The Best 4-Day Hypertrophy Workout Split for Intermediate Lifters
The 4-day push/pull/legs + upper split — often called "PHUL" (Power Hypertrophy Upper Lower) — is the most evidence-supported intermediate hypertrophy template. Monday: upper power (4–6 reps). Wednesday: lower power. Friday: upper hypertrophy (8–12 reps). Saturday: lower hypertrophy. Each muscle is trained twice: once in a strength-focused rep range and once in a hypertrophy-focused range. Israetel's work on Minimum Effective Volume (MEV) and Maximum Adaptive Volume (MAV) underpins the weekly set counts: 10–12 sets per muscle per week for maintenance, 16–22 for growth.
The Weekly Layout
| Day | Session |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (Monday) | Upper Power (Chest, Back, Shoulders — heavy) |
| Day 2 (Tuesday) | Rest |
| Day 3 (Wednesday) | Lower Power (Squat focus + Romanian deadlift) |
| Day 4 (Thursday) | Rest |
| Day 5 (Friday) | Upper Hypertrophy (Chest, Back, Shoulders — 8–12 rep) |
| Day 6 (Saturday) | Lower Hypertrophy (Quad + Hamstring isolation) |
| Day 7 (Sunday) | Rest |
Exact Exercise Selection
Day 1: Upper Power
Heavy horizontal and vertical pressing/pulling
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Barbell Bench Press | 4 | 3–5 |
| Barbell Row | 4 | 4–6 |
| Overhead Press | 3 | 4–6 |
| Pull-Up | 3 | 6–8 |
| Dip (weighted if advanced) | 3 | 6–8 |
| Face Pull | 3 | 15–20 |
Day 2: Lower Power
Squat and hip hinge at high intensity
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Back Squat | 4 | 3–5 |
| Romanian Deadlift | 4 | 6–8 |
| Leg Press | 3 | 8–10 |
| Leg Curl | 3 | 8–10 |
| Calf Raise | 4 | 10–15 |
Day 3: Upper Hypertrophy
Moderate weight, high volume upper body
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Incline Dumbbell Press | 4 | 8–12 |
| Cable Row or Machine Row | 4 | 8–12 |
| Dumbbell Lateral Raise | 4 | 12–15 |
| Lat Pulldown | 3 | 10–12 |
| Cable Fly | 3 | 12–15 |
| Barbell or EZ-Bar Curl | 3 | 10–12 |
| Overhead Triceps Extension | 3 | 12–15 |
Day 4: Lower Hypertrophy
Quad and hamstring isolation at moderate load
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Leg Press (wide stance) | 4 | 10–15 |
| Walking Lunge | 3 | 10–12 per leg |
| Leg Extension | 4 | 12–15 |
| Leg Curl (lying or seated) | 4 | 12–15 |
| Glute Bridge or Hip Thrust | 3 | 12–15 |
| Calf Raise | 4 | 15–20 |
Progression Protocol
Mesocycle structure (Israetel/RP): weeks 1–4 add one set per exercise per week (MEV → MAV). Week 5 is a deload at 50–60% volume. Then restart with slightly more volume than the previous cycle.
Rep range rotation: cycle between 5–8 reps (mechanical tension), 8–12 reps (primary hypertrophy range), and 15–20 reps (metabolic stress) across your weekly sessions. Each rep range stimulates growth through different mechanisms.
RIR (reps in reserve) tracking: most working sets should end at 1–2 RIR (leave 1–2 reps in the tank). Going to failure on every set increases injury risk and recovery demand without proportional gain.
Progressive overload can be achieved by: adding weight, adding reps, adding sets, reducing rest time, or improving technique. Rotate methods to avoid stalling.
Common Mistakes at This Level
Training in only the 8–12 rep range. All reps build muscle, but different ranges emphasise different mechanisms. Incorporating heavy (5–8) and light (15–25) work ensures mechanical tension and metabolic stress.
