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Program · Barbell basics

The Starting Strength program.

The Starting Strength is a beginner barbell basics program run 3 days a week. Mark Rippetoe's minimalist barbell program built on the squat, press, deadlift and bench. Three lifts a session, three sessions a week, linear gains.

LevelBeginner
Days / week3
GoalBarbell basics
TypeStrength

Overview

Mark Rippetoe's minimalist barbell program built on the squat, press, deadlift and bench. Three lifts a session, three sessions a week, linear gains.

Who it's for: Total beginners who want to master the main barbell lifts and add weight fast.

Weekly schedule

DayFocus
Day 1Workout A — squat, press, deadlift
Day 2Rest
Day 3Workout B — squat, bench, deadlift
Day 4Rest
Day 5Workout A
Day 6Rest
Day 7Rest

Pick the lifts for each day from the exercise library, or let Nishaana fill them in for you.

How to progress

Add weight every session; squat every workout, alternate press/bench and deadlift/clean. If you stall for two sessions in a row, take a small deload and build back — see progressive overload for the full method.

Run it on autopilot. Nishaana loads the Starting Strength, pre-fills every set, and tells you the exact weight to beat each session — free in your browser.
Start the program

Related programs

Common questions.

Is the Starting Strength good for beginners?

Yes — the Starting Strength is designed for beginners. Total beginners who want to master the main barbell lifts and add weight fast.

How many days a week is the Starting Strength?

3 days a week. Mark Rippetoe's minimalist barbell program built on the squat, press, deadlift and bench. Three lifts a session, three sessions a week, linear gains.

How do you progress on the Starting Strength?

Add weight every session; squat every workout, alternate press/bench and deadlift/clean.

Can I run the Starting Strength for free?

Yes. You can follow the full Starting Strength schedule free in Nishaana — it loads the weekly plan, pre-fills your sets and auto-progresses your weights as you hit your targets.

Start the Starting Strength today.

Follow the full schedule free in your browser — the app handles the progression for you.

Join the waitlist