Starting Strength 12 week Novice Progression

by Eric T.

Program Description

** Starting Strength 12 Week Novice Progression** is a comprehensive 12-week program designed by Mark Rippetoe to build a solid foundation in strength training through a structured approach. Starting with basic 4 in the 1st 2 weeks, adding power clean in week 3 and chin ups and Back extensions by week 5 you will follow the progression lined out in Starting Strength 3rd edition. Add 5 pounds to Overhead Press, Bench and Power clean every workout and 10 to squats and deadlifts. Repeat until you can no longer add weight. Only then are you an intermediate l.

Program Overview

  • Level
    Beginner, Novice
  • Goal
    Powerlifting, Powerbuilding
  • Equipment
    Full Gym
  • Program Length
    12 weeks
  • Time Per Workout
    70 minutes
  • Created
    Feb 22, 2026 12:07
  • Last Edited
    Feb 22, 2026 01:15
Muscle Engagement
Front
Back
MuscleSet
Glutes
15.3%
Quadriceps
13.7%
Hamstrings
11.2%
Triceps
9.9%
Front Delts
9.9%
Abs
9.3%
Lower Back
5.2%
Adductors
4.9%
Chest
4.9%
Middle Delts
4.9%
Lats
3.3%
Upper Back
3.3%
Olympic
2.5%
Biceps
1.6%
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ON THE BOOSTCAMP APP FOR FREE
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WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
WEEK 7
WEEK 8
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WEEK 11
WEEK 12
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Power Clean
3
5 reps
RPE 9
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3
5 reps
RPE 9
3
Back Extension
3
10-15 reps
RPE 8
4
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
3
AMRAP
RPE 10
Week 1
1 / 12 Weeks
Day 1
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3 Sets
5 Reps
@9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3 Sets
5 Reps
@9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1 Set
5 Reps
@9
Day 2
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3 Sets
5 Reps
@9
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
3 Sets
5 Reps
@9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1 Set
5 Reps
@9
Day 3
1
Squat (Low Bar)
3 Sets
5 Reps
@9
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
3 Sets
5 Reps
@9
3
Deadlift (Barbell)
1 Set
5 Reps
@9