this post was submitted on 19 May 2026
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Are you training for strength or for size?
If size and aesthetics focused: Bodybuilding splits emphasize higher reps per set, higher sets per week, lower weights. Think 6-12 repetitions per set per exercise, aiming for 10 sets per week per muscle group. Even just 2 sets to failure per week will induce hypertrophy, but there is a dose response to volume with diminishing returns; 10 sets is the sweet spot. Don't beat yourself up if that's too much volume though; adjust set count for your body and schedule. Use weights that get you to between 0 and 3 reps from failure within the 6-12 range, and when you can hit 12 reps on a weight, increase the weight and drop the reps back down. If you're maxing out the weight available, just add more reps. I train like this, and my split is upper day, lower day, rest, upper day, lower day.
If pure strength focused: Powerlifting approaches use higher weights with much lower volume. Think 2-6 reps per set per exercise, 2-5 sets per week per muscle group. Sets should still be taken right to the cusp of failure or all the way to failure if safe and tolerable. Recovery times are longer, and you want to space out heavy lifts to give yourself time to rest. I don't have tons of experience in this approach but those are the basics.
Note that there are infinite ways to approach your routine, exercise selection, etc. It all depends upon your goals, time you are willing and able to dedicate to training, and what you prefer. Experiment and build what works best for you. Also, a bodybuilding approach will build strength as well, just less than a powerlifting approach; the inverse applies for powerlifting and size development. Finally, nutrition is at least as important as training, no matter your goals, so I recommend trying out tracking your food. I do it religiously, but even if you just do it long enough to get an idea of where you are by default, that helps too so you can adjust your habits.