Women’s Gym Workout Plan: Get Strong, Lean, and Confident
Looking to build a leaner, stronger body without wasting time on ineffective routines?
This women’s gym workout plan combines strength training and cardio to help you get strong, burn fat, and feel confident fast.
Designed to be challenging yet doable, this plan is perfect whether you're new to the gym or getting back into a routine.
During this 5-day workout plan for women we will put an emphasis on the lower body and cardio, so you can achieve this lean and strong body.
Every body part will be worked to help you look balanced and obtain the full benefits of strength training.
Cardio is important to improve oxygen delivery to muscles and help shed fat for a slimmer, toned look.
For any form of cardio, make sure you begin at a slower speed, and increase your speed every 2 minutes until you reach the desired effort level.
This is your warmup. To make it easier we have noted the effort level required on specific days of the workout routine:
- Moderate: you should be breathing steadily, but deeply, and be able to speak a full sentence with little difficulty.
- Vigorous: you should be breathing heavily, and only able to say a few short words with some difficulty.
You also have to cool down afterward, decreasing the speed every 2 minutes until you are sufficiently cooled down.
This women’s workout program is composed of 5 days of training:
- 5 days of weight training
- 1 of these days will include HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
- 1 of these days will include LISS (Low Intensity Steady State Cardio)
- 2 days of rest, you will deserve it -- and rest is important for growth
Note: If you have joints pain, we highly recommend you to change the HIIT to LISS.
People often use the word toning to say "I want to get muscle, but not too much".
What toning actually means is strong muscles with a low percentage of body fat, which provides this visually appealing effect.
Thus, if you want to get that toned look you will also have to make sure your nutrition is on point.
So you should check our women’s nutrition plan
Lifting light, moderate and heavy weights will allow you to add definition to your muscles and will increase your metabolism, which will help you burn more fat at rest.
All rep ranges will help you get results, but some are more sustainable than others.
In this female’s workout program we will primarily focus on 8-15 reps. This will help you get stronger and build up muscle endurance.
When looking at body weight exercises that do not require weights, the rep range can be increased. Since you are not limited by a set amount of weight, you are simply going through the motions of the exercise (flexing and relaxing the muscles) which requires less effort but can be very effective in strengthening the targeted muscles.
When warming up, less weight should be used. The point of a warmup is to get the muscles and joints active and accustomed to the motion you’ll be doing at a higher weight to reduce the risk of injury.
You should struggle to reach the given rep ranges, if it feels too light or too heavy adjust the weight accordingly. Make sure to perform each exercise with a good form and a full range of motion.
In this women’s training plan we want to help you maximize results with workouts that are sustainable in the long run.
So we will aim for 1-2 minute of rest between each set.
However, be practical and start a new set when you feel well rested.
You will see exercises with the prefix S1, S2, S3, etc.
This means that these exercises are to be performed as a superset (back to back).
For example if you see S1 squat, S1 lunge, it means you need to perform these exercises back to back before taking a rest.
This is a 5-day workout plan, but if you have a tight schedule, check out our intense 3-day women’s workout routine.
This women’s workout routine will help you get results, but don't hesitate to make changes to it.
For example, if you're a beginner you might want to reduce the number of sets to 3 instead of 4.
Hip Thrust & Deadlift | |
Barbell Hip Thrust | 3 x 6 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Romanian Deadlift (RDL) | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Glute Kickback | |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Right side) | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Left side) | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Pull Through | |
Cable Pull Through | 3 x 15 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
You can follow this women’s workout plan in our app:
Strength | |
Barbell Bench Press | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Inverted Row (Or assisted pull ups if you can.) | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Seated Dumbbell Press | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Lat Pulldown | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Front | |
Crunch | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Leg Pull In | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Obliques | |
Alternate Heel Touch | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Side Plank Pulse (Right side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Side Plank Pulse (Left side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Light jog) | 1 x 30 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Squat | |
Barbell Squat | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Lunge | |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Right side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Left side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Finisher | |
Glute Bridge | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Calf Raise | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Shoulders | |
Overhead Press (OHP) | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Dumbbell Lateral Raise | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Arms | |
Cable Curl | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Cable Tricep Pushdown | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Steady State) | 11 rounds x 2 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Treadmill (High Intensity) | 10 rounds x 20 seconds |
Rest days are crucial for muscle recovery and growth, reducing the risk of overuse injuries and enhancing overall performance. They also provide a mental break, helping to prevent burnout and maintain long-term motivation.
Rest days facilitate the body's repair processes, allowing for improved strength and endurance in subsequent workouts. Additionally, they offer an opportunity for mental rejuvenation, fostering a balanced and sustainable fitness routine.
