The 4 day split program is as excellent way to build muscle. Here is how to implement it into your training.
How to Build Muscle: The 4 Day Split Program
Strength and muscle building can help and support the other. You can hardly build strength without muscle, just as you can’t build muscle without strength. But still there are differences. 6 Best Bodyweight Shoulder Exercises 11 Best Home Six Pack Abs Exercises with no Equipment (For Everyone) Look Great and Move Well – 5 Best Home Glute Exercises with a Resistance Band How to Lose Belly fat without Effort Push Up Variations to Build Muscle at Home 5 steps to bigger arms in 30 days How to get a six pack at home in 22 days Number 1 Exercise for Losing Weight Six Pack at Home in 22 Days Best Exercises for Attractive Lower Chest When we talk about hypertrophy, it is important to remember that everybody is different. Two people can be on the exact same program and experience different results. However the underlying principles of hypertrophy, like strength training, are universal. Easy step checklist to burn fat Some athletes get jacked using bodyweight movements, or just by looking at the weights, whilst others have to work twice as hard to put on the same amount of muscle. This is an important reminder.
What is Hypertrophy?
Hypertrophy is simply the increase in size of an organ or tissue through the enlargement of the cells that comprise it. How strong should I be? A hypertrophy program is designed not to increase strength or improve athletic performance (although there is an overlap, of course), but to primarily cause muscular growth by increasing the size of your muscle fibres.Remember, the 4 Day Split Program is not designed to improve strength or power. This program is strictly for the purpose of gaining serious muscle size.
Use this plan for 6 – 8 Weeks, than change in order to stop the muscles getting too used to a certain workload.
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How to Build Muscle: 4 Day Split Program
- Day 1 – Back and Biceps
- Day 2 – Chest and Triceps
- Day 3 – OFF
- Day 4 – Quads, Hamstrings and Calves
- Day 5 – Shoulders, Traps and Forearms
- Day 6 – OFF
- Day 7 – OFF
| Day 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Back and Biceps | ||
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
| Deadlift | 2 | 5 |
| One Arm Dumbbell Row | 3 | 8-12 |
| Wide Grip Pull Up or Lat Pull Down | 3 | 10-12 |
| Barbell Row | 3 | 8-12 |
| Seated Cable Row or Machine Row | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| EZ Bar Preacher Curl | 3 | 10-12 |
| Concentration Curl | 3 | 10-12 |
| Seated Dumbbell Curl | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| Day 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chest and Triceps | ||
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
| Bench Press | 3 | 6-10 |
| Incline Dumbbell Bench Press | 3 | 8-12 |
| Chest Dip | 3 | AMAP* |
| Cable Crossover or Pec Dec | 3 | 12-15 |
| Machine Press or Dumbbell Bench Press | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| EZ Bar Skullcrusher | 3 | 8-12 |
| Two Arm Seated Dumbbell Extension | 3 | 8-12 |
| Cable Tricep Extension | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| Day 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quads, Hamstrings and Calves | ||
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
| Squat | 3 | 6-10 |
| Leg Press | 3 | 15-20 |
| Hack Squat or Dumbbell Lunge | 3 | 8-12 |
| Leg Extension | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| Stiff Leg Deadlift | 3 | 8-12 |
| Leg Curl | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| Standing Calf Raise | 3 | 10-15 |
| Seated Calf Raise | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| Day 5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shoulders, Traps and Forearms | ||
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
| Seated Barbell Press | 3 | 6-10 |
| Seated Arnold Press | 3 | 8-12 |
| Dumbbell Lateral Raise | 3 | 10-15 |
| Hammer Strength Press or Smith Press | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| Upright Row | 3 | 8-12 |
| Barbell Shrug or Dumbbell Shrug | 5 Minutes | Burn |
| Seated Barbell Wrist Curl | 3 | 12-15 |
| Barbell Static Hold | 5 Minutes | Burn |
How to Build Muscle: 4 Day Split Program
If you enjoyed learning about the 4 Day Split Program, check out these articles on German Volume Training and the Upper/Lower Body Split.
Why is Recovery Important?
An important goal of every training session is to break down muscle. Without recovery, a significant portion of that work might be a waste of time. So, what exactly happens during recovery? That’ll depend on the person and activity, but generally, four different things are happening while you’re resting. Synthesis of protein: This is what leads to muscle growth. During recovery is when most muscle is built, because muscle protein synthesis increases by 50% four hours after a workout (like resistance training).1 Rebuilding of muscle fibres: Microtears in muscle fibers are a normal part of exercise, happening when we put strain on our muscles. Recovery allows these fibers to heal and become stronger during that process. Fluid Restoration: We sweat (and lose a lot of fluid through exhaled air).2 Hydrating before, during and after a workout is important, because these fluids help deliver nutrients to organs and muscle through the bloodstream. Removal of metabolic waste products: Acids (via that pesky little proton associated with lactate) accumulate during a workout, and recovery gives the body time to restore intramuscular pH and re-establish intramuscular blood flow for oxygen delivery (among other things). Try the 4 Day Split Program! Check out these different workouts. Abs Workouts Kettlebell Workouts Bodyweight Workouts Home Workouts Top Muscle Building Training ProgramsImage Sources
- Mat-Fraser-DB: Photo courtesy of CrossFit Inc
- How-to-build-muscle: Photo courtesy of CrossFit Inc
