From cannonball delts to cut abs, an impressive physique is the proverbial pie in the sky for every gym rat who hits the iron to look good. However, knowing where you want to go is much easier than figuring out how to get there.
If you’ve ever opened a muscle magazine to find a workout routine that leaves you scratching your head, or tried to copy the pre-show program of your favorite competitive bodybuilder, you probably know what it’s like to be frustrated by twists and turns that might only be clear to tenured physique athletes.
Below, we lay out the facts for you so you can create and implement a workout plan that puts you on the path to the physique you’ve always wanted.
Bodybuilding Programming Explained
While you don’t personally need to have a physique or bikini show marked on your calendar, learning how physique pros structure their approach to muscle development is critical if you’re interested in building your own training program. You don’t need to have earned your pro card to forge yourself a pro-quality physique.
Bodybuilders tend to sort their training year into two distinct categories. The off-season, commonly considered a “bulking” phase, where athletes try to pack on as much new lean tissue as possible, and prep cycles, where they “cut” down to remove excess body fat.
Each phase has notably different approaches to nutrition, as well as some significant alterations to training. Recreational lifters with physique-related goals often follow a similar cadence.
Off-Season
If you’re an Arnold aspirant, growing your chest — and the rest of your physique — takes precedence in the off-season. Bodybuilders trying to put on size will typically increase their training volumes, stack up more plates for higher intensities, and implement special techniques such as supersets, cluster sets, or tempo training to force adaptations and spur new growth. This is all facilitated by an increase in caloric intake.
Show Prep
To uncover their newfound gains and show off months of hard work and heaping portions, bodybuilders enter their show prep with the goal of reducing calories to lose fat while adjusting training so they hold onto the muscle they’ve built. In the gym, this means reducing overall volume, keeping intensity reasonably high, and usually tacking on some extra cardio.
[Related: How Actor Ethan Suplee Dieted Like a Bodybuilder to Get Abs]
How to Train for Bodybuilding
Developing the right training approach for bodybuilding actually has a lot in common with the necessary evil of strict calorie control. Once you identify your goal — either to cut down, bulk up, or even maintain — it’s all about working through a hierarchy of needs and checking the boxes that make up a smart training plan.
Choose a Workout Split
Bodybuilders have a wide array of exercise options and variations to draw from. While this may seem daunting, it’s actually a benefit — a variety of training styles means you can select the workout philosophy that suits you personally, barring a little trial-and-error.
Upper-Lower training involves grouping your workouts according to which half of the body you’re working on a given day. Performing all of your upper body training in one session is convenient, straightforward, and simple, and the same goes for the legs. This style of training integrates well with certain intensity techniques such as supersets, but can also be pretty grueling, as there are typically a high number of compound exercises.
Bodypart splits have you divide your weekly training over several days, coupling synergistic muscle groups together and isolating contrasting ones from each other. Think pairing up your chest and shoulder training on one day, while leaving biceps and triceps work for the day after. Bodypart splits are great for giving ample attention to the muscles that need it (especially for veteran gymgoers), but are often full of isolation work and can take a long time to complete.
Push/Pull splits follow the same idea as bodypart splits, but pair up muscles in accordance with their mechanical function. A “push” day may involve chest and shoulder pressing, or maybe even some quad work. While your “pull” sessions would involve most of your posterior chain. Push/pull training is popular among those who believe in powerbuilding, as the routines typically involve many compound exercises with heavier weights and fewer reps. These routines help facilitate strength development alongside gains in lean body mass.
Choose Your Exercises
One aspect of bodybuilding training that sets it apart from its strength-centric cousins is the flexibility in exercise selection. Powerlifters, Olympic lifters, and strongmen focus on training movements — physique athletes train muscles.
This means that the tools used to target the biceps, back, glutes, etc. are highly individualized. To get the most out of your training, you need to experiment with different exercises and find ones that “click” for your body.
