330 reviews for Greg Nuckols Beginner Program

This free 12-week program by Greg Nuckols is designed for the beginner looking to make significant gains in whole body muscle or strength using barbells, dumbbells, and machines. This program is great for beginners and those who have worked out in the past but without making much progress.

This program requires barbells and dumbbells, but has alternatives if you do not have these equipment. The exercises are fully customizable for users to achieve their goals of either hypertrophy (muscle) or strength.

Progression Instructions

Within each rep range, you’ll stick with the same weight and aim to perform more reps each week until you’ve mastered the weight. For example, if you’re training in the 5-8 rep range, you’ll use the same weight until you can perform 9 reps. In the next workout, the weight will be heavier, but you should be confident that you can still lift it for at least 5 reps. You’ll stick with the new weight until you can perform at least 9 reps again, at which point the weights will increase again.

For more details and FAQs on this program, please see the Detailed Program Guide.

4.18 / 5

Matthew

Man, 39
8 days ago

3 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Great program

Cody M.

Man
9 days ago

12 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

More than expected strength gains

More than expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Got decent gains I recommend starting this program for beginners. Results: Bench 165 x 3 to 205x6, squat 225x5 to 315 x5, Deadlift 275x5 to 385x3, bent row 135x10 to 185x8, ohp 135x3 to 145x6, lay pull-down 165x4 to 195x7, cable row 150x6 to 195x6, good morning 135x8 to 165x12 (very easy), curl 30x11 to 40x12, tricep pull-down 120x12 to 140x15 (Max machine)

Eric G.

Man, 56
14 days ago

3 weeks complete

8 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Nice program for a whole body workout

Clare M.

Woman, 53
a month ago

9 weeks complete

3 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

1

Donal O'Riordan

Man, 54
a month ago

8 weeks complete

2 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

More than expected muscle gains

No modifications

After a hip operation it us after helping me recover and build muscle around my hip

Kolt Schmidt

Man
a month ago

6 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

More than expected strength gains

More than expected muscle gains

Significant modifications

As a 12 year old wanting to increase his strength, this program tremendously helped me get started with weight lifting. I have more than tripled my strength and know now that I have muscles. This is great for me to get a general body basis for future programs. I experimented with turning excess body fat into muscle, and it actually worked. I a working out of a garage gym, supplying multiple machine and equipment swaps. All in all, thank you Greg Knuckles for this tremendous boost in confidence, strength, muscle mass, and a basis of working out.

FarrowCS

Man, 27
a month ago

5 weeks complete

5 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

Less than expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

I follow d this program to help me ease into lifting weights again and it has been excellent, would recommend for new and returning athletes

Knut Bjørnar L.

Man, 38
2 months ago

7 weeks complete

2 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Came of stronglift 5x5 for about two years. A few of the exercises are a bit difficult to do right, so I feel like I was too much of a noob, but it is a great program to learn more and grow. Happy with the results so far.

Rob Fahey

Non-Binary, 33
2 months ago

5 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

More than expected strength gains

More than expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

This program has been great for motivating me to get to the gym and stick to a routine. I'm making more progress than I thought would and have been visibly building muscle. Highly recommend for everyone!

deetaxit

Man
2 months ago

3 weeks complete

8 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Significant modifications

I miss S by S.