Hip Thrust & Deadlift | |
Barbell Hip Thrust | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Romanian Deadlift (RDL) | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 30 seconds |
Glute Kickback | |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Right side) | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Left side) | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Pull Through | |
Cable Pull Through | 3 x 15 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Strength | |
Barbell Bench Press | 4 x 10 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Inverted Row (Or assisted pull ups if you can.) | 3 x 6 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Seated Dumbbell Press | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Lat Pulldown | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Obliques | |
Alternate Leg Raise Crunch | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Oblique Crunch (Right side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Oblique Crunch (Left side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Rest | 30 seconds |
Front | |
Bottoms Up | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Bird Dog | 3 rounds x 16 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Light jog) | 1 x 30 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Squat | |
Barbell Squat | 3 x 6 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Lunge | |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Right side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Left side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Finisher | |
Glute Bridge | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Calf Raise | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Shoulders | |
Overhead Press (OHP) | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Dumbbell Lateral Raise | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Arms | |
Cable Curl | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Cable Tricep Pushdown | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Steady State) | 11 rounds x 2 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Treadmill (High Intensity) | 10 rounds x 20 seconds |
Incorporating rest days into your fitness regimen allows the body to replenish energy stores and optimize immune function, supporting overall health and resilience. They also create space for reflection and goal-setting, enhancing the quality of your training journey.
Rest days are essential for maintaining hormonal balance, which can lead to improved mood and better sleep quality. They also give joints and connective tissues time to heal, reducing the likelihood of chronic pain and long-term injuries.
Glute Bridge | |
Barbell Glute Bridge | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Deadlift | |
Romanian Deadlift (RDL) | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 30 seconds |
Pull Through | |
Cable Pull Through | 4 x 15 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Glute Kickback | |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Right side) | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Left side) | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Strength | |
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Inverted Row (Or assisted pull ups if you can.) | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Seated Dumbbell Press | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Lat Pulldown | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Front | |
Crunch | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Leg Pull In | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Obliques | |
Oblique Crunch | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Side Plank Pulse (Right side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Side Plank Pulse (Left side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Steady State) (Low intensity run. You can replace it with another cardio exercise.) | 1 x 30 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Squat | |
Barbell Squat | 4 x 10 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Bridge | |
Glute Bridge | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Calf Raise | |
Calf Raise | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Lunge | |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Right side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Left side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Shoulders | |
Overhead Press (OHP) | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Dumbbell Lateral Raise | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Arms | |
Cable Curl | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Cable Tricep Pushdown | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Steady State) | 11 rounds x 2 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Treadmill (High Intensity) | 10 rounds x 20 seconds |
Rest days are vital for reducing inflammation, which helps in preventing chronic conditions and promoting long-term joint health. Additionally, they offer a chance to engage in light activities that can improve flexibility and circulation, contributing to overall well-being.
Rest days play a key role in enhancing mental clarity and focus, which can lead to more effective and efficient workouts. They also provide a valuable opportunity for engaging in leisure activities, promoting a well-rounded and enjoyable lifestyle.
Glute Bridge | |
Barbell Glute Bridge | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Deadlift | |
Romanian Deadlift (RDL) | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 30 seconds |
Pull Through | |
Cable Pull Through | 4 x 15 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Glute Kickback | |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Right side) | 4 rounds x 12 reps |
Side Sweep Glute Kickback (Left side) | 4 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Strength | |
Barbell Incline Bench Press | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Inverted Row (Or assisted pull ups if you can.) | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Seated Dumbbell Press | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Lat Pulldown | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Obliques | |
Alternate Leg Raise Crunch | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Oblique Crunch (Right side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Oblique Crunch (Left side) | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Rest | 30 seconds |
Front | |
Bottoms Up | 3 rounds x 10 reps |
Bird Dog | 3 rounds x 18 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Light jog) | 1 x 30 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Squat | |
Barbell Squat | 4 x 10 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Bridge | |
Glute Bridge | 4 x 12 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Lunge | |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Right side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Dumbbell Reverse Lunge (Left side) | 3 rounds x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Calf Raise | |
Calf Raise | 3 x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Shoulders | |
Overhead Press (OHP) | 4 x 8 reps |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Dumbbell Lateral Raise | 3 x 8 reps |
Rest | 90 seconds |
Arms | |
Cable Curl | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Cable Tricep Pushdown | 3 rounds x 12 reps |
Rest | 60 seconds |
Cardio | |
Treadmill (Steady State) | 12 rounds x 2 minutes |
Rest | 120 seconds |
Treadmill (High Intensity) | 10 rounds x 20 seconds |
Do this workout routine for 4 weeks to see significant result, then you can start switching things up with our other training plans.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.