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5/3/1 Boring But Big 3 Day Altered
IntermediateFree

5/3/1 Boring But Big 3 Day Altered

Transform your strength with a no-nonsense approach—embrace the grind and watch your powerlifting game soar in just 4 weeks!

Matt D.
Matt D.· Oct 2025
6athletes running this program
iOS & Android

Overview

Length
4 weeks
Days / week
3 days
Level
Intermediate
Goal
Strength, Muscle
Equipment
Garage Gym
Session length
80 min
The Boring But Big 3 Day program is a focused, four-week training plan designed for intermediate lifters looking to enhance their powerlifting and powerbuilding skills. With 11 workouts spread across three days each week, you'll engage in foundational barbell exercises like squats, bench presses, and deadlifts, all while targeting major muscle groups for maximum strength and hypertrophy. Expect to spend about 80 minutes per session, pushing your limits and building serious muscle in the comfort of your garage gym. Embrace the grind and watch your strength soar! Use 85% training max. Add 5lbs to upper body movements and 10lbs to lower body movements after every cycle.

Who it's for

Intermediate athletes ready for a structured program
Athletes focused on gaining both size and strength
Athletes who can train 3 days per week
Athletes who train in a garage gym (barbell, rack, and basic free weights)

Muscle engagement

Front
Back
Triceps
11.3%
Chest
10.5%
Quadriceps
10.3%
Front Delts
10%
Glutes
9.4%
Hamstrings
8.7%
Abs
8%
Upper Back
7.5%
Middle Delts
7.1%
Lower Back
4.7%
Lats
4.6%
Biceps
3.6%
Rear Delts
2.2%
Adductors
1.7%
Forearms
0.3%
Week 1 Workouts
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Squat (Barbell)15 reps65%
15 reps75%
15 reps85%
2Front Squat (Barbell)510 reps60%
3Overhead Press (Barbell)15 reps65%
15 reps75%
15 reps85%
4Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)510–15 reps
5Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)55–8 reps
6Hanging Leg Raise315 reps
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Bench Press (Barbell)15 reps65%
15 reps75%
15 reps85%
2Bench Press (Barbell)510 reps60%
3Dip (Bodyweight)310–15 reps
4Lat Pulldown55–8 reps
5Single Leg Deadlift (kettlebell)315 reps
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Deadlift (Barbell)15 reps65%
15 reps75%
15 reps85%
2Romanian Deadlift (Barbell)510 reps60%
3Push Up3AMRAP
4Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)55–8 reps
5Decline Sit Up (Weighted)318 reps

Weeks 2–4 are in the app

Download Boostcamp to follow the full program with auto-progression and built-in coaching notes.

Common questions

Yes, 5/3/1 Boring But Big 3 Day Altered is completely free to follow on Boostcamp. Download the app on iOS or Android, find the program, and start your first workout immediately. All 4 weeks are fully unlocked.

This program is built around a garage gym. Make sure you have consistent access before starting, since the progression model assumes you can perform the same movements week over week.

Each session typically takes around 80 minutes to complete. That estimate covers your working sets but doesn't account for warm-up or rest between sets, so budget a little extra time when you're first learning the movements.

5/3/1 Boring But Big 3 Day Altered is structured around 3 training days per week, with rest days built in to allow for recovery. The Boostcamp app lets you reschedule sessions if your week doesn't go to plan.

The program runs for 4 weeks. The structure is designed so that each week builds on the last, with weights, volume, or intensity progressively increasing as you go.

5/3/1 Boring But Big 3 Day Altered is available inside the Boostcamp app, free on iOS and Android. Once you download the app, you can search for the program by name. The app tracks all your sets and weights automatically, so you always know exactly what to do next session.

Get started

Boostcamp app
11,000+ free programsStrength, hypertrophy, powerlifting and more, from elite coaches. All free.
Auto-progressionWeights and targets update automatically based on how you perform.
Coaching notesBuilt-in cues from the creator inside every workout session.
Progress trackingLog every set and see your strength gains over weeks and months.
Advanced analyticsTrack volume, intensity, and 1RM trends to see exactly how your training is evolving.
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