Workout Routine

Free

Reddit PPL Linear Progression for Beginners

by Gcash

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This Push Pull Legs routine was created by the r/fitness community on Reddit and is one of the more popular weight training routines for beginners.

This program was envisioned to be done 6 days a week. It can be run it one of two ways: PPLRPPL or PPLPPLR (where R denotes a rest day) depending on your schedule and preferences.

If you're looking to run it for 3 days a week, it can be done, but due to the frequence of lifts, some other 3-days a week programs like Greyskull LP, Stronglifts 5x5 or Starting Strength might be suitable instead for increased frequency.

More info in the original reddit thread here.

Starting TM is 90% of 1RM.

Targeted muscles
front
back
Click a muscle to see how much a workout targets it
Unaffected
Light
Moderate
High
Very High

Workouts

Pull

barbell row

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8
100 sec
2
–
–
8
100 sec
3
–
–
8
100 sec

barbell row

3×8

Lateral Pull Down

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10
100 sec
2
–
–
10
100 sec
3
–
–
10
100 sec

Lateral Pull Down

3×10

wrist curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10
100 sec
2
–
–
10
100 sec
3
–
–
10
100 sec

wrist curl

3×10

shrug

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10
100 sec
2
–
–
10
100 sec
3
–
–
10
100 sec

shrug

3×10

Overhand pull up

Set
Reps
Rest time
1
8 +
amrap
100 sec
2
8 +
amrap
100 sec
3
8 +
amrap
100 sec

Overhand pull up

3×8+

Push

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
85% 1RM
21 lbs
5 +
amrap
Prog. Overload
100 sec

This AMRAP set is also a target for Progressive Overload rules. If you do more reps than 5, the 1RM will be suggested to increase next session.

Progressive Overload
Extra 1-2 reps, increase 1RM by 6 lbs
Extra 3+ reps, increase 1RM by 11 lbs
2
–
–
5 +
amrap
100 sec
3
–
–
5 +
amrap
100 sec

Overload: After 1 successful session, 1RM will be suggested to increase by 1 lbs.

Deload: After 3 uncompleted sessions, 1RM will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

bench press

3×5+

overhead press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
65% 1RM
100 lbs
8
100 sec
2
65% 1RM
100 lbs
8
100 sec
3
65% 1RM
100 lbs
8
100 sec

overhead press

3×8

incline bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
65% 1RM
16 lbs
8
100 sec
2
65% 1RM
16 lbs
8
100 sec
3
65% 1RM
16 lbs
8
100 sec

incline bench press

3×8

triceps pushdowns

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8
100 sec
2
–
–
8
100 sec
3
–
–
8
100 sec

triceps pushdowns

3×8

lateral raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
15
100 sec
2
–
–
15
100 sec
3
–
–
15
100 sec

lateral raise

3×15

overhead triceps extensions

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8
100 sec
2
–
–
8
100 sec
3
–
–
8
100 sec

overhead triceps extensions

3×8

Dips

Set
Reps
Rest time
1
8 +
amrap
100 sec
2
8 +
amrap
100 sec
3
8 +
amrap
100 sec

Dips

3×8+

Legs

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
85% 1RM
130 lbs
5 +
amrap
Prog. Overload
100 sec

This AMRAP set is also a target for Progressive Overload rules. If you do more reps than 5, the 1RM will be suggested to increase next session.

Progressive Overload
Extra 1-2 reps, increase 1RM by 5 lbs
Extra 3+ reps, increase 1RM by 10 lbs
2
–
–
5 +
amrap
100 sec
3
–
–
5 +
amrap
100 sec

Deload: After 3 uncompleted sessions, 1RM will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

squat

3×5+

calf raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8
100 sec
2
–
–
8
100 sec
3
–
–
8
100 sec
4
–
–
8
100 sec
5
–
–
8
100 sec

calf raise

5×8

leg extension

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
55% 1RM
25 lbs
15
100 sec
2
100% 1RM
45 lbs
15
100 sec
3
100% 1RM
45 lbs
15
100 sec

leg extension

3×15

romanian deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8
100 sec
2
–
–
8
100 sec
3
–
–
8
100 sec

romanian deadlift

3×8