Feeling overwhelmed by some of the crazy home gym set-ups you keep seeing on social media? Don’t be. While fully kitted-out home gyms can offer a great space to exercise, they are not necessary when it comes to getting in a killer workout at home.
In fact, the following weight plate full-body workout only requires a simple plate, and it offers some seriously impressive benefits for your whole body.
By performing a variety of isolation moves and doing relatively high reps, you’ll challenge your muscles to adapt and grow.
Meet the expert
Workout content is the cornerstone of our editorial output and every workout, training plan, or exercise article you read on mensfitness.co.uk has been created by experts in their field – from PTs to world-renowned physique coaches. This weight plate workout was created by PT and online weight loss coach Luke Grainger.
Exercises in this weight plate full-body workout
- Halo
- Overhead squat
- Chop
- Cossack squat
- Truck driver
- Single-arm farmer’s walk
- Plate bridge pullover
- Pick-up to overhead press
- Coffin sit-up
- Russian twist
How to do this weight plate full-body workout
1. Halo
Muscles worked: traps, lats, pecs, biceps, forearms
| Reps | 10 |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60 secs |
- Holding the weight plate at chest height, circle it around your head one way and then the other
- You need to really want to stop by the time you hit 10 reps, so go as heavy as you can with the plate – but be careful not to crack your head against it on each rotation
2. Overhead squat
Muscles worked: triceps, traps, lats, quads, hamstrings, glutes, core
| Reps | 10-12 |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60-90 secs |
- Press the plate over your head and keep it there for the duration of the set. Now sit yourself back and down into a deep squat, driving up through the heels on each rep
- Trouble keeping your heels down? Slide a slim weight plate under each heel
3. Chop
Muscles worked: obliques, quadratus lumborum (QL), pecs, lats, delts, forearms
| Reps | 10 each way |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60 secs |
- Holding the plate with your arms long and your elbows slightly soft, begin to ‘chop’ the weight diagonally up and down
- Do 10 reps and then switch to the other side
- Allow your feet and hips to go with the movement. Keep the centre of the plate in line with the centre of your chest and you won’t go far wrong
4. Cossack squat
Muscles worked: adductors, abductors, glutes, hamstrings, quads, biceps, core
| Reps | 6-10 each side |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60-90 secs |
- In a wide stance, hold a plate in front of your chest
- Begin to sink yourself down to one side in a deep squat, while pressing the plate forward as a counterbalance
- Whichever leg is straightening out, allow that foot to turn so that your toes are pointing towards the ceiling and your heel is still in contact with the floor
- Pause, then drive through your heel and reverse the movement, back to the start position
5. Truck driver
Muscles worked: delts, pecs, lats, traps, rhomboids, core
| Reps | 10 each side |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60-90 secs |
- Stand tall with long arms and begin to turn the weight plate in front of you
- You have to turn it both ways to score a single rep
- Keep your knees soft and control that grimace
6. Single-arm farmer’s walk
Muscles worked: obliques, QL, forearms, lats, abs
| Reps | 60-90 secs for each arm |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60 secs |
- Grab a heavy plate in one hand and hold it to your side
- Keep your shoulders and hips level, then begin to walk purposefully around the gym. Grip killing you? Good
- Want to stop? Excellent. Just keep going for at least 60 seconds, then switch arms
7. Plate bridge pullover
Muscles worked: lats, traps, core, triceps, delts, glutes, hamstrings
| Reps | 10-12 |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60-90 secs |
- Lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your hips pressed up to the ceiling
- Holding a plate over your chest, keep your arms long and begin to lower the plate over your head towards the floor
- Pause just above the floor, then bring the plate back to the start position
8. Pick-up to overhead press
Muscles worked: glutes, quads, hamstrings, biceps, forearms, delts, triceps, traps, lats, rhomboids
| Reps | 12-25 |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60-90 secs |
- Squat down with a weight plate until it almost touches the floor
- Curl the plate up as you come to standing and press it up above your head
- Return to the start position and go again
9. Coffin sit-up
Muscles worked: abs, obliques, Ql, triceps, lats, traps, delts, rhomboids
| Reps | 6-12 |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60-90 secs |
- Lie flat on the ground with a plate above your chest
- In one motion sit yourself up and try to press the plate up to the ceiling
- Return (with control) to the start position and go again
10. Russian twist
Muscles worked: obliques, abs, QL, lats, forearms, biceps
| Reps | 20 each side |
| Sets | 3-4 |
| Rest | 60 secs |
- Sit on the ground with your legs bent, your arms long and a weight plate in your hands
- Lift your feet off the floor
- Bracing your core, twist the weight to one side, then the other. That’s one rep
Photography: Eddie Macdonald | Model: Paul Knops (W Model Management)
If you’re looking for an inexpensive weight plate I’d recommend this 20kg Phoenix Fitness Weight Plate:
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