Venturing into the weight room can be overwhelming at times. People grunting in the corner while heaving heavy dumbbells, weights clanking together on a barbell; and to top it all off, there’s a sea of machines with multiple moving parts and levers. Toss in choosing the right exercises and number of sets and reps, and strength training can seem overly complex (calculator anyone?).

But there is a method to the madness. When done effectively, lifting weights offers amazing benefits, not only for building bigger muscles and achieving that desired physique, but also boosting your resting metabolism (translation: burn more calories outside the gym!)Effect of acute resistance exercise on postexercise oxygen consumption and resting metabolic rate in young women. Osterberg KL, Melby CL. Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2000 Mar;10(1):71-81.Resistance training and energy balance. Poehlman ET, Melby C. Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. International Journal of Sports Nutrition, 1998 Jun;8(2):143-59.Resistance training increases total energy expenditure and free-living physical activity in older adults. Hunter GR, Wetzstein CJ, Fields DA, et al. Human Studies Department, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2000 Sep;89(3):977-84.. Regular strength training can even improve mood and confidence levelsPhysical fitness and psychological benefits of strength training in community dwelling older adults. Tsutsumi T, Don BM, Zaichkowsky LD, et al. School of Education, Boston University, Boston, MA. Applied Human Sciences, 1997 Nov;16(6):257-66..

Ready to find that perfect training plan? To get us started (and keep us motivated along the way), we enlisted the help of Greatist Experts Dan Trink, Director of Personal Training Operations at Peak Performance, and Kelvin Gary, personal trainer and owner of Body Space Fitness. Check out their helpful tips, plus sample programs to hit the ground (err…gym floor) running!

Starting a strength training program is a little more complicated than just grabbing some dumbbells and your favorite gym tee and hoisting away—it requires a set program. Before hitting the weights, check out these tips to get started on the right foot:

Ready to get started? Whether you’ve got three, four, or five days to devote to training, these programs will help you make the most out of hitting the gym.

Your plan: Total Body Routine

Why it works: This program hits all major muscle groups during each workout, yielding maximum gains in minimum time.

What to do: Complete 2-3 sets of 10-12 reps of the following exercises. Note: Perform A and B exercises back-to-back as supersets. Rest 60 seconds between each exercise.

Monday (Day One)

1A) Barbell Deadlift

1B) Dumbbell Bench Press

2A) Lunge (bodyweight or using dumbbells)

2B) Single-Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press

3A) Leg Press

3B) Plank (Hold for 30-45 seconds)

Wednesday (Day Two)

1A) Barbell Back Squat

1B) Chin-up (bodyweight or assisted)

2A) Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

2B) Singe-Leg Stability Ball Hamstring Curl

3A) Side Lunges (bodyweight or using dumbbells)

3B) Reverse Crunch

Friday (Day Three)

1A) Barbell Front Squat

1B) Inverted Row

2A) Single-Leg Dumbbell Deadlift

2B) Incline Dumbbell Bench Press

3A) Reverse Lunge (bodyweight or using dumbbells)

3B) Side Plank (Hold for 30-45 seconds)

Your plan: Upper/Lower Body Split

Why it works: Dedicating focused time to upper and lower body workouts means more specificity and detail for each workout leading to fast progress and big gains.

What to do: Complete 2-3 sets of 10-12 reps of the following exercises. Note: Perform A and B (or A, B, and C) exercises back-to-back as supersets. Rest 60 seconds between exercises.

Monday (Day 1 – Lower Body)

1) Barbell Back Squat

2A) Walking Lunge (bodyweight or use dumbbells)

2B) Lying Hamstring Curl

3A) Leg Press

3B) Calf Raise

3C) Plank (Hold for 30-45 seconds)

Tuesday (Day 2 – Upper Body)

1) Chin-up (bodyweight or assisted)

2A) Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

2B) Incline Dumbbell Bench Press

3A) Cable Chest Fly 3B) Barbell Bicep Curl

3C) Reverse Crunch

Take Wednesday off, then on repeat the same Upper/Lower Split on Thursday and Friday.

Your Plan: Body Part Split

Why it works: Devoting specific days to each body part allows for a targeted approach to building muscle and seeing results.

What to do: Complete 2-3 sets of 10-12 reps of the following exercises. Note: Perform A and B (or A, B, and C) exercises back-to-back as supersets. Rest 60 seconds between exercises.

Monday (Day 1 – Chest/Triceps)

1) Dumbbell Bench Press

2A) Incline Dumbbell Press

2B) Dips

3A) Cable Chest Fly

3B) Tricep Pushdown

3C) Plank

Tuesday (Day 2 – Lower Body)

1) Barbell Squats

2A) Single-Leg Deadlift

2B) Lunges

3A) Leg Press

3B) Glute Hamstring Raise

3C) Calf Raise

Wednesday (Day 3 – Back/Biceps)

1) Pull-Up

2A) Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

2B) Dumbbell Reverse Fly

3A) Dumbbell Pullover 3B) Cable Bicep Curl

3C) Face Pull

Friday (Day 4 – Lower Body)

1) Barbell Deadlift

2A) Single-Leg Squat

2B) Lunges

3A) Leg Press

3B) Calf Raise

3C) Plank

Saturday (Day 5 – Shoulders/Abs)

1) Barbell Push Press

2A) Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press

2B) Dumbbell Lateral Raise

3A) Farmer’s Walk (walk 50 feet)

3B) Roll-Out 3C) Overhead Waiter’s Carry (walk 50 feet)

Remember, exercise is just part of the fitness equation. Getting quality sleep and proper nutrition can maximize all of the sweat sessions (especially post-workout). Vary the reps/sets every few weeks to prevent boredom and keep the body guessing. Keep progressing workouts to avoid hitting the wall and transform into a lean strength training machine!