Those grunters in the weight room can be intimidating, but you can navigate the barbells just as confidently with this riff on a muscle-sculpting classic, the 5×5 workout. Well known in the bodybuilding community for targeting different muscles and challenging your body for big gains in strength, the idea behind the 5×5 workout is simple: five sets of exercises, each done at five repetitions per set. As the weeks progress, you increase the weight you lift and rearrange or replace exercises in order to shock your body into gaining muscle mass.

Even if you aren’t looking to perfect your biceps and max out on the bench, a modified version of this simple workout should be part of any routine. Weights are your best friend when it comes to boosting metabolism and sculpting your body, so grab a pair of 12- or 15-pound dumbbells and give this beginner-friendly 5×5 workout a whirl. The trick is to pick a weight that will challenge you, so if this workout seems too easy, try upping your weights. Be sure to rest for 90 seconds between sets.

Source: A Total-Body Strength-Building 5×5 Workout : PopSugar