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4 Day Workout Plans

4 day workout plans are a great way to build strength, grow muscle, and make solid progress. Utilizing 4 training days per week is a popular choice for upper/lower body split routines like PHUL as well as programs that focus on a major compound lift each day like Wendler's 5/3/1.

Not what you're looking for? Check out Lift Vault's workout split guide to find the best routine for you.

Best 4 Day Workout Plans

  1. Jim Wendler's 5/3/1
  2. PHUL
  3. Beginner Bodybuilder Program (Ripped Body)
  4. Juggernaut Method
  5. GZCLP
  6. TSA 9 Week Intermediate Powerlifting Program
  7. Calgary Barbell 8 & 16 Week Powerlifting Programs
  8. Greg Nuckols 28 Programs
  9. nSuns
  10. Jonnie Candito 6 Week Powerlifting Program

You can check out the latest 4 day workout programs below.

14 Week Block Periodization Powerlifting Program (Empire Barbell)

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This is a powerlifting program designed by Empire Barbell that utilizes block periodization. Training is broken into three distinct blocks: intensification #1, volume, and intensification #2. These blocks can be run in order straight through, or can be repeated with some limitations (explained more below). Running each block once would represent 14 weeks of training in total. [Read more…]

Lyle McDonald Generic Bulking Routine Spreadsheet

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Lyle McDonald’s generic bulking routine (GBR) is a 4 day upper/lower split that focuses on building mass. It is a bulking routine for building mass that is designed to be run while on a caloric surplus with a weight gain goal of about 0.5 to 1 pound per week. It can be run for 6 weeks to 8 weeks before a 2 week deload.

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12 Week Mass Building Hypertrophy Workout for Powerlifters (Mathias Method)

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This mass building workout focuses on stimulating muscular hypertrophy and developing raw strength. It is a 12 week powerlifting program built on 4 high volume training sessions per week and was developed by Ryan Mathias at Mathias Method. It is a peaking program that is designed to build your one rep max in the squat, bench press, and deadlift for meet day. [Read more…]

Shortcut to SIZE Reviews

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Shortcut to Size is a 4 day body part split program by Jim Stoppani (who also created Shortcut to Shred). It is best suited for athletes with aesthetic or hypertrophy goals. It is a 12 week bodybuilding program broken down into three 4 week phases. [Read more…]

10 Week Glute Hypertrophy Workout Program Spreadsheet

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A glute hypertrophy program is a workout routine that focuses on growing the size of the glute muscles. From Flap Jacks 2 Thick Stacks is a glute hypertrophy program designed by Brendan Tietz that is organized as a 4 day upper/lower body part split that uses heavy compound glute movements and targeted accessory movements to strengthen the full body, not just the glutes.

[Read more…]

Lean Muscle Building Workout Plans

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Here are some of the best workout plans for building strong, lean muscle. These routines focus on high volume, which stimulates muscular hypertrophy in the athlete. Coupled with proper nutrition and recovery, these programs will help the athlete develop larger, stronger muscles.

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Lee Hayward 12 Week Bodybuilding Workout Routine Spreadsheet

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Lee Hayward’s 12 week bodybuilding program is broken up into four 3 week cycles, each cycle focusing on adding volume to the same set of lifts before switching to new movement variations and rep ranges for the next 3 week cycle. Each week has four training days, with the recommended set up being Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday. [Read more…]

Arnold Schwarzenegger Home Workout Routine Spreadsheet

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Arnold Schwarzenegger took to Instagram yesterday to share an old home bodyweight workout of his, which he also shared on Reddit. The workout consists of push ups, sit ups, bent over twists, bent leg raises, squats (aka knee bends), calf raises, and chin ups.

Each bodyweight exercise is performed for a different number of reps depending on the individuals strength level: beginner or advanced.

A full break down of each exercise and its different rep ranges is below, along with highlights from Schwarzenegger’s Reddit post.

[Read more…]

Boring But Big: 5/3/1 BBB Spreadsheets

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Boring But Big (BBB) is a variation of Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 template that focuses on high volume accessory work to induce hypertrophy after the main “5/3/1” work is finished. The BBB supplemental work follows a scheme of 5 sets of 10 reps (5×10). It is both brutally simple and effective, making it one of the most popular 5/3/1 variations.

