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Men's Weight Lifting Beginner Chart

The chart is designed to be used as a guide to set your targets before moving on to a novice level.  There are evaluations on four lifts for the five main muscle groups.
 

  1. Chest

  2. Back

  3. Shoulders

  4. Legs

  5. Arms

You can use either the Body Weight Ratio method or the suggested weight.  The body weight ratio method is calculated by taking the weight you lift divided by your body weight. 

 

Body Weight Ratio calculator >

Men's Beginner Chest Exercise Targets

Exercises

BW Ratio

Weight

Bench Press

Incline Bench Press

DB Bench Press

Incline DB Bench Press

0.50x

0.45x 

0.20x 

0.20x 

100 lbs

95 lbs

35 lbs

30 lbs

Men's Beginner Back Exercise Targets

Exercises

BW Ratio

Weight

Deadlift

Bent Over Row

Lat Pulldowns

Seated Cable Row

0.75x

0.45x 

0.50x 

0.50x

135 lbs

85 lbs

85 lbs

85 lbs

Men's Beginner Shoulder Exercise Targets

Exercises

BW Ratio

Weight

Overhead Press

DB Shoulder Press

Side Lateral Raise

Arnold Press

0.35x

0.20x

0.10x 

0.15x

65 lbs

30 lbs

15 lbs

25 lbs

Men's Beginner Leg Exercise Targets

Exercises

BW Ratio

Weight

Squat

Leg Press

Romanian Deadlift

Leg Extension

0.75x

1.00

0.50x 

0.50x

135 lbs

180 lbs

95 lbs

95 lbs

Men's Beginner Arm Exercise Targets

Exercises

BW Ratio

Weight

Barbell Curl

DB Curls

Tricep Pressdown

Lying Tricep Press

0.20x

0.10

0.40x 

0.25x

35 lbs

20 lbs

60 lbs

45 lbs

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