Easy Weightlifting Program for Starting Athletes

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Everyone wants to start somewhere and there is an overwhelming amount of information and programs out there to choose from. A lot of them cost money and those who are new or looking to try something new don’t always feel comfortable shelling out money right away. We are here to give you a little help!

This is a great 4 week cycle that is all based off feel, NOT percentages. An ideal program for those who are looking to add more Olympic Weightlifting into their training routine.  Feel free to add in some light conditioning to end your training session.

 

WEIGHT

Choose weights that will allow little to no misses, use the same weight for all of the prescribed sets. Each day should take you 45-60 minutes with warmup. Do not jump right into your weight for each set. Listed are your working sets, give yourself a few warmup sets!

 

CYCLE NOTES:

- Movement - Rep x Sets

- 2x4 - Means you complete 2 reps for a total of 4 sets at one weight.

- Clean & Jerk - 2+1x4 - You will complete 2 Cleans + 1 Jerk for a total of 4 sets at one weight.

- Heavy Single - you will work up to a heavy single for THAT day. Allow 15-20 minutes for one lift given yourself rest before moving onto the next.

- Aim to increase your 5x5 Back Squat as well as your Pull & Deadlift weight weekly.

 

Week 1

Keep your heavy singles to a maximum of 3 misses. This is week 1, hit heavy lifts on Saturday but not to maximum effort.

Day 1

Snatch - 2x4

Snatch Pull - 2x3

Back Squat - 5x5

 

Day 2

Clean & Jerk - 2+1x4

Clean Deadlift - 3x3

Front Squat - 3x3

 

Day 3

Snatch - Heavy Single

Clean & Jerk - Heavy Single

Back Squat - 3x5

 

Week 2

Day 1

Power Snatch + OHS - 2+1x5

Snatch Deadlift- 3x3

Back Squat - 5x5

 

Day 2

Power Clean + FS + Jerk - 1x5

Clean Pull - 2x3

Front Squat - 4x3

 

Day 3

Snatch - Heavy Single

Clean & Jerk - Heavy Single

Back Squat - 2x5

 

Week 3

Refer back to week 1 weights, use the same weight for increased volume. If the weight feels light increase but remember to not achieve maximum effort on load.

Day 1

Snatch - 2x6

Snatch Pull - 2x3

Back Squat - 5x5

 

Day 2

Clean & Jerk - 2+1x6

Clean Deadlift - 3x3

Front Squat - Heavy Single

 

Day 3

Snatch - Heavy Single

Clean & Jerk - Heavy Single

Back Squat - 1x5

 

Week 4

Maximum effort on Saturday, keep your heavy singles to a maximum of 3 misses. Your 5 singles on day 1 and day 2 should be heavy but technically sound.

Day 1

Snatch - 1x5

Snatch Deadlift- 3x3

Back Squat - 5x5

 

Day 2

Clean & Jerk - 1x5

Clean Pull - 2x3

Front Squat - 3x3

 

Day 3

Snatch - Heavy Single

Clean & Jerk - Heavy Single

Back Squat - Heavy Single

 

This can be repeated, take a light week or a rest week. Repeating Week 1 is a great way to ease into the next cycle.


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