February 23, 2012

Classic Push-Pull Split Routine for Intermediate Bodybuilders (3-4 Days per Week)

Here’s a classic, effective split routine for intermediate bodybuilders that I’ve always been very fond of, and that I can whole heartedly recommend to anyone who’s ready for it. And anyone who has done the initial 3 day whole body routine based on Bradley J. Steiner’s stuff for a few months should be well primed for at least the three day version of this particular routine. With this being a two way split, you will have done each “day” three times over a two week period if you train three days per week, and four times if you train four days per week. It looks like this:

Day A

Bench Presses 3×8

Dumbbell Flyes 3×10-12

Standing Presses 3×8

Lateral Raises 3×10-12

Triceps Extensions 4×10-12

Rope Chrunches 4×15-20


Day B

Chins 3×8

One Arm Dumbbel Rows 3×10-12

Standing Barbell Curls 4x-10-12

Squats 3×8

Leg Presses 3×10-12

Leg Curls 3×10-12

Standing Calf Raises 3×15-20

 

On a three day per week routine, you’ll do Day A on Monday, Day B on Wednesday, Day A on Friday the first week, and the next week you’ll do Day B on Monday, Day A on Wednesday, and Day B on Friday. And then just keep doing that. In simple terms: Train three times per week, alternate the workouts.

On a four day per week routine, you’ll do Day A on Mondays and Thursdays, and Day B on Tuesdays and Fridays. It’s as simple as that!

This is a classic bodybuilding routine, not a strength training method, so keep rest periods between sets fairly short (60-90 seconds on smaller muscle groups, and a little longer on the bigger muscle groups). Each rep should be performed in a controlled manner, but not too slow. Do aim to increase poundages used week by week!

 

 

Basic Whole Body Bodybuilding Routine for Beginners

Here is the basic whole body bodybuilding routine we use with virtually all beginners, that is, everyone who does not have any special needs or limitations that get in the way. This program is based on an old tried and tested routine formulated by Bradley J. Steiner, with the only adaption really being the number of repetitions performed. In Steiner’s routines we saw a slightly more varied rep scheme, but as we’ve since learned that there is no known benefit for beginners to perform less than 12 repetitions per set, we tell them to aim for around 12 repetitions and that’s it. After three months we start altering things, but not before.

Here’s what the routine looks like:

Barbell Bench Presses                   3 x 12

Standing Barbell Presses              3 x 12

One Arm Dumbbell Rows             3 x 12

Barbell Curls                                     3 x 12

Squats                                                 3 x 12

Chrunches                                         3 x as many as possible

Keep rest times between sets to about 60-90 seconds, perhaps slightly longer on the squats if needed. Perform all repetitions in a relatively slow, controlled manner. The weight should move faster when lifted than when lowered.

Perform the routine three times per week on alternate days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays).