How to create a workout split for building muscle

If you're eager to learn how to create a workout split for building muscle, stick right here. 

You might already follow a grueling full-body workout regime using the best cross training shoes to help you dip, deadlift and dead bug your way through a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session or slip on these sneakers to support your weight as you move your way through a resistance training class.

But whether you're in desperate need of some new-found motivation to train, you have a specific fitness goal in mind or you just prefer to concentrate on one muscle area/group at a time, a workout split could be the answer you've been looking for. 

However — how can you create a workout split for building muscle? How often should you weave in these splits to your workout routine, and where do you start? To help give you an idea of how to create a workout split for building muscle, we enlisted the help of Chris Gagliardi, who is an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer. 

Here's what Gagliardi had to say about workout splits, how best to structure them and why you might choose this divide-and-conquer approach compared to a full-body workout. 

Chris Gagliardi

Chris Gagliardi is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Health Coach, Group Fitness Instructor, and Medical Exercise Specialist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, NBHWC certified NBC-HWC, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer who loves to share his enthusiasm for fitness with others and is committed to lifelong learning. 

He holds a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from San Diego State University, a master’s degree in kinesiology from A.T. Still University, and a certificate in orthotics from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

There are many ways to create a split routine. The key is finding a way to train all the major muscle groups within the number of days you have available to exercise. 

“In this regard, split routines can look differently depending on your goals, what works best for your body, and the amount of time you have each week to devote to exercise,” Gagliardi says. 

To create a personalized workout split for you and your fitness goals, Gagliardi recommends: 

1. Determining how many days per week you can devote to exercising
2. Dividing the major muscle groups (lower leg, upper legs, hips, core, back, arms, chest, shoulders) between the number of days per week you can train
3. Organizing your routine in a manner that seems fun and enjoyable

For example, this might look something like the below:

Upper body and lower body split 

• Monday: Lower body
• Tuesday: Upper body
• Wednesday: Active Recovery Day
• Thursday: Lower body
• Friday: Upper body
• Saturday: Active Recovery Day
• Sunday: Active Recovery Day

Opposing muscle groups 

• Monday: Front of thigh and back of thigh and lower leg (both sides) 
• Tuesday: Biceps and Triceps
• Wednesday: Lower back, hips and abs
• Thursday: Active Recovery Day 
• Friday:  Chest, shoulders, and upper back 
• Saturday: Active Recovery Day 
• Sunday Active Recovery Day 

Individual muscle groups

• Monday: Lower legs and upper legs 
• Tuesday: Arms
• Wednesday: Shoulders
• Thursday: Back
• Friday: Chest 
• Saturday: Core and hips
• Sunday: Active Recovery Day 

Workout split vs full-body workout?

As we’ve seen, as long as you complete the same volume of training, workout splits and full-body workouts result in similar strength gains. 

However, there are a few reasons why you might choose one over the other. 

You might tend to choose a workout split if: 

1. You prefer to train five days a week, rather than say two times a week
2. You love to mix up your training
3. You love concentrating on just one area/muscle group
4. You have a specific fitness goal in mind

While you might consider a full-body workout if:

• You are short on time
• You want to maximize your calorie burn
• You want total body conditioning in one hit 

Looking for other fitness inspiration? Try out this cross training workout.