Below, you’ll find a buffet of options organized by major muscle group. There are many more applicable and interesting exercises out there, but these should give you something of a jumping-off point when it comes to designing your hypertrophy program.
Chest Exercises for Bodybuilding
- Dumbbell Bench Press
- Barbell Bench Press
- Incline/Decline Bench Press
- Cable/Machine Flye
- Weighted/Machine Dip
Related: Best Chest Exercises
Back Exercises for Bodybuilding
- Dumbbell/Barbell Row
- Cable/Machine Row
- Cable/Machine Pulldown
- Dumbbell Pullover
- Barbell/Cable Shrug
- Barbell/Cable High Pull
- Cable Straight-Arm Pulldown
- Back Extension/Good Morning
Shoulder Exercises for Bodybuilding
- Barbell/Dumbbell Strict Press
- Dumbbell Arnold Press
- Dumbbell/Cable Front Raise
- Dumbbell/Cable Lateral Raise
- Dumbbell Hex Press
- Dumbbell/Cable Rear Flye
- Cable Face Pull
Leg Exercises for Bodybuilding
- Barbell Back Squat
- Barbell Front Squat
- Leg Press
- Hack Squat
- Romanian Deadlift
- Bulgarian Split Squat
- Hip Thrust
- Machine Leg Extension/Leg Curl
- Barbell/Machine Calf Raise
- Nordic Curl
- Cyclist Squat
Arm Exercises for Bodybuilding
- Barbell/Dumbbell Curl
- Preacher Curl
- Hammer Curl
- Cable Curl
- Skull Crusher
- Cable Pressdown
- Cable Kickback
- Bodyweight or Weighted Dip
- Wrist Curl
- Plate Pinch
Ab Exercises for Bodybuilding
- Cable/Weighted Crunch
- Hanging Leg Raise
- Jackknife
- Ab Wheel Rollout
- Weighted Plank
- Dumbbell Side Bend
- Decline Sit-Up
Choose Sets and Reps
Training volume is one of the main drivers of progress in the gym when it comes to putting on size. Although more isn’t always more, research backs the conclusion that increasing volume over time is a key element of hypertrophy adaptations. (1)
As such, hitting the right dosage of sets and reps is paramount for progress. Generally, a moderate number of sets (two to four) coupled with moderately challenging rep schemes (eight to 12, occasionally more) can produce significant hypertrophy gains as long as you’re working hard. (2)
Manage Rest Times
How long you should rest between sets varies tremendously based on your preferred style of training. Powerlifters pushing maximum intensities will sometimes take many minutes between sets, while endurance athletes limit rest as much as possible to improve work capacity. When training for physique development, bodybuilders tend to ride in the middle.
Since tissue fatigue is the ultimate goal, resting too long (more than a minute or two) can be counterproductive. However, intentionally cutting rest times and stressing your body too hard doesn’t mean you’re making more gains — in fact, forcing yourself to train to failure because you didn’t break long enough likely won’t help you add more muscle overall. (3)
The best practice for rest times in bodybuilding is generally to break for anywhere between 45 seconds to two minutes between sets, with heavier compound movements requiring more recovery time than isolation work. Be mindful of your own readiness, though — if you feel good to go before your alarm goes off, don’t wait around for no reason.
Manage Frequency
Once you’ve picked out your favorite toys, it can be tempting to jump the gun and log too many hours in the gym performing your favorite curl or crunch. Training frequency is a hotly debated topic in bodybuilding circles, with authoritative voices on both ends of the spectrum.
However, modern literature seems to indicate that a frequency of two to three sessions per week, per muscle (or muscle group), is clearly optimal for strength gains. (4) The science is more contentious when it comes to hypertrophy, but most citations back the idea that two sessions per week can produce comparable hypertrophy to one or three workouts, provided volume is equated. (5)
The essence of this evidence is more straightforward than it sounds — as long as you’re training with enough volume, how you divide that volume up on a weekly basis isn’t going to make or break your gains. Most athletes would probably have more success getting their weekly leg training in over two separate days instead of one monstrous workout.
