What are the cons of PPL?

Author: Rosemary Heller III  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

The PPL split is quite popular and it is the most effective at allowing your body to move in a wