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Home » 3 Day Overhead Press Programs

Overhead Press 3 Days per Week - Powerlifting & Strength Programs

Here are spreadsheets for powerlifting and strength programs that require the athlete to overhead press (aka military press) 3 times per week.

To search through all Lift Vault programs using a variety of criteria, check out the Lift Vault Program Library.

6 Day 8 Week Intermediate Olympic Weightlifting Program (Glenn Pendlay)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated February 13, 2022

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 8

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Olympic Weightlifting

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

This is a 6 day, 8 week Olympic weightlifting program originally shared by Glenn Pendlay. It was originally shared over the course of 8 weeks in 2015 on his blog. The program is designed to be run in preparation for a weightlifting competition and can be considered a peaking program. It is well suited for an average intermediate weightlifter.

Intermediate Olympic Weightlifting Program Overview

  • This is an 8 week program, 6 days of training per week.
  • It is designed for intermediate weightlifters.
  • It can be used to peak for a weightlifting competition.
  • It programs for the following lifts (1RM unless noted otherwise):
    • Back squat (5 rep max)
    • Front squat (3 rep max)
    • Push press (5 rep max)
    • Snatch from hip
    • Snatch from knee
    • Clean & Jerk
    • Clean & Jerk (from hip)
    • Clean & Jerk (from knee)
    • Clean
    • Overhead Press
    • Power Snatch
    • Power Clean
  • The set and rep scheme is sets x reps (e.g. 2×3 means “2 sets of 3 reps”)
  • EMOM = every minute on the minute
[Read more…]

Filed Under: 8 Week Programs, Olympic Weightlifting Programs, Programs

Squat frequency: 3, 4
Bench press frequency: 0
Deadlift frequency: 0
Overhead press frequency: 1, 2, 3

Takano 12 Week Olympic Weightlifting Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated August 1, 2021

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Olympic Weightlifting

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

This is a 12 week Olympic weightlifting program with 3 to 6 training days per week, depending upon your classification. It can be used by beginner, intermediate, and advanced weightlifters, as it provides programming for multiple lifter classifications.

This program can be used in preparation for a weightlifting competition.

The program has seemingly been attributed to Bob Takano, though I have no idea if he had anything to do with it or not. You can find the best of Takano’s thinking in his book: Weightlifting Programming: A Winning Coach’s Guide.

Program Overview

Here’s a quick breakdown of the program. You’ll find more detail in the spreadsheet and the notes below.

  • 12 week program
  • 3 to 6 training days per week
  • Appropriate for the following classifications: CIII, CII, CI, CMS
  • Main exercise movements
    • Hang Power Snatch
    • Behind the Neck Push Press (BTNPP)
    • Hang Power Clean
    • Back Squat
    • Snatch Deadlift
    • Press
  • Frequency for snatches, cleans, and jerks varies from 2-6 times per week, depending upon the lifter’s classification
  • Accessory movements are also included

It is important to note that weight, sets, and reps are denoted like this: (weight/reps) x sets.

For example, (100/4)x3 means to lift 100 kg for 3 sets of 4 reps. (Or 100 lbs – the units do not matter).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, Olympic Weightlifting Programs

Squat frequency: 2, 3
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1, 2
Overhead press frequency: 2, 3, 4

Simple Jack’d v1.0 + v2.0 Strength Training Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated May 7, 2021

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: Indefinite

Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: High Volume, Strength

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

May 2020 Update: Added Simple Jack’d 2x spreadsheet. You should probably run v2.0, as the creator of the program considers it superior to v1.0.

