5 days · 60 min

5 day workout split

Five days is where volume stops being the limiting factor and recovery starts. This is the week our engine writes for a five-day lifter with a full gym.

Get this plan built around me

The extra days do not mean harder days. A five-day week spreads the same weekly hard sets across more sessions, which keeps each one shorter and lets quality stay high on the main lifts.

Everything below is generated by the same engine behind the Athlete Assessment. Change your equipment, session length or limitations and the exercises change while the structure holds.

Who it's for

  • Lifters with a year or more of consistent training
  • Anyone who prefers shorter, more frequent sessions
  • People adding size without dropping conditioning

How the block progresses

The exercises barely change across the 4 weeks. What changes is the load, the rep target and the volume — one variable at a time, so you always know what moved.

  1. Week 1: Set the baseline

    Run every main lift two or three reps shy of failure and log the numbers. Five days a week punishes an over-ambitious first week harder than three does.

  2. Week 2: Add load, hold reps

    About 2.5 to 5 lb more on upper lifts and 5 to 10 lb on lower lifts, same sets and reps.

  3. Week 3: Peak week

    Main lifts move to a 3-5 rep target so load can climb again; accessories hold. One rep in reserve on the top set is the ceiling.

  4. Week 4: Deload, then repeat

    One set comes off every exercise and load drops about 10 percent. Start the next block just below week three's weights.

The full 4-week block, week by week

Every session of every week, straight out of the live program engine for a 5-day, 60-minute setup — sets, reps, rest and the cue that matters.

Week 1 — Set the baseline

Run every main lift two or three reps shy of failure and log the numbers. Five days a week punishes an over-ambitious first week harder than three does.

Day 1: Lower Strength

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump4 × 5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat3 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Week 2 — Add load, hold reps

About 2.5 to 5 lb more on upper lifts and 5 to 10 lb on lower lifts, same sets and reps.

Day 1: Lower Strength

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump4 × 5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat3 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Week 3 — Peak week

Main lifts move to a 3-5 rep target so load can climb again; accessories hold. One rep in reserve on the top set is the ceiling.

Day 1: Lower Strength

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Back Squat4 × 3-5

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Bench Press4 × 3-5

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump4 × 3-5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Back Squat4 × 3-5

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat3 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Week 4 — Deload, then repeat

One set comes off every exercise and load drops about 10 percent. Start the next block just below week three's weights.

Day 1: Lower Strength (Deload)

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump2 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength (Deload)

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown2 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power (Deload)

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump3 × 5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body (Deload)

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press2 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning (Deload)

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat2 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press2 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Key exercises in this plan

Every lift week one uses, with the coaching cue and the swaps we allow when equipment or a cranky joint gets in the way.

Lat Pulldown

pull · machines, bands

Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands.

Appears in: Day 2: Upper Strength

Swap for: Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up, Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

Bike / Rower Intervals

conditioning · machines, bodyweight

Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout.

Appears in: Day 5: Conditioning

Swap for: Acceleration Runs (20 yd), Loaded Carry Medley

How to swap an exercise

Missing kit, a busy rack or a joint that argues with a lift are all fine reasons to substitute. These four rules keep the block intact when you do.

Swap the pattern, not the day

Replace a squat with another squat and a row with another row. Each lift lists its pattern so the weekly balance survives the change.

Cut a day before cutting quality

If life takes a session, drop the conditioning day and run the four strength days. Never compress five sessions into three days.

Build your own version

Change the goal, schedule, session length or equipment and week one rebuilds instantly — this is the same engine that writes your full program.

Goal
Days
Time
Kit

Lower Strength

60 min
  • Back Squat4 × 5
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10
  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

Upper Strength

60 min
  • Bench Press4 × 5
  • Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
  • Dumbbell Bench Press3 × 8-10
  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

Speed & Power

60 min
  • Box Jump4 × 5
  • Acceleration Runs (20 yd)3 × 3 x 30s
  • Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

Full Body

60 min
  • Back Squat4 × 5
  • Bench Press3 × 8-10
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

Conditioning

60 min
  • Bike / Rower Intervals4 × 4 x 30s
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Back Squat3 × 8-10
  • Bench Press3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

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How to run it

Two hard days, three moderate

Only one lower and one upper session should feel genuinely heavy. If all five feel like peak days, week three will fall apart.

Protect the day after a heavy session

Follow a heavy lower day with an upper or conditioning day, never another lower day. Sequencing is what makes five days sustainable.

Questions