The Best Workout Routines for Beginners

Whether you’re looking to shed some weight or get absolutely shredded with muscle, one of the first and most difficult hurdles for fitness beginners is formulating a workout routine. With such a wide variety of exercises and equipment, it can be difficult to find the right routine that is best tailored to your goals and is reasonable for someone just starting out. To help you, we’ve got some of the best workout routines for beginners to try.

Cardio Routine

A treadmill is a staple amongst home gyms and comes in a wide variety of models; hence, we’re going to suggest a treadmill routine for those interested in a workout centered around cardio. Cardio, if you don’t already know, is one of the best forms of exercise for weight loss.

To begin, we recommend initially setting your treadmill at about a 5-degree incline at 4 miles per hour with the intention of a 30-minute workout. If you’re building up a good sweat within 5 to 10 minutes, then you’re at a good pace. If it feels like you’re going to drop dead, however, it’s always okay to slow down or decrease the incline—there’s never any shame in starting off easier and working your way up.

If you want something other than a treadmill, some good alternatives include elliptical and lateral trainers for more effective exercises with a machine that’s just as easy to use.

Bodyweight Routine

Bodyweight exercises are not only ideal for those without home gym equipment, but can both burn fat and build muscle. For this method we suggest:

• 20 Squats
• 10 Push-ups
• 10 Walking Lunges
• 15 Second Plank
• 30 Jumping Jacks

You’ll go through this routine for at least three circuits. If you want to challenge yourself, use high-intensity interval training where you complete each exercise in quick succession, only taking a short rest period between each circuit.

Weight Training Routine

For aspiring bodybuilders, you’ll want to get your hands on a barbell, bench, and dumbbells to give yourself a few options. There are other beginner weightlifting routines you can look for, but the best workout routine for beginners we suggest keeps it simple by having three exercises, all done with 8 to 10 reps in 3 sets. These include:

• Barbell Squats
• Bench Presses
• Rows

However, make sure you take about a 20-minute rest in between sets. Weightlifting can be very strenuous, and you don’t want to overwork your muscles, lest you wind up with an injury instead of results.