Not tracking volume per muscle per week. Most intermediate lifters underestimate how many sets they're doing per muscle group — or aren't hitting MEV. Without tracking, volume either stagnates or creeps past MRV.
Inconsistent nutrition. A 200–300 kcal surplus with 1.8–2.2 g/kg protein is required for meaningful muscle gain. Frequent diet breaks, inconsistent eating, or chasing leanness simultaneously with mass gain slows progress by 50%.
Skipping deload weeks. Intermediate lifters in accumulation phases need a planned deload every 4–5 weeks. Accumulated joint stress and CNS fatigue are real; deloads allow supercompensation.
Prioritising mirror muscles. Chest and biceps get the most volume; back, hamstrings, and rear delts get the least. Imbalanced development eventually causes injury and limits pressing strength.
How to Adjust Based on Recovery
Cora tracks your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) daily and compares it against your personal baseline. When your HRV is suppressed — a signal that your nervous system hasn't fully recovered — Cora's AI coach automatically modifies that day's session before you walk into the gym. Intermediate lifters on this 4-day program accumulate meaningful fatigue, especially during weeks 3–4 of a mesocycle. Cora's recovery guidance distinguishes between normal training fatigue (tolerable) and overreaching (actionable). When HRV trends 10%+ below your 7-day rolling average for 2+ consecutive days, Cora flags a deload: reduce volume by 40–50%, keep intensities at 60–70% 1RM, and treat it as an active recovery week. This proactive adjustment prevents the 2–3 week performance dip that follows genuine overtraining.
Alternatives If You Have Less Time
If you only have 3 days per week: run the 3-day Full Body Hypertrophy variant instead. For hypertrophy, a 3-day full body program hitting 12–18 sets per muscle per week matches the stimulus of 4-day upper/lower for most intermediate lifters. The drop in training frequency is minimal — the drop in results is small.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I run this 4-day hypertrophy program before changing it?
Run it for at least 8–12 weeks before evaluating. Beginners can run the same template for 12–16 weeks due to the novelty effect. Intermediate lifters typically need to change the stimulus (rep ranges, exercises, or volume) every 4–6 weeks within a program while keeping the same split structure. The most common mistake is program-hopping every 3–4 weeks — you cannot assess effectiveness in under 8 weeks.
Can I do this 4-day split if I'm intermediate?
This program is specifically designed for intermediate lifters. The periodisation, volume targets, and intensity ranges reflect intermediate-level adaptation requirements. If you find the program too easy after 8 weeks, that's a sign you've progressed to the next tier.
What should I eat on training days vs rest days?
On training days, prioritise carbohydrates for intra-workout energy: 40–60g complex carbs 90 minutes before training, 30–40g fast carbs (banana, rice cake) within 30 minutes post-training. Protein timing matters less than total daily intake — hit 1.6–2.2 g/kg bodyweight across the day. Rest days can reduce carbohydrate intake by 20–30%, but never reduce protein.
How long should each session take?
50–70 minutes per session. Upper body days and lower body days have different fatigue profiles — lower body sessions may run 5–10 minutes longer due to longer inter-set recovery needs on heavy squats and deadlifts.
Should I do cardio on top of this program?
2–3 cardio sessions per week at low-to-moderate intensity complement this program well. Keep cardio sessions under 45 minutes and place them on rest days or after (not before) lifting sessions.
How important is mind-muscle connection for hypertrophy?
Research supports the mind-muscle connection as a real phenomenon. Calatayud et al. (2016) found that focusing attention on the target muscle during exercise significantly increases EMG activation, especially for isolation movements. For compound movements (squat, deadlift, bench), focus on technical execution rather than specific muscle activation. For isolation work (curls, lateral raises, flyes), actively contracting the target muscle throughout the full range of motion enhances the hypertrophic stimulus.
Let Cora Adapt This Plan to Your Recovery
Static programs ignore your body’s readiness signals. Cora uses daily HRV data to automatically adjust your 4-day hypertrophy plan — heavier when you’re recovered, lighter when you need it.
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