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Crush It, Don’t Break It
Beginner–IntermediateFree

Crush It, Don’t Break It

Engineered for intensity—designed for durability.

Manny A.
Manny A.· Apr 2025
iOS & Android

Overview

Length
18 weeks
Days / week
5 days
Level
Beginner, Intermediate
Goal
Women's
Equipment
Full Gym
Session length
60 min
Crush It, Don’t Break It Engineered for intensity—designed for durability. Purpose: This 5-day training program is built for lifters who want to train hard, build muscle, and push performance—without wrecking their joints. Whether you're recovering from wrist or thumb pain, managing early arthritis, or just training smarter as you get stronger, this plan gives you the intensity you crave with the joint-awareness your body demands. Description: "Crush It, Don’t Break It" is a high-volume, hypertrophy-focused split that delivers a complete push-pull-leg structure across five days. What sets it apart? Every movement is carefully selected to minimize strain on the wrist, thumb, and surrounding structures—no painful barbell curls, no risky grip compromises, no ego lifts. Expect a strategic balance of compound lifts, joint-friendly dumbbell work, and cable-based isolation exercises. Movements are programmed to maximize time under tension, build symmetry, and reinforce strength—without putting your most vulnerable joints at risk. Each training day blends efficiency with targeted intensity: Day 1: Upper body push with a biceps focus — press hard, curl smart. Day 2: Posterior chain and legs — strong foundation, smart pulling. Day 3: Pull-heavy day with triceps emphasis — back, bis, and bulletproof arms. Day 4: Lower body volume and stability — squat deep, stabilize deeper. Day 5: Finisher for chest, shoulders, and arms — sculpt and sharpen. Key Benefits: Supports wrist/thumb health with neutral grip alternatives and cable options. Incorporates anti-rotation core training to build real-world stability. Balances push/pull volume to promote shoulder integrity and postural strength. Perfect for lifters dealing with joint flare-ups, mild arthritis, or just aiming for longevity in training. Whether you're bouncing back from injury or just upgrading your training IQ, this program is your blueprint to lift hard, stay safe, and keep showing up strong.

Who it's for

Beginners new to structured strength training
Athletes focused on women's
Athletes who can train 5 days per week
Athletes with access to a full gym (barbells, dumbbells, cables, and machines)

Muscle engagement

Front
Back
Upper Back
12%
Triceps
10%
Quadriceps
10%
Hamstrings
9.7%
Front Delts
8.4%
Glutes
8.4%
Chest
7.2%
Lats
7.2%
Biceps
5.9%
Abs
4.5%
Middle Delts
3.2%
Calves
3.2%
Rear Delts
3.2%
Forearms
2%
Lower Back
1.8%
Abductors
1.8%
Adductors
1.6%
Week 1 Workouts
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Bench Press (Dumbbell)48–12 reps@9
2Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)46–10 reps@9
3Seated Row (Cable)48–12 reps@9
4Arnold Press36–10 reps@9
5Bicep Curl (Cable)36–10 reps@9
6Hammer Curl (Dumbbell)26–10 reps@9
7Wrist Curls28–12 reps@9
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Squat (Smith Machine)43–5 reps@9
2Deadlift (Dumbbell)43–5 reps@9
3Standing Calf Raise48–12 reps@9
4Leg Extension310–15 reps@9
5Lunge (Kettlebell)38–12 reps@9
6Abs Crunch (Machine)28–12 reps@9
7Pallof Press26–10 reps@8
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Chest Supported Row (Dumbbell)48–12 reps@9
2Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)48–12 reps@9
3Lat Pulldown48–12 reps@9
4Face Pull38–12 reps@9
5Tricep Rope Push Down (Cable)38–12 reps@9
6Overhead Tricep Extension (Cable)28–12 reps@9
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Front Squat (Dumbbell)46–10 reps@9
2Leg Press48–12 reps@9
3Leg Curl48–12 reps@9
4Standing Calf Raise310–15 reps@9
5Abs Crunch (Machine)210–12 reps@9
6Hip Abductor (Machine)210–15 reps@9
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)46–10 reps@9
2Chest Fly (Cable)46–10 reps@9
3Rear Delt Fly (Cable)36–10 reps@9
4Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)36–10 reps@9
5Face Pull28–12 reps@9
6Tricep Rope Push Down (Cable)28–12 reps@9

Weeks 2–18 are in the app

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

Common questions

Yes, Crush It, Don’t Break It is completely free to follow on Boostcamp. Download the app on iOS or Android, find the program, and start your first workout immediately. All 18 weeks are fully unlocked.

This program is built around a full 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 60 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.

Crush It, Don’t Break It is structured around 5 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 18 weeks. The structure is designed so that each week builds on the last, with weights, volume, or intensity progressively increasing as you go.

Crush It, Don’t Break It 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

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