4-Week Lower-Body Program

Bench Glutes & Legs

A focused lower-body program built around one flat bench and a pair of dumbbells.

Schedule
3 days a week · 4-week cycle
Session
About 32–40 min
Equipment
Bench + dumbbells
Week 4
Lighter week + Test Day
A frame from the Bench Glutes & Legs Day 1 video: Coach Cole demonstrates a move beside the timer, target and form cues

Who it's for

For anyone who wants stronger glutes, hamstrings and quads at home: hip thrusts, Romanian deadlifts, split squats and step-ups, organized into three focused days.

Circuits: 4 rounds of 40 s work / 20 s rest, 60 s between rounds.

 Equipment

  • Flat bench, pushed against a wall
  • Dumbbells
  • A non-slip floor

Weekly schedule

Three sessions a week with a rest day in between. The days below are the suggested layout; any three non-consecutive days work.

MonDay 1
TueRest
WedDay 2
ThuRest
FriDay 3
SatRest
SunRest

The 4-week cycle

  1. Week 1

    Learn the patterns with a dumbbell you could lift for about 3 more reps than the target. Bench against a wall every session.

  2. Week 2

    Same three videos, a few more reps in the same 40 s window. Same dumbbells: the reps are the progression.

  3. Week 3

    Peak week: hit the Week 3 targets. If they felt easy, note it: next cycle you go heavier.

  4. Week 4

    Day 1 and Day 2 at your Week 1 targets (easy on purpose), then the Test Day video on Friday.

What's inside

Every video starts with a warm-up (march in place, arm circles, side step-touch, heel dig, hip hinge, bodyweight squat) and ends with a cool-down (standing quad stretch, half-kneeling hip flexor stretch, standing forward fold, chest opener, child's pose). Tap any move for its full form guide.

How to progress

Choose dumbbells that leave about 2 good reps in the tank at the week’s target. Hit the Week 3 target in every round with clean form? Next cycle, go one dumbbell size heavier on that move, or use the harder option.

Week 4: Test Day

Test Day: max goblet squats and dumbbell hip thrusts in 60 s (same dumbbell every test), then bodyweight Bulgarian split squats for 45 s on each leg.

Goblet Squat Test

  • Max good reps in 60 seconds
  • Same dumbbell every test
  • Hips to knee height or lower

Hip Thrust Test

  • Max good reps in 60 seconds
  • Same dumbbell every test
  • Full lockout and squeeze each rep

Split Squat Test

  • Max good reps in 45 seconds, bodyweight
  • Back knee close to the floor
  • Same bench, same stance

After Week 4, start the next cycle back at Week 1 on the same videos, using the harder option for any move where you hit every target with clean form.

The videos

4 follow-along videos make up the full program. Durations include the warm-up and cool-down.

  • 01Day 1 · Weeks 1–436:18
  • 02Day 2 · Weeks 1–436:18
  • 03Day 3 · Weeks 1–340:18
  • 04Week 4 Test Day32:10

Watch them on YouTube at @CoreboundFitness.

 Safety

Bench first: push it against a wall on a non-slip floor, check it can’t tip or slide, and step onto the middle of the bench, never the end or edge. Skip step-ups if the bench wobbles or is taller than your knee; use a stair instead. Stop immediately with sharp or joint pain, back pain that radiates, numbness, chest pain or dizziness. Keep a flat back on RDLs and lower the dumbbells, don’t drop them.

If you have an injury or medical condition, are pregnant, or have been inactive for a long time, check with your doctor before starting. This program is general education, not medical advice. See the disclaimer.

YouTube · @CoreboundFitness

Train with Corebound on YouTube

Every Corebound program is a set of follow-along videos: press play, follow Coach Cole and the timer, and you're done. Subscribe at @CoreboundFitness so the next session is always one tap away.