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The 10 Best Strength Training Programs for 2023

  1. 3 Day Maximal Strength by Sheiko
  2. nSuns (novice/intermediate)
  3. Madcow 5x5  (intermediate/advanced)
  4. Building the Monolith (intermediate/advanced)
  5. GZCL (intermediate)
  6. Wendler 5/3/1  (intermediate)
  7. GZCLP (novice/intermediate)
  8. Ivysaur 4-4-8 (novice)
  9. Strong Lifts 5x5 (novice)

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Recommended Reading: Practical Programming for Strength Training by Mark Rippetoe (Amazon)

Strength training programs are designed to increase the maximal force of the athlete's musculature. While the routines emphasize growing the strength of the athlete, they generally will also induce hypertrophy and trigger muscle growth. This is part of what helps the athlete get stronger. If hypertrophy is the primary goal, a powerbuilding or bodybuilding program is a better fit.

Strength routines differ from powerlifting programs in that they are not specifically designed to maximize the single rep max of the competition power lifts. However, many strength programs can be reasonably used as off season work for powerlifters as long as the program is followed by a powerlifting peaking program before a meet.

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The latest strength training programs are available below.

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Brian Alsruhe 9 Week Powerbuilding Program (5/3/1 Variant)

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Check out the spreadsheet for Brian Alsruhe’s 5/3/1 variant program, which is excellent for those looking for a powerbuilding training style.

Please watch Brian’s video to understand how the program works. [Read more…]

Brian Alsruhe Programs (Dark Horse + 4 Horsemen)

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Below you fill find two programs by Brian Alsruhe (check out his YouTube channel and website): Dark Horse and 4 Horsemen.

Dark Horse Program Overview

Notes directly from Brian:

  • Fill in your competition lifts and 1RMs in the spreadsheet
  • In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your conditioning workout
  • Pick a variation for each ME Wave
  • In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your antagonistic, core, and conditioning giant set exercise

[Read more…]

GZCL Jacked and Tactical (Bench + Squat Only)

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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…]

MEGAZORD Hybrid Program Spreadsheet

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If you’re a fan of Frankenstein-esque hybrid programs, then Megazord may be exactly what you’re looking for. Written (or maybe concocted is a better word…) by /u/BenchPauper on Reddit, this program combines the Coan/Phillipi Deadlift Program, Greg Nuckols’s 2x weekly Intermediate Bench Program for OHP from his 28 Program Collection, and Ben Gillingham’s Raw Bench Program.

The results? Well, see for yourself…. [Read more…]

PHATburn Powerbuilding Program Spreadsheet

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Established by Doug Hepburn as a powerbuilding routine that blends the heavy weight work of powerlifting training with the hypertrophy-inducing volume of bodybuilding training, PHATburn is a challenging program for advanced athletes. If you’re looking to introduce more volume into your off-season training, this may be what you’re looking for. [Read more…]

GZCL / Mag-Ort / Deathbench Hybrid Spreadsheet

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Combining GZCL for squats, Mag-Ort for deadlift, and Deathbench for bench press, this hybrid program became popularized on Reddit by /u/truthlesshunter. [Read more…]

Building the Monolith Program Spreadsheet (kg + lb)

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Building the Monolith was created by Jim Wendler, who wrote the 5/3/1 programs and inspired other programs like GZCL and NSuns, Building the Monolith is designed for advanced athletes looking to break through plateaus, not novice or intermediate lifters. For a bench-focused variation of this program, check out Benching the Monolith.

[Read more…]

The Bridge by Barbell Medicine Program Spreadsheet

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Created by Jordan Feigenbaum and Austin Baraki at Barbell Medicine, the Bridge is a strength program designed for athletes that are finishing a novice program like Starting Strength or Strong Lifts 5×5 and are ready for a “bridge” to intermediate level programming.  [Read more…]

Cowboy Method Spreadsheets – Original and Modified

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While the Texas Method has long been a popular intermediate program for graduates of Rippetoe’s Starting Strength or other novice programs like Strong Lifts, a popular Texas Method variation to emerge has been the Cowboy Method.

