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58 reviews for Novice Bodybuilding Program (by Eric Helms)

The Novice Bodybuilding Program is a four-day a week program based on the principles from the Muscle and Strength Pyramid: Training book by Dr. Eric Helms, Andy Morgan, and Andrea Valdez. We highly recommend reading the book to learn evidence-based training and nutrition.

This beginner bodybuilding program has exercises to ensure all muscle groups are adequately trained to help you build a well rounded physique. There are two ‘strength’ days and two ‘volume’ days. Strength development complements the accumulation of training volume and aids hypertrophy.

Read below for full program guidelines.

4.16 / 5

Edmund L.

Man, 46
14 days ago

5 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

As expected strength gains

Less than expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Not halfway through the program yet, so still premature to determine effectiveness for me.

Jannis M.

Man, 31
24 days ago

3 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Great introduction to weight training. More substitute exercises would be great to see as a beginner, but hey, its good to get used to the classic exercises.

Man, 26
2 months ago

3 weeks complete

2 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Excellent beginner program. Dr Eric helms is an expert in the field of natural bodybuilding and strength training. Highly recommend this for a beginner or intermediate lifter.

Garret Q.

Man, 27
2 months ago

5 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Solid program. I'm normally a runner but am doing more strength training. Because the program prescribed increasing weight each week, I have made some obvious strength improvements (not to mention always being sore). I occasionally added more leg and back exercises, some other random accessory exercises, plus some drop sets.

Rachel N.

Woman, 41
3 months ago

5 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

I’ve been able to increase my strength pretty well and it’s easy to follow. I swapped cable row for barbell row and swapped one of the pull ups for lat pull downs

Bailey Sorrow

Man
5 months ago

3 weeks complete

2 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Good starting point to build your own programs to. That is what Dr. Helms intended when he wrote these.

Ashley S.

Non-binary, 19
5 months ago

3 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

More than expected strength gains

More than expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Beginner-friendly, inclusive, easy to add in alternative exercises, and easy to follow instructions

The S.

Man, 44
5 months ago

3 weeks complete

8 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Keep reps low and use as strength block

Jose M.

Man, 44
6 months ago

5 weeks complete

2 years of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

3dmj rocks

Виктор семенов

Man, 27
6 months ago

11 weeks complete

1 year of prior experience

As expected strength gains

As expected muscle gains

Marginal modifications

Added some lateral raises and biceps triceps