SBS Hypertrophy Dumbbell Only Block 3

by Stephen C.

Program Description

Based on https://www.strongerbyscience.com/program-bundle/ All credit to Greg Nuckols. Download the sheets, read the instructions. Wave loading progression. First set should be near RPE8. Final set taken to failure as a litmus test for correct loading. If you exceed the minimum, increase 1RM load by 0.5% per extra rep. If you miss by >=2 reps, decrease 1RM by 1.5% per missed rep. Myo-rep exercises start with one "activation" set of 10-12 reps, taken to (near-)failure, followed 15-20 seconds of rest (3-5 deep breaths), before continuing with 1-6 sets of 3-5 reps with the same weight and rest interval. If you finish 6 rest-pause sets, or fail to hit 3 reps, stop. Add weight to an exercise (smallest available increment) when you can complete 30 reps across the 6 rest-pause sets (6x5) with reasonable and intentional form. If you fail to get 3 rest-pause sets of 5 reps, reduce weight by smallest available increment. ADD WHEN TIME PERMITS: Farmer's Carries as a finisher to improve grip, core, arm and back strength with a touch of conditioning. Focus on maintaining proper posture. 8 reps, every-minute-on-the-minute (EMOM), farmer's carry for 100' @ 70% max 50' carry (1RM). Add smallest available increment (5 lbs, 2.5lb per dumbbell) when it doesn't feel like RPE10.

Program Overview

  • Level
    Intermediate
  • Goal
    Bodybuilding
  • Equipment
    Dumbbell Only
  • Program Length
    7 weeks
  • Time Per Workout
    50 minutes
  • Created
    Sep 25, 2025 04:44
  • Last Edited
    Sep 25, 2025 04:49
Muscle Engagement
Front
Back
MuscleSet
Biceps
17.3%
Chest
11.4%
Glutes
10.9%
Hamstrings
10.2%
Quadriceps
9.4%
Triceps
8.6%
Front Delts
7.4%
Upper Back
5.7%
Lower Back
5.4%
Lats
4.6%
Forearms
3%
Middle Delts
2.9%
Abs
2.1%
Adductors
1.1%
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WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
WEEK 7
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
4 reps
6 reps
85%
85%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
4 reps
6 reps
85%
85%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
3 reps
5 reps
87.5%
87.5%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
RPE 6-7
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
10 reps
12 reps
70%
70%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
9 reps
11 reps
72.5%
72.5%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
4 reps
6 reps
85%
85%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
9 reps
11 reps
72.5%
72.5%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
4 reps
6 reps
85%
85%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
3 reps
5 reps
87.5%
87.5%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
10 reps
12 reps
70%
70%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
10 reps
12 reps
70%
70%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
9 reps
11 reps
72.5%
72.5%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
9 reps
11 reps
72.5%
72.5%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
9 reps
11 reps
72.5%
72.5%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
9 reps
11 reps
72.5%
72.5%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
8 reps
10 reps
75%
75%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
6 reps
8 reps
80%
80%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3
1
7 reps
9 reps
77.5%
77.5%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3
1
5 reps
7 reps
82.5%
82.5%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4
10 reps
RPE 9-10
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
60%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4
5 reps
RPE 6-7
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1
6
10-12 reps
3-5 reps
RPE 9-10
RPE 9-10
Week 1
1 / 7 Weeks
Day 1
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
8 Reps
10 Reps
75%
75%
1B
Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)
4 Sets
10 Reps
@9-10
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
6 Reps
8 Reps
80%
80%
2B
Seated Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
8 Reps
10 Reps
75%
75%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1 Set
6 Sets
10-12 Reps
3-5 Reps
@9-10
@9-10
Day 2
1A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
10 Reps
12 Reps
70%
70%
1B
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
6 Reps
8 Reps
80%
80%
2A
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
8 Reps
10 Reps
75%
75%
2B
Incline Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
8 Reps
10 Reps
75%
75%
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1 Set
6 Sets
10-12 Reps
3-5 Reps
@9-10
@9-10
Day 3
1A
Bench Press (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
10 Reps
12 Reps
70%
70%
1B
Stiff Leg Deadlift (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
10 Reps
12 Reps
70%
70%
2A
Bulgarian Split Squat (Dumbbell)
3 Sets
1 Set
8 Reps
10 Reps
75%
75%
2B
Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
4 Sets
10 Reps
@9-10
3
Incline Curl (Dumbbell)
1 Set
6 Sets
10-12 Reps
3-5 Reps
@9-10
@9-10