Included here are the Original Cowboy Method and a Modified Cowboy Method. [Read more…]

Ivysaur 4-4-8 Beginner Program Spreadsheet

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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…]

nSuns 5/3/1 Complete Program Collection (4 Day, 5 Day, Cap3, and More)

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nSuns 5/3/1 is a linear progression powerlifting program that was inspired by Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 strength program. It progresses on a weekly basis, making it well suited for late stage novice and early intermediate lifters. It is known for its challenging amount of volume. Those who stick with it tend to find great results from the additional work capacity.

Redditor /u/nsuns assembled a 5/3/1/ LP spreadsheet complete with 4, 5, and 6 day variants in addition to deadlift and squat specific workloads to help everyone get stronger.

Use the table of contents to jump to your desired spreadsheet or read on below to learn about which nSuns program you should run.

[Read more…]

Russian Squat Program + Routine Spreadsheet (Original and Masters Versions)

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Whether it is run for the squat, deadlift, bench, or all three (known as the Extended Russian Power Routine), the Russian Squat Program (aka Russian Squat Routine or RSR) is a brutal peaking program that will help boost maximum strength when prepping for a meet.

[Read more…]

Metallicadpa 6 Day PPL v3.04 (Reddit PPL) Program Spreadsheet

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Update: A new spreadsheet for this program is now available. It tracks 12 weeks at a time, progresses weight per workout automatically, and is easier to customize. It is linked below.

Push, Pull, Legs (PPL) routines offer a great template for achieving strength and physique goals while remaining flexible enough for the lifter’s preferences.

This flexibility can be a hindrance to less experienced lifters, who like the sound of a templated PPL routine but don’t know how to make one for themselves.

This issue has been resolved. Enter: /u/metallicadpa’s 6 day PPL program aka the Reddit PPL.

[Read more…]

PHUL Workout Routine Tips + Program Spreadsheet (Updated 2023)

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Short for Power Hypertrophy Upper Lower, PHUL blends power and size building principles for the athlete looking to get stronger and bigger. The PHUL program follows many of the principles of powerbuilding programming, but could also be considered a bodybuilding program.

[Read more…]

Strong Curves Spreadsheets + PDF: Beginner and Advanced Workouts

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Written by Bret Contreras, Strong Curves workout is a great program for novice and intermediate lifters looking to get stronger and, yes, have a better butt. The program’s greatest strength lies in its simplicity, making it a simple workout to follow and make progress quickly.

It has quickly become a staple within the strength training community and is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

[Read more…]

New Rules of Lifting for Women Workout Program Spreadsheet

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While men and women’s bodies respond in very similar ways to weight training (provided in the spreadsheet), the New Rules of Lifting for Women by Lou Schuler, Cassandra Forsythe, and Alwyn Cosgrove also provides nutrition advice and descriptions of the exercises, which may be useful for novice lifters or those looking to refamiliarize themselves with the movements. [Read more…]

Juggernaut Training Method Base Program Spreadsheet

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Juggernaut Training Method Overview

Based upon Juggernaut Training Systems and Chad Wesley Smith, the Juggernaut Method incorporates significant amounts of submaximal work to build work capacity in the lifter without [Read more…]

Ice Cream Fitness (ICF) Spreadsheet

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Popularized by Jason Blaha, Ice Cream Fitness is a solid novice strength program that incorporates more accessory work than similar programs (e.g. Starting Strength, Strong Lifts) helping the user get stronger and add size. [Read more…]

Starting Strength Routine Program Spreadsheet

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One of the most popular novice lifting programs, Starting Strength is a textbook (literally) strength program for beginner lifters to rapidly develop proficiency with basic compound movements and get stronger.

If you’re looking to start lifting and want something that works, this Google spreadsheet is a solid option. It is very similar to GreySkull LP and StrongLifts.

Graduates of the Starting Strength routine may be interested in Madcow or Texas Method.

[Read more…]

Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 Workout Program Spreadsheets

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More of a template than a strict program, many variations of 5/3/1 exist. You’ll find some of the best spreadsheets for these variations here. All of them will get you stronger by focusing on steady progression of the Big 3 lifts though. Jim Wendler’s popular 5/3/1 template was highly influential on the popular GZCL and nSuns programs.

The program is comprised of 3 and 4 week cycles, designed to run indefinitely.

[Read more…]