Upper Body Emphasis Block (5 day)

A five week block that pushes chest, back, shoulders and arms hard while legs get just enough to hold what they have. Good when your upper body is lagging.

  • Advanced
  • 5 days a week
  • About 35 min
  • Full gym
  • Build muscle

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Free in Platesmith. Start this program in the app and it fills in your weights, times your rests and moves the weight up for you. No subscription needed for any program.

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How it progresses

A five week block. Effort rises week by week, and after each session you answer three quick questions (pump, soreness, workload) so next week's sets go up or down to match. Week five is a lighter deload week, then the next block starts.

The workouts

Every exercise can be swapped in the app for one that works the same muscles, so missing equipment never stops you.

Upper A

ExerciseSets × reps
Barbell Bench Press3 × 6-10
Barbell Row3 × 6-10
Dumbbell Lateral Raise3 × 12-20
Barbell Curl3 × 8-12
Skull Crusher3 × 8-12

Lower

ExerciseSets × reps
Back Squat2 × 6-10
Romanian Deadlift2 × 8-10
Standing Calf Raise2 × 10-15

Upper B

ExerciseSets × reps
Incline Dumbbell Press3 × 8-12
Pull-up3 × 6-10
Cable Lateral Raise3 × 12-20
Incline DB Curl3 × 10-12
Overhead Cable Triceps Extension3 × 10-12

Upper C

ExerciseSets × reps
Machine Shoulder Press3 × 8-12
Chest-Supported Row3 × 8-12
Cable Fly3 × 12-15
Reverse Pec Deck3 × 12-20
Hammer Curl2 × 10-15

Legs

ExerciseSets × reps
Leg Press2 × 10-15
Lying Leg Curl2 × 10-12

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General guidance, not medical advice. Start lighter than you think, and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition or injury.