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5/3/1 BBB for Bodybuilding Spreadsheet

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5/3/1 BBB for bodybuilding is an interpretation of Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 BBB strength program that is focused on bodybuilding aesthetics and hypertrophy instead of raw strength.

It is run for 7 weeks per cycle with 4 training days per week. [Read more…]

12 Week RPE Powerlifting Peaking Program by Mignone Strength

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Program Overview

This is a 12 week powerlifting peaking program based on rate of perceived exertion (RPE). It uses 4 training days per week and divides the 12 week program into four different training blocks ending with a taper. It was created by Matt Mignone at Mignone Strength [Read more…]

17 Week Block Periodization Powerlifting Peaking Program by Brad Arbic

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Program Summary

This is a 17 week powerlifting peaking program broken up into 3 different training blocks: hypertrophy, strength, and peaking. It uses 4 training days per week: squat, bench press, deadlift, and another bench press training session. [Read more…]

Dexter Jackson Workout Routine Spreadsheet

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Dexter Jackson’s workout routine is a four day body part split focused on developing maximum muscular hypertrophy. It uses 3 to 4 sets per exercise, often increasing the weight for each set. The routine programs anywhere from 5 to 8 different exercise movements per training session. [Read more…]

Dorian Yates Workout Routine [1987-1992] Spreadsheet

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Dorian Yates workout routine from 1987 to 1992 is an advanced bodybuilder routine that he followed during the middle of his competitive bodybuilding career. [Read more…]

Empire Barbell High Frequency Bench Press Program Spreadsheet

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This is a high frequency, up to 5 training days per week, daily undulating bench press program shared by Empire Barbell. It is a peaking program for the bench press that aims for the athlete to achieve a new one rep max in 5 weeks.

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Block Periodization Powerlifting Program (up to 36 Weeks) by Your Strongest Year

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This is a collection of nine 4 week training blocks published by Your Strongest Year. They amount to 36 weeks of powerlifting programming that include volume blocks, intensity blocks, accumulation blocks, realization blocks, and strength training blocks, though you do not need to necessarily run all of them.

I think this is one of the coolest powerlifting programs offered on Lift Vault and I’m really excited to highlight it for you all. [Read more…]

Vince Gironda 8×8 + 6×6 Workout Routine Spreadsheets

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Vince Gironda’s 8×8 workout routine is an advanced bodybuilding routines designed to shock your muscles into growth. It is a high volume, old school bodybuilding program that has become the stuff of legend. The related 6×6 workout routine is an intermediate version of the same program.

I will be sharing spreadsheets for a few different variations of Vince Gironda’s workout routines, along with links where you can do some additional reading.

[Read more…]

Michael B. Jordan “Creed” Workout Program Spreadsheet

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This is a workout program attributed to Michael B. Jordan, supposedly used in preparation for his role in Creed. It utilizes 4 training days per week and can be run indefinitely. [Read more…]

Beginner Bodybuilding Program Spreadsheet by Ripped Body (4 Day)

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Designed by the smart folks at Ripped Body, this beginner bodybuilding workout routine is a great introduction to hypertrophy training for novices. The spreadsheet for this bodybuilding program for novices is based on this post shared by Ripped Body.

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The 5 Best Upper/Lower Split Programs

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Are you just looking for great upper/lower split workout programs to run?

If so, check out these links for spreadsheets and additional info.

  1. nSuns 4 Day LP
  2. SPF Powerbuilding
  3. Brogains Powerbuilding
  4. 5/3/1 365
  5. PHUL

What’s the best workout split for building muscle and gaining strength?

This question is a commonly asked question by many lifters. While several splits are effective, such as the bro split, push/pull split, full body workout split, and push/pull/legs, the upper/lower split is arguably the most popular.

An upper/lower workout split can be used whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced trainee. If you have at least 3-4 days per week to train, you can effectively hit each major muscle group twice per week, which is often considered to be the optimal training frequency for muscle growth.

The increased training frequency also improves your skill and technique in the big three (squat, bench press, and deadlift). An upper/lower split can also be utilized if you prefer training 5 or even 6 days per week.

Better yet, an upper/lower split benefits anyone wanting to lose fat, build muscle, and gain strength without living in the gym. Since this split is so popular, numerous upper/lower split workout programs are available!

Below you will find the five best upper/lower split workout programs and a link to their respective spreadsheets so you can download a copy for free!

[Read more…]