Simple Jack’d is a modified blend of the Bulgarian Method and the Smolov base cycle. It’s essentially a flexible one week volume accumulation block that can be run indefinitely for powerlifting and general strength goals.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program

Squat frequency: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Bench press frequency: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Deadlift frequency: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Overhead press frequency: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Heavy, Light, Medium (HLM) Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated September 10, 2020

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 12

Periodization: Block Periodization, Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Heavy, Light, Medium (HLM) programs are a simple and effective way to organize strength training. Each training session consists of either a heavy, medium, or light load for a given lift. The HLM training style is extremely flexible and can be used to accommodate many training goals.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program

Squat frequency: 2, 3
Bench press frequency: 1, 2, 3
Deadlift frequency: 1, 2, 3
Overhead press frequency: 1, 2, 3

Tiger Shark 6 Week Bench Press Program

By Kyle Risley
Last updated August 11, 2020

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 6

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Peaking, Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Tiger Shark is a 6 week bench press program for intermediate and advanced level lifters. It was created by Nik D (@niklas.damb). As it only programs for the bench press, it is recommended that this is combined with a squat program and a deadlift program. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 6 Week Bench Press Programs, 6 Week Programs, Bench Press Workout Program, Lift Specific Program, Programs


Bench press frequency: 3

Overhead press frequency: 3

Golden Six Arnold Schwarzenegger Workout Routine

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 29, 2023

Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate

Weeks: Indefinite

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): No


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s workout routine known as “Golden Six” is a 3 day beginner bodybuilding routine that can be run indefinitely. It was used in the early days of Schwarzenegger’s training before he started higher volume training programs.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Bodybuilding Program, Programs
Tagged With: 3 Day Bodybuilding Program, 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 3
Bench press frequency: 3

Overhead press frequency: 3

Tactical Barbell Program Templates (Operator, Zulu, Mass, and More)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 11, 2022

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 12, 6

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: No


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

This is a collection of templates for the Tactical Barbell program. Included are the operator, zulu, fighter, gladiator, mass, and grey man programs – all in the same spreadsheet.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, 6 Week Programs, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 3 Day Workout Plan, 6 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2, 3, 4
Bench press frequency: 2, 3, 4
Deadlift frequency: 2, 3
Overhead press frequency: 2, 3, 4

All Pro Simple Beginner Routine Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Experience level: Beginner

Weeks: 5

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

The All Pro Simple Beginner Routine (ASBR) is a classic strength and hypertrophy workout routine for novices. It supposedly originated on BodyBuilding.com and this particular version was modified a bit by tr3pid.

There is an extensive FAQ section that is copied from the spreadsheet below. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 5 Week Programs, Bodybuilding Program, Powerbuilding Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Bodybuilding Program, 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 3
Bench press frequency: 3
Deadlift frequency: 3
Overhead press frequency: 3

GZCL Jacked and Tactical (Bench + Squat Only)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 6

Periodization: Block Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

This is a variation of Tactical Barbell programming combined with the GZCL program framework. It only programs the bench press and squat movements. Deadlifts are not included. This is ideal for athletes that are either unable to deadlift or looking to focus primarily on improving their bench press and squat. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Bench Press Programs, 12 Week Programs, 12 Week Squat Programs, Bench Press Workout Program, Lift Specific Program, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Squat Program, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 3
Bench press frequency: 2

Overhead press frequency: 3

8 Week Hypertrophy Specific Training Program Spreadsheet (HST)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated August 3, 2020

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 8

Periodization: Wave Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: High Volume, Hypertrophy

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Popularized by Bryan Haycock, hypertrophy specific training (HST) is a training routine based upon the principles of mechanical load, chronic stimuli, progressive load, and strategic deconditioning.

This training style is best utilized by bodybuilders, though it can be used by powerlifters and other athletes to spark muscle growth and work capacity in the off-season. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 8 Week Programs, Bodybuilding Program, Programs
Tagged With: 3 Day Bodybuilding Program, 3 Day Workout Plan, 8 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 3
Bench press frequency: 3
Deadlift frequency: 3
Overhead press frequency: 3

Ivysaur 4-4-8 Beginner Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated November 12, 2020

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Beginner

Weeks: Indefinite

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Ivysuar 4-4-8 Program Overview

Initially shared on Reddit’s /r/fitness community by /u/ivysaur, the Ivysaur 4-4-8 Beginner Program was designed to improve upon the foundation laid out by popular “sets of 5” novice lifting programs like Starting Strength and Strong Lifts. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1, 2
Bench press frequency: 3
Deadlift frequency: 1, 2
Overhead press frequency: 3

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