Sample Bodybuilding Programs
It’s easy to get caught up in the details of training science and become intimidated by the jargon. While paralysis by analysis is definitely a real thing, rest assured that the practical takeaways when it comes to training for size are fairly straightforward. To help light your way, let’s look at two example bodybuilding-oriented programs — one based around Bodypart splits and one designed as an Upper/Lower routine.
Bear in mind that these routines are samples. As long as you adhere to the broad principles of program design for hypertrophy, there’s flexibility in exercise selection, order, specific rep targets, and other variables. Training for gains should be fresh and fun, not restrictive and tedious.
Sample Bodypart Split for Bodybuilding
This program aims to hit most major muscle groups twice per week with the intent of stimulating growth and adding inches to your arms, legs, and torso, while keeping your waist trim. Since exercise selection is so preferential, feel free to change or remove some of the offerings presented.
Note: The notation is listed as (sets) x (reps).
Day 1: Chest & Triceps
- Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 x 8
- Dumbbell Incline Bench Press: 3 x 8
- Weighted Decline Push-Up: 2 x 12-15
- Skull Crusher: 2 x 8
- Cable Triceps Kickback: 2 x 10-12
Day 2: Legs, Shoulders, & Abs
- Barbell Front Squat: 3 x 6
- Romanian Deadlift: 3 x 8
- Bulgarian Split Squat: 2 x 10
- Machine Leg Extension superset with Leg Curl: 2 x 12-15 (each)
- Dumbbell Arnold Press: 3 x 6-8
- Cable Lateral Raise: 3 x 10-12
- Face Pull: 2 x 12-15
- Weighted Plank: 3 x 30 seconds
- Dumbbell Side Bend: 2 x 8 – 12
Day 3: Back & Biceps
- Barbell Row: 4 x 8
- Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown: 3 x 8
- Dumbbell Pullover: 2 x 12-15
- Chin-Up: 2 x 12-15
- Hammer Curl: 3 x 6-8
- Incline Dumbbell Curl: 2 x 8-10
Day 4: Chest, Legs, & Abs
- Barbell Close-Grip Bench Press: 3 x 6-8
- Weighted Dip: 2 x 10-12
- Dumbbell Flye: 2 x 12-15
- Hack Squat: 3 x 6
- Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift: 3 x 10
- Back Extension: 2 x 12-15
- Machine Leg Extension: 2 x 12-15
- Machine Calf Raise: 2 x 12-15
- Hanging Leg Raise: 3 x 10
Day 5: Back & Arms
- Dumbbell Row: 4 x 8
- Barbell High Pull: 4 x 8-10
- Straight-Arm Pulldown: 2 x 12-15
- Preacher Curl: 3 x 8
- Cable Pressdown: 3 x 8
- Cable Overhead Extension: 2 x 10-12
This routine targets most of the body over the course of five days, ranging from moderate to high volume. Beginners should adjust total sets performed as needed to avoid overtraining or remove some exercises altogether.
Sample Upper/Lower Split for Bodybuilding
In contrast to the classically high volumes of bodypart splits, Upper/Lower routines lean into high-intensity techniques and an abundance of compound movements to induce comparable muscle fatigue while also being decent at developing strength on their own.
