4-day strength workout plan Upper / Lower Strength

Two heavy and two lighter days a week in the 3 to 6 rep range with full recovery. The light days are what let the heavy days keep climbing.

Level
Intermediate
Days a week
4
Per session
41–51 min
Goal
Strength
Equipment
Barbell, Cable Machine, Machine, Kettlebell, Dumbbell
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Workout schedule

4 days a week · 16 exercises · select a name for its video and how-to

Day 1 · ~50 min Heavy Lower

4 exercises · 14 sets · ~50 min

  1. Barbell Squat Quads · Barbell 5 sets of 5 reps · 3:30 rest 3:30 rest
  2. Barbell Stiff Leg Deadlifts Glutes · Barbell 3 sets of 6 reps · 2:30 rest 2:30 rest
  3. Barbell Split Squat Glutes · Barbell 3 sets of 8 reps · 2:00 rest 2:00 rest
  4. Hanging Knee Raises Abs · Bodyweight 3 sets of 12 reps · 1:15 rest 1:15 rest

Day 2 · ~51 min Heavy Upper

4 exercises · 15 sets · ~51 min

  1. Barbell Bench Press Chest · Barbell 5 sets of 5 reps · 3:30 rest 3:30 rest
  2. Barbell Bent Over Row Lats · Barbell 4 sets of 6 reps · 2:30 rest 2:30 rest
  3. Barbell Overhead Press Front Delts · Barbell 3 sets of 6 reps · 2:30 rest 2:30 rest
  4. Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown Lats · Cable Machine 3 sets of 10 reps · 1:30 rest 1:30 rest

Day 3 · ~43 min Light Lower

4 exercises · 13 sets · ~43 min

  1. Barbell Deadlift Abs · Barbell 4 sets of 4 reps · 4:00 rest 4:00 rest
  2. Front Squat Quads · Barbell 3 sets of 6 reps · 2:30 rest 2:30 rest
  3. Lying Leg Curl Hamstrings · Machine 3 sets of 10 reps · 1:30 rest 1:30 rest
  4. Kettlebell Farmers Carry Forearms · Kettlebell 3 sets of 40m · 2:00 rest 2:00 rest

Day 4 · ~41 min Light Upper

4 exercises · 14 sets · ~41 min

  1. Barbell Close Grip Bench Press Triceps · Barbell 4 sets of 6 reps · 2:30 rest 2:30 rest
  2. Landmine T Bar Rows Lats · Barbell 4 sets of 8 reps · 2:00 rest 2:00 rest
  3. Dumbbell Seated Overhead Press Front Delts · Dumbbell 3 sets of 8 reps · 2:00 rest 2:00 rest
  4. Cable Bar Face Pull Rear Delts · Cable Machine 3 sets of 15 reps · 1:00 rest 1:00 rest

About this plan

Who it's for

For people who have trained regularly for a while. You'll need the equipment listed above.

Not the right fit?

What to expect

Each week is 56 working sets across 16 exercises, about 3 h 5 min in total.

Sets run from 4 to 15 reps, with 1:00 to 4:00 of rest between them.

Main muscles: Quads, Glutes, Hamstrings, Abs, Chest, Lats, Front Delts, Traps, Forearms, Triceps, Rear Delts.

How to progress

Strength comes from lifting a little heavier over time.

  1. Hit the target. Complete every set at the listed target, with the last rep still clean. On the Barbell Squat that means all 5 sets of 5.
  2. Add the smallest step. Next session, add the smallest weight step you can. A jump that costs you reps or form sets you back rather than forward. On bodyweight moves like the Hanging Knee Raises, move to a harder variation once the target feels comfortable.
  3. Beat last week. At this level the numbers move week to week rather than every session. Aim to beat last week on each exercise, even by a single rep.

If an exercise stalls: Stuck for two or three weeks running? Take a little weight off and build back up.

When it gets easy: Big Four, the same goal at advanced level, 4 days a week.

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By muscle

Chest exercises Back exercises Shoulder exercises Arm exercises Leg exercises All 17 muscles

By equipment

Bodyweight Dumbbell Barbell Kettlebell Machine

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