day 2: Upper Strength
Press, pull, torso · 45 min
- Bench Press4 × 3-5
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dumbbell Bench Press3 × 8-10
Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest
- Single-Arm Dumbbell Row3 × 8-10
Ribcage still, shoulder blade moves first. No twisting to finish the rep. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Day 3: Full Body
Total body strength · 45 min
- Back Squat4 × 3-5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Bench Press3 × 8-10
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Week 4 — Deload and reassess
Halve the sets, keep the loads, then answer the six questions again. Anything that broke this block is a question you answered wrong, not a character flaw.
Day 1: Lower Strength (Deload)
Squat, hinge, single leg · 45 min
- Back Squat3 × 5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift2 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat2 × 8-10
Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug2 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley2 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
- Hip Mobility Flow2 × 8-10
90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest
Day 2: Upper Strength (Deload)
Press, pull, torso · 45 min
- Bench Press3 × 5
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up2 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dumbbell Bench Press2 × 8-10
Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest
- Single-Arm Dumbbell Row2 × 8-10
Ribcage still, shoulder blade moves first. No twisting to finish the rep. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug2 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley2 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Day 3: Full Body (Deload)
Total body strength · 45 min
- Back Squat3 × 5
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest
- Bench Press2 × 8-10
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift2 × 8-10
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up2 × 8-10
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest
- Dead Bug2 × 8-10
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest
- Loaded Carry Medley2 × 8-10
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest
Key exercises in this plan
Every lift week one uses, with the coaching cue and the swaps we allow when equipment or a cranky joint gets in the way.
Back Squat
squat · barbell
Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole.
Appears in: Day 1: Lower Strength, Day 3: Full Body
Swap for: Goblet Squat, Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat, Leg Press
Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift
hinge · barbell
Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together.
Appears in: Day 1: Lower Strength, Day 3: Full Body
Swap for: Romanian Deadlift, Kettlebell Swing, Hip Thrust
Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat
lunge · bodyweight, dumbbells, kettlebell
Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on.
Appears in: Day 1: Lower Strength
Swap for: Reverse Lunge, Loaded Step-Up
Dead Bug
core · bodyweight
Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend.
Appears in: Day 1: Lower Strength, Day 2: Upper Strength, Day 3: Full Body
Swap for: Front Plank, Pallof Press
Loaded Carry Medley
carry · dumbbells, kettlebell
Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes.
Appears in: Day 1: Lower Strength, Day 2: Upper Strength, Day 3: Full Body
Swap for: Bike / Rower Intervals, Kettlebell Swing
Hip Mobility Flow
mobility · bodyweight
90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position.
Appears in: Day 1: Lower Strength
Swap for: Dead Bug
Bench Press
push · barbell, dumbbells
Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat.
Appears in: Day 2: Upper Strength, Day 3: Full Body
Swap for: Dumbbell Bench Press, Push-Up
Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up
pull · bodyweight, bands, machines
Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down.
Appears in: Day 2: Upper Strength, Day 3: Full Body
Swap for: Lat Pulldown, Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
Dumbbell Bench Press
push · dumbbells
Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press.
Appears in: Day 2: Upper Strength
Swap for: Bench Press, Push-Up
Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
pull · dumbbells, kettlebell
Ribcage still, shoulder blade moves first. No twisting to finish the rep.
Appears in: Day 2: Upper Strength
Swap for: Barbell Row, Band Row
How to swap an exercise
Missing kit, a busy rack or a joint that argues with a lift are all fine reasons to substitute. These four rules keep the block intact when you do.
Swap within the pattern
A goblet squat can replace a back squat, a dumbbell row can replace a barbell row. What cannot be replaced is the pattern's place in the week.
Short on time? Cut sets, not sessions
A 25-minute version of the session that keeps the first two lifts is worth far more than a skipped day you promise to make up.
Change one variable at a time
If you change exercises, loads and schedule at once and the block goes badly, you learn nothing about which change caused it.
Build your own version
Change the goal, schedule, session length or equipment and week one rebuilds instantly — this is the same engine that writes your full program.
Lower Strength
- Back Squat4 × 5
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
- Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
- Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10
Upper Strength
- Bench Press4 × 5
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
- Dumbbell Bench Press3 × 8-10
- Single-Arm Dumbbell Row3 × 8-10
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
Full Body
- Back Squat4 × 5
- Bench Press3 × 8-10
- Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
- Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
- Dead Bug3 × 8-10
- Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
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How to run it
Step 1–2: goal and schedule come first
One goal per block, and the number of days you will genuinely train — not the number you wish you could. A three-day plan you finish beats a five-day plan you abandon in week two.
Step 3: cover the patterns, not the muscles
Squat, hinge, push, pull, carry or core. Every session should touch at least three; every week should touch all of them. Muscle-group thinking is what leaves people with no hinge and a sore lower back.
Step 4: set volume you can repeat
Roughly 10–20 hard sets per muscle group per week, spread over two sessions. Start at the bottom of that range — you need somewhere to add.
Step 5–6: pick one progression, plan the deload
Add weight, add reps or add a set — one of the three, not all at once. Then schedule a lighter fourth week before you need it, because by the time you feel you need one you are already behind.