Day 1: Upper
- Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 x 6
- Barbell Overhead Press: 2 x 8
- Dumbbell Arnold Press: 2 x 10-12
- Cable Pressdown: 2 x 8 + double-drop set finisher
- Close-Grip Cable Pulldown: 4 x 6-8
- Wide-Grip Barbell Shrug: 3 x 8-10
- Reverse Curl: 2 x 8 + double-drop set finisher
Day 2: Lower
- Barbell Back Squat: 3 x 5
- Hack Squat: 3 x 8
- Snatch-Grip Deadlift: 3 x 10
- Good Morning: 3 x 10
- Cyclist Squat superset with Nordic Curl: two sets of each to failure
- Barbell Calf Raise: 3 x 12-15
Day 3: Upper
- Dumbbell Row: 3 x 6
- Landmine Row: 3 x 8-10
- Wide-Grip Pull-Up: two sets to failure
- Dumbbell Rear Flye: 2 x 15-20
- Incline Barbell Bench Press: 3 x 6-8
- Weighted Dip: 3 x 8
- Cable Flye: 3 x 12 + double-drop set finisher
Day 4: Lower
- Barbell Front Squat: 3 x 5
- Bulgarian Split Squat: 3 x 8
- Romanian Deadlift: 2 x 10
- Hip Thrust: 2 x 10
- Machine Leg Curl superset with Machine Leg Extension: 3 x 12-15
- Machine Calf Raise: 3 x 12 + double-drop set finisher
Day 5 (Optional): Arms, Shoulders, Abs
- Dumbbell Curl superset with Dumbbell Overhead Extension: 3 x 8
- Dumbbell Hammer Curl superset with Cambered Bar Skullcrusher: 3 x 10-12
- Face Pull superset Dumbbell Lateral Raise: 3 x 12-15
- Ab Wheel Rollout: 3 x 6
- Decline Sit-Up: 2 x 10-12
- Side Plank: two sets to failure
One of the main drawbacks of compound-heavy training is a lack of specialized attention to the smaller muscles of the arms and shoulders — this can be accounted for by including a fifth day that focuses on punishing your biceps, triceps, delts, and abs to ensure your physique is growing proportionally.
Strength Training for Bodybuilders
Pursuing mountainous bicep peaks doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have to train hard and heavy. In fact, overly heavy lifting may be to the detriment of your physique development. While getting “strong” isn’t a strict prerequisite for developing impressive muscularity, strength and size are close cousins.
You need only look at some of the major players in the strength sports to realize how much overlap there is. Athletes like Lu Xiaojun, Yuri Belkin, and Magnus Ver Magnusson all boast world-class results in their respective sports while also maintaining impressive physiques.
[Related: Watch Bodybuilder Chris Bumstead Smoke a 675-Pound Deadlift Triple]
While strength gains shouldn’t be your primary focus, adding poundage to your potential can help you with your hypertrophy goals. A weak, undertrained posterior chain could affect your technique — and thus results — in an exercise like the front squat, which is a fantastic all-around quad builder. If you have little to no elbow extension strength, you may not be able to get the most juice out of your dumbbell or barbell presses on chest day.
Powerlifters don’t neglect their pump work — bodybuilders shouldn’t turn a blind eye to their strength potential. Incorporating some heavier sets can benefit both your performance in the gym and overall physique development.
How to Train On a Cut
If you’re passionate about showing off every striation you’ve carved into your muscles during the off-season, shedding excess body fat is a main priority. While maintaining muscle is much easier than growing it, doing so during a strict caloric deficit requires some tactful modulations to your training plan. (6)
Keep Intensity High
A restriction of caloric intake doesn’t necessitate an immediate or significant drop in training intensity. Many athletes make the error of assuming that because they aren’t eating as much, they shouldn’t load up the bar during their workouts.
The reality is that higher intensity resistance training is actually better at preserving muscle mass during long periods of nutritional restriction. (7) Caloric inhibition doesn’t interfere with your ability to perform as much as it does your ability to recover — aiming to maintain (or even increase) your strength levels during a diet can help you hold onto the gains you’ve made.
Try to maintain your strength in the six to 12 rep range for as long as possible while dieting to help preserve muscle mass.
Adjust Volume as Needed
While you may be able to keep your personal bests for the majority of your diet phase, diligent attention to the amount of work you’re performing in the gym is required to successfully navigate a cut.
A reduction in nutrient intake will primarily affect your ability to perform the same volume of work you may have grown accustomed to during the off-season. As such, if you begin to notice drops in strength, more aches and pains, or dampened motivation, cutting down on your sets, reps, or exercises performed should be a priority.
