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Bodyweight Push-Pull-Legs Routine

The document outlines a workout routine divided into three main days: Push Day for chest, shoulders, and triceps; Pull Day for back, biceps, and rear delts; and Leg Day for quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. Each day includes warm-up exercises, a structured workout with specific exercises and sets, and optional core finishers. It also provides tips for structuring the workout split and tracking progress.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
186 views2 pages

Bodyweight Push-Pull-Legs Routine

The document outlines a workout routine divided into three main days: Push Day for chest, shoulders, and triceps; Pull Day for back, biceps, and rear delts; and Leg Day for quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. Each day includes warm-up exercises, a structured workout with specific exercises and sets, and optional core finishers. It also provides tips for structuring the workout split and tracking progress.

Uploaded by

alenjos47
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PUSH DAY (Chest, Shoulders, Triceps)

Warm-Up (5-10 min): Arm circles, shoulder rolls, scapular push-ups

Workout:

Push-Ups - 4x10-20 (add variations: archer, diamond, explosive)

Pike Push-Ups - 4x6-12 (targets shoulders)

Dips (on parallel bars or chairs) - 3x8-15

(If not available: do pseudo planche push-ups)

Incline Push-Ups - 3x12-20 (focus on upper chest)

Triceps Dips on Bench/Chair - 3x10-15

Optional Core Finisher:

Plank to Push-up - 3x30 sec

Side Plank - 2x30 sec each side

PULL DAY (Back, Biceps, Rear Delts)

Warm-Up: Arm swings, shoulder shrugs, scapular retractions

Workout:

Pull-Ups or Australian Rows - 4x5-15

(Use a bar, rings, or TRX; doorframe works too)

Chin-Ups - 3x6-12 (focus on biceps)

Bodyweight Rows (under table or rings) - 4x8-15

Negative Pull-Ups or Inverted Hold - 3x5-10 sec

Superman Hold or Raises - 3x30 sec

Optional Core Finisher:


Hanging Leg Raises or Reverse Crunches - 3x10-15

Dead Bug - 3x30 sec

LEG DAY (Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves)

Warm-Up: Hip circles, leg swings, ankle rolls

Workout:

Bodyweight Squats - 4x20 (progress to jump or pistol squats)

Walking Lunges or Jumping Lunges - 3x12 each leg

Wall Sit - 3x30-60 sec

Glute Bridges / Single Leg Glute Bridge - 3x10-15

Calf Raises (on step if possible) - 3x20-25

Optional Core Finisher:

V-Ups - 3x15

Hollow Body Hold - 3x30 sec

TIPS:

Do this split in PPL x Rest x PPL x Rest or PPL x PPL x Rest depending on your recovery.

Track progress by increasing reps, slowing tempo, or adding harder variations.

If you have access to a pull-up bar or rings, that opens up more variety.

Rest 30-60 sec between sets for endurance or 90-120 sec for strength focus.

Common questions

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"Bodyweight rows under a table" effectively mimic the rowing motion and target similar muscle groups as gym-based row exercises. By utilizing one's own body weight as resistance, this exercise engages the back, biceps, and rear deltoids, maintaining efficacy in a pull workout by closely replicating the pull mechanics found in more conventional equipment-based exercises. This adaptation ensures continued muscular development despite equipment limitations, promoting similar neuromuscular activation as traditional row exercises, thereby supporting maintenance of strength gains .

"Negative pull-ups" and "inverted holds" are effective as both alternatives to and complements for traditional pull-ups, especially for building strength in individuals who struggle with full pull-ups. Negative pull-ups allow practitioners to focus on the eccentric muscle contraction, promoting strength gains by lowering the body slowly. Inverted holds engage muscles isometrically, enhancing grip strength and muscular endurance. Both exercises can build foundational strength and control, facilitating progression to full pull-ups, thereby improving upper body pull movements comprehensively .

The warm-up exercises are designed to activate and prepare the specific muscle groups and joints that will be targeted in the subsequent workouts. For example, on Push Day, arm circles and shoulder rolls mobilize the shoulder joints, while scapular push-ups engage and activate the scapular muscles, essential for push-up exercises. On Pull Day, arm swings and shoulder shrugs prepare the upper back and arm muscles for pull-strength exercises like pull-ups. For Leg Day, hip circles, leg swings, and ankle rolls increase joint mobility and prepare the lower body for squats and lunges. This targeted warm-up approach reduces the risk of injury and enhances workout efficiency .

"Glute bridges" primarily target the gluteal muscles, enhancing hip extension strength, which is crucial for actions like squatting and jumping, while "calf raises" focus on strengthening the calves, indispensable for ankle mobility and stability. Together, they provide comprehensive lower body improvement by enhancing muscle function across critical joints — the hips, knees, and ankles — thereby supporting efficient movement patterns and balance in both dynamic and static activities .

Recovery days in the PPL (Push, Pull, Legs) split routine are vital for allowing muscles to repair and grow after the stress of workouts. Muscles need time to recover from microtears that occur during exercise, and rest days provide the necessary recovery period to rebuild stronger. The suggested schedule, such as PPL x Rest x PPL x Rest, allows for complete muscle group recovery before they are targeted again, preventing overtraining and reducing injury risk. This strategic inclusion of rest optimizes strength gains and supports sustained performance improvements .

High-rep exercises, such as 20-25 reps for calf raises, benefit endurance, muscular conditioning, and improve the ability to sustain prolonged activity. This volume can enhance blood flow and muscle endurance specific to muscles like calves that are accustomed to carrying body weight. However, potential drawbacks include limited strength and hypertrophy gains due to lower weight intensity, which might not sufficiently recruit maximal muscle fibers needed for significant strength improvement; thus, they should be balanced with lower-rep, higher-intensity exercises for comprehensive development .

"Incline push-ups" modify the angle of the body relative to standard push-ups, thereby shifting the primary muscle engagement focus from the lower chest to the upper chest. The inclined position places more stress on the deltoids and upper portion of the pectoral muscles, promoting a balanced chest development which is less emphasized in standard push-ups. This variation allows more specific muscle targeting, which is beneficial for individuals aiming for particular muscle hypertrophy in the upper chest and improved shoulder strength and stability .

Including both static and dynamic core finishers offers distinct benefits: static exercises like the side plank improve endurance and stability by engaging muscles isometrically, enhancing the ability to maintain posture, while dynamic exercises such as hanging leg raises challenge and improve range of motion, coordination, and engage the core through movement. This combination fosters comprehensive core strength by diversifying the ways core muscles are activated and engaged, improving overall functional performance .

The "Push Day" workout is structured to target different muscle groups in a balanced manner by including various exercises with distinct focuses: push-ups target the chest broadly while variations like archer and diamond emphasize different areas; pike push-ups specifically target the shoulders; dips focus on the triceps, and incline push-ups emphasize the upper chest. This distributed emphasis ensures comprehensive engagement across the chest, shoulders, and triceps muscle groups. Each exercise variation allows for muscle activation under different angles and stress, contributing to balanced development .

Progression through increasing reps, slowing tempo, or harder variations is crucial as it challenges the body continually, leading to greater muscle adaptation and growth. Incrementally increasing reps enhances endurance; slowing tempo increases time under tension, promoting muscular hypertrophy; and harder variations recruit more muscle fibers, improving strength and capability. These methods prevent a plateau by consistently engaging the neuromuscular system in new ways, essential for ongoing physical development and fitness improvement .

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