5 Free Weight Only Workout Routines (Activate Your Muscles)

Legs are consistent with major muscle groups such as the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings.

Smaller muscles include calves, adductor muscles, and hip internal and external rotators.

Incorporate complex exercises into the dynamic warm-up to warm up for this leg session.

Dynamic warm-up has been proven in a study by NIH to effectively reduce injuries in athletes and normal people if performed before each intense workout [2].

Here is the entire workout to hit all leg muscles and induce maximal hypertrophy and strength-building effects:

1. Back Squat - Back squats target the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings. Complete 5 sets of 4-6 reps and recover for up to 3 minutes before proceeding to the next set. This rep range and a number of sets target building lower body strength
2. Romanian Deadlift - This exercise will target your posterior chain muscles, such as the hamstrings, glutes, and erector spinae. You should perform 4 sets of up to 10 reps and rest for 90 seconds in between the sets. This rep range and rest interval are the best for hypertrophy or muscle-building.
3. Walking Lunge - Lunges are incredibly effective at targeting your adductors, quads, hams, and glutes. You should perform 4 sets of 8 reps for each leg. The rest interval should be between 60 and 90 seconds.
4. Dumbbell Leg Curl - Dumbbell leg curls are excellent for isolating your three hamstring muscles, including biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. Perform 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps and rest for 60 seconds between the sets.
5. Single-leg Calf Raises - Unilateral calf raises are much more efficient than bilateral ones. You should hit all three feet directions, hitting 7 reps each and completing 3 sets. Don't rest more than 60 seconds between the sets.
6. Tiptoe Farmer's Walk - This is a modified farmer's walk aiming to build isometric strength in your calves. Perform 3 sets of max distance walks and rest for up to 60 seconds between the sets.

Related: Best Free Weight Exercises: How-To, Benefits and More

The chest workout focuses on developing close to one-third of the upper body.

According to NIH, the biggest chest muscle is the pectoralis major, which has three “streams” of fibers, meaning you will need to use different angles during lifting to hit each of them [3].

Lift heavy weights to build strength in your chest and upper body.

Lifting heavy weights is the only way to increase strength, but you should only lift heavy in the first two exercises (foundational, classic exercise), and the rest should be performed with lighter weights.

The 5-day dumbbell workout routine includes upper body exercises like the incline dumbbell bench press and targets each muscle group with exercises like the dumbbell sumo squat.

The strength training for the entire upper body should begin with compound and finish with isolation exercises, or the resistance should at least decrease throughout the workout.

This workout involves activating the middle, lower, and upper chest using flat and incline bench press exercises.

Here is the entire workout:

1. Wide-grip bench press - this exercise is performed on a flat bench and is excellent for developing horizontal push maximal strength. To gain strength and build muscle, perform 5 sets of 3-5 reps and rest between 3-5 minutes. 
2. Incline dumbbell press - the starting position is on the incline bench, and this exercise is excellent for hitting upper chest fibers. Perform 8 reps for 4 to 5 sets and rest for 90 minutes to build the most significant amount of muscles.
3. Dumbbell fly - flyes are excellent for widening your chest and making it look more aesthetic. Perform 8-12 reps of 3 sets and rest for 60-90 seconds.
4. Dumbbell squeeze press - this exercise is excellent for making your chest thicker. Complete 12 reps for 3 sets and rest for 60 seconds.
5. Push-ups - push-ups are excellent for including shoulder blades in the whole horizontal pressing motion. Perform 3 sets of 12 reps and rest for less than 60 seconds in between.

Freeweight-Only Workout #3 – Back

The biggest back muscles include the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, and erector spinae.

The first two build most of the upper back, while the last work more during the lower body exercises.

Here is the entire back workout:

1. Deadlift - lift the barbell until standing upright, and avoid using heavier weights until you perfect the deadlift technique. Complete 3-5 reps for 5 sets and rest for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Weighted Pull-up - hanging from the recommended pull-up bar, lift your chin above the bar without leaning forward. Perform 4-6 reps for 4 sets and rest for 90 seconds.
3. Single-arm Row - lean forward on your front foot and row the dumbbell towards your hips. Complete 6 reps with each hand for 3 sets and rest for 90 seconds.
4. Pendlay Row - perform 12 reps for 3 sets and rest for about 60 seconds.
5. Dumbbell Shrug - perform 12-15 reps for 3 sets and rest for as little as possible between the sets.

In my role as a personal trainer, I always emphasize the importance of variety in shoulder workouts to my clients to prevent plateauing.

We focus on the key shoulder muscles - the anterior, lateral, and posterior deltoid - which together form the significant deltoid head, ensuring a comprehensive approach to shoulder development.

You should overload the barbell or dumbbell version of the overhead press/push-press exercise to gain the most significant strength.

Here is the entire shoulder workout:

1. Barbell Push-press - this is a variation of the overhead barbell press, but more explosive. Perform 5 sets of 4-6 reps and rest for 2-3 minutes.
2. Arnold Press - this press variation is effective for building your lateral and anterior deltoid. You should complete 4 sets of 6 to 8 reps and rest no more than 90 seconds to achieve the best hypertrophy results.
3. Dumbbell Side Raise - lateral raises are performed with just a pair of dumbbells. Complete 10 to 12 reps for 3 sets and rest for 60 to 90 seconds.
4. Reverse Fly - reverse fly is an excellent exercise for building the posterior deltoid. You should perform 3 sets of 12 reps and rest for 60 seconds between the sets.
5. Upright Row - upright rows will challenge your lateral deltoids and trapezius muscles. Complete 3 sets of up to 15 reps and rest for 60 seconds between the sets.

Freeweight-Only Workout #5 – Arms

When talking about arm muscles, we refer to triceps brachii, biceps brachii, brachialis, radio brachialis, and coracobrachialis.

Here is the entire arm workout:

1. Barbell Curl - complete 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps and rest for 90 seconds in between.
2. Triceps Dips - perform 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps and rest no more than 90 seconds.
3. Hammer Curl - you should do up to 12 reps for 3 sets and rest between 60 and 90 seconds.
4. Skull Crusher - you should complete 12 reps for 3 sets and rest for 60 seconds.
5. Concentration Curl - complete up to 15 reps for 3 sets and rest as little as possible.
6. Dumbbell Kickback - perform 15 reps for 3 sets and rest for as little as possible.