As you progress through your diet phase, periodically reduce training volume on an as-needed basis.
Add Some Cardio
Any seasoned physique competitor will probably tell you that endless hours on the elliptical is a frightful, but necessary, part of prepping for a show. While not a physiological mandate, including some cardiovascular exercise as a part of your training plan during a diet can help you lean out a little faster, even if you don’t have stage aspirations. (8)
Dosage is particularly relevant when it comes to implementing cardio during a cutting phase, however. While your caloric deficit should primarily come from — obviously — restricting calories, increased activity through bouts of low-intensity cardio (think treadmill walking, a stationary bike, or swimming) can be useful.
Implement a few weekly sessions of low-intensity cardio if you feel your rate of fat loss slowing or stalling as a means of kicking up caloric expenditure.
Tying It All Together
Achieving the look of your dreams is equal parts dietary diligence and training tenacity. Abs aren’t made in the kitchen, they’re revealed there. A bodybuilder’s regimen is akin to a painter’s paintbrush — without it, there’s no art.
The landscape of a good bodybuilding routine requires various elements in the proper proportion and orientation. Train hard in the right rep ranges. Select exercises that work well for your body specifically. Rest long enough to recover, but not too much longer than that.
An impressive physique takes chiseled arms, stacked legs, and a broad back. The training plan to get you there, much like the physique you’re trying to create, can be a lot more than the sum of its parts.
References
1. Schoenfeld, B. J., Ogborn, D., & Krieger, J. W. (2017). Dose-response relationship between weekly resistance training volume and increases in muscle mass: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of sports sciences, 35(11), 1073–1082.
2. Carroll, K. M., Bazyler, C. D., Bernards, J. R., Taber, C. B., Stuart, C. A., DeWeese, B. H., Sato, K., & Stone, M. H. (2019). Skeletal Muscle Fiber Adaptations Following Resistance Training Using Repetition Maximums or Relative Intensity. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 7(7), 169.
3. Martorelli, S., Cadore, E. L., Izquierdo, M., Celes, R., Martorelli, A., Cleto, V. A., Alvarenga, J. G., & Bottaro, M. (2017). Strength Training with Repetitions to Failure does not Provide Additional Strength and Muscle Hypertrophy Gains in Young Women. European journal of translational myology, 27(2), 6339.
4. Ochi E., Maruo M., Tsuchiya Y., Ishii N., Miura K., Sasaki K. (2018) Higher Training Frequency is Important for Gaining Muscular Strength Under Volume-Matched Training. Frontiers in Physiology.
5. Kessinger, T. K., Melton, B., Miyashita, T., & Ryan, G. (2020). The Effectiveness of Frequency-Based Resistance Training Protocols on Muscular Performance and Hypertrophy in Trained Males: A Critically Appraised Topic, Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 29(7), 1024-1031.
6. Psilander, N., Eftestøl, E., Cumming, K. T., Juvkam, I., Ekblom, M. M., Sunding, K., Wernbom, M., Holmberg, H. C., Ekblom, B., Bruusgaard, J. C., Raastad, T., & Gundersen, K. (2019). Effects of training, detraining, and retraining on strength, hypertrophy, and myonuclear number in human skeletal muscle. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 126(6), 1636–1645.
7. Hector, A. J., McGlory, C., Damas, F., Mazara, N., Baker, S. K., & Phillips, S. M. (2018). Pronounced energy restriction with elevated protein intake results in no change in proteolysis and reductions in skeletal muscle protein synthesis that are mitigated by resistance exercise. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 32(1), 265–275.
8. Helms, E. R., Fitschen, P. J., Aragon, A. A., Cronin, J., & Schoenfeld, B. J. (2015). Recommendations for natural bodybuilding contest preparation: resistance and cardiovascular training. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 55(3), 164–178.
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