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6 Week Beginners Dumbbell Workout Plan

16th Aug 19

Dumbbells are up there with the best exercise equipment there is. No matter your fitness goals, dumbbells can help you get there… with the right dumbbell workout plan, of course. We’ve put together a 6 week dumbbell workout plan for beginners, helping you to get fitter and stronger. Let’s go.


Want to move fast? Jump to the right section below.

  1. Why Dumbbells?
  2. The Workout Structure
  3. The Dumbbell Workout Plan
  4. Sign up for discount and more content!

Why Dumbbells?

Dumbbells are one of the most versatile pieces of home gym equipment. They follow your body’s natural path of motion, which means you can exercise in a way that works for you. Dumbbells will improve your strength, balance and coordination at the same time, making them seriously effective.

Dumbbells can be used for a variety of movements. Common exercises include bicep curls, tricep extensions, chest presses, lateral raises, reverse flyes and upright rows. They can also be used to target the lower body, with exercises such as squats and lunges. Or why not introduce dumbbells to your ab workout for a bigger burn?

Most dumbbells are made from cast iron or stainless steel with a coating. Some have additional features like a triangular of hexagonal head shape. They will either be fixed or adjustable; fixed weights come in pairs between 1kg and 10kg, and are a great piece of equipment for beginners. But if you plan to use a variety of weights, adjustable dumbbells could be more cost effective.

So should you choose light or heavy dumbbells? Lighter dumbbells are great for compound movements and improving coordination between different parts of your body. Meanwhile, heavier dumbbells will activate one specific muscle or muscle group, giving you a more intense workout. It all comes down to your goals and preferred workout style.

As a starting point, take a look at our workout plan for beginners using dumbbells. We recommending starting out with a lighter set of dumbbells so you can perfect your technique. Once you’ve got to grips with this plan, you can decide if it’s time to level up with heavier weights!


The Workout Structure

This dumbbell workout plan is structured with the push-pull legs split in mind. That’s the case for a lot of workout plans, as it’s one of the single most effective ways to hit all of the necessary muscle groups, maximising progress in the minimum time period.

For a quick break down, there are three different workouts for each type of workout, spanning over the course of six weeks. That’s three-push, three pull and three leg workouts. They tend to advance every two weeks to keep you on your toes and encourage as much progress as possible. Once the six weeks are up, change up the weights and go again. This workout grows with you!

The Dumbbell Workout Plan

The exercises in this dumbbell workout plan change every two weeks for maximum progress. They get a little harder each time!

Click on the exercise for a video demonstration!

Pull

Couple doing a dumbbell workout
Muscle groupExerciseRepsRest
Week 1 & 2
BackSingle Arm Rows3×1045 Seconds
 Dumbbell Deadlift3×1045 Seconds
 Shrugs3×1045 Seconds
BicepsHammer Curl3×1045 Seconds
 Standard Curls3×1045 Seconds
    
Week 3 & 4
BackBent Row3×1045 Seconds
 Dumbbell Deadlift3×1045 Seconds
 Rear Delt Flyes3×1045 Seconds
 Farmers Walk3×1045 Seconds
BicepsHammer Curl3×1045 Seconds
 Concentration Curl3×1045 Seconds
    
Week 5 & 6
BackRenegade Rows3×1045 Seconds
 Dumbbell Deadlift3×1045 Seconds
 Farmers Walk3×1045 Seconds
 Rear Delt Rows3×1045 Seconds
BicepsHammer Curl3×1045 Seconds
 Concentration Curls3×1045 Seconds

Push

woman doing a dumbbell bench press
Muscle groupExerciseRepsRest
Week 1 & 2
ChestChest Press4×1245 Seconds
 Dumbbell Flyes4×1245 Seconds
 Straight Arm Pullover4×1245 Seconds
ShouldersShoulder Press4×1245 Seconds
 Front Raise4×1245 Seconds
 Lateral Raise4×1245 Seconds
TricepsOverhead Extensions4×1245 Seconds
 Close Grip Bench4×1245 Seconds
    
 Week 3 & 4   
ChestDecline Bench Press4×1245 Seconds
 Incline Bench Press4×1245 Seconds
 Flyes4×1245 Seconds
 Incline Flyes4×1245 Seconds
ShouldersShoulder Press4×1245 Seconds
 Front Raise4×1245 Seconds
 Lateral Raise4×1245 Seconds
TricepsMule Kicks/Kickbacks4×1245 Seconds
 Close Grip Bench4×1245 Seconds
 Week 5 & 6   
ChestDecline Bench Press4×1245 Seconds
 Incline Bench Press4×1245 Seconds
 Flyes4×1245 Seconds
 Pullovers4×1245 Seconds
ShouldersArnold Press4×1245 Seconds
 Front Raise4×1245 Seconds
 Lateral Raise4×1245 Seconds
TricepsSkull Crushers4×1245 Seconds
 Close Grip Bench4×1245 Seconds

Legs

Woman doing goblet squats
ExerciseRepsRest
Week 1 & 2
 Goblet Squats4×1245 Seconds
 Deadlifts4×1245 Seconds
 Lunges4×1245 Seconds
 Lateral Lunges4×1245 Seconds
 Calf Raises4×1245 Seconds
    
 Week 3 & 4   
 Goblet Squats4×1245 Seconds
 Single-Leg Deadlifts4×1245 Seconds
 Reverse Lunges4×1245 Seconds
 Lateral Lunges4×1245 Seconds
 Seated Calf Raises4×1245 Seconds
 Week 5 & 6   
 Split Squats4×1245 Seconds
 Single-Leg Deadlifts4×1245 Seconds
 Lunges W/ Pass4×1245 Seconds
 Lateral Lunges4×1245 Seconds
 Seated Calf Raises4×1245 Seconds

Find the full exercise playlist here:

Download the plan here:



Before beginning any exercise or nutrition program, consult your physician, doctor or other professional. This is especially important for individuals over the age of 35 or persons with pre-existing health problems. Exercise.co.uk assumes no responsibility for personal injury or property damage sustained using our advice.

If you experience dizziness, nausea, chest pain, or any other abnormal symptoms, stop the workout at once and consult a physician or doctor immediately.

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