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Starter Powerlifting Minimalist Program
Beginner–IntermediateFree

Starter Powerlifting Minimalist Program

Ethan MacLean
Ethan MacLean· Jan 2024
214athletes running this program
iOS & Android

Overview

Length
12 weeks
Days / week
3 days
Level
Beginner, Intermediate
Goal
Strength
Equipment
Garage Gym
Session length
60 min
Build up your squat, bench, and deadlift strength with this 3 day full body beginner to novice powerlifting program. Workout Weekly Schedule: Day 1 Squat/Bench Day 2 Rest Day 3 Deadlift/OHP Day 4 Rest Day 5 Squat/Bench Day 6 Rest Day 7 Rest Consistency: Stay consistent, try not to skip workouts. How to Progress: On the Main lifts add 5-10lbs every week, and on the accessory movement either add reps or weight through the weeks. For Example: On a 5x5 Week 1 Bench press 5x5 135lb Week 2 Bench press 5x5 140lb Week 3 Bench press 5x5 145lb Week 4 Bench press 5x5 150lb Week 5 Bench press 5x5 155lb Rest: Rest between 3-5 minutes on the main lifts, and 2-4 on the extra lifts. Diet: Eat a high protein, and high to moderate calories for maximum strength and size gain. Sleep: Sleep between 7-9 hours of sleep a night for physical and mental health. Exercise Form: Preform each exercise with the right form, slow eccentric, strong tight steady motion, focusing on the stretched position. Effort: You need to put in some effort in training to see good results. Both effort in how to train, being consistent, and preforming high intensity training in the exercises. Try to stick with the RPE in the program, but if you know what you are doing you can go closer to failer or even farther if you know it's too much. But most people are farther from failure then they think. So just train hard and stick to it the best you can. What is RPE? RPE/Rate of Perceived Exhaustion is a scale of how close you are to failing a lift. [RPE 1] you can do 9 more reps until you can't [RPE 2] you can do 8 more reps until you can't [RPE 3] you can do 7 more reps until you can't [RPE 4] you can do 6 more reps until you can't [RPE 5] you can do 5 more reps until you can't [RPE 6] you can do 4 more reps until you can't [RPE 7] you can do 3 more reps until you can't [RPE 8] you can do 2 more reps until you can't [RPE 9] you can do 1 more reps until you can't [RPE 10] you can't do any more reps no matter what Important keys to maximum strength and size: 1. Consistency 2. Progression 3. Rest 3. Diet 4. Sleep 5. Exercise Form 6. Effort I hope for the best for you. Stay consistent and get those gains. Good luck!

Who it's for

Beginners new to structured strength training
Athletes focused on maximal 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
Chest
14.2%
Quadriceps
14.2%
Triceps
11.2%
Glutes
11.1%
Front Delts
9.2%
Hamstrings
8.1%
Upper Back
7.9%
Lats
7.9%
Middle Delts
4.4%
Abs
3.9%
Adductors
3.9%
Lower Back
2.2%
Biceps
1.8%
Week 1 Workouts
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Squat (Barbell)25 reps@8
2Squat (Barbell)15–10 reps@8
3Bench Press (Barbell)25 reps@8
4Bench Press (Barbell)15–10 reps@8
5Barbell Row25 reps@8
6Barbell Row15–10 reps@8
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Deadlift (Barbell)25 reps@8
2Deadlift (Barbell)15–10 reps@8
3Overhead Press (Barbell)25 reps@8
4Overhead Press (Barbell)15–10 reps@8
5Bench Press (Close Grip)38 reps@8
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Bench Press (Barbell)25 reps@8
2Bench Press (Barbell)15–10 reps@8
3Squat (Barbell)25 reps@8
4Squat (Barbell)15–10 reps@8
5Pull-Up (Weighted)25 reps@8
6Pull-Up (Weighted)15–10 reps@8

Weeks 2–12 are in the app

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

Common questions

Yes, Starter Powerlifting Minimalist Program is completely free to follow on Boostcamp. Download the app on iOS or Android, find the program, and start your first workout immediately. All 12 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 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.

Starter Powerlifting Minimalist Program 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 12 weeks. The structure is designed so that each week builds on the last, with weights, volume, or intensity progressively increasing as you go.

Starter Powerlifting Minimalist Program 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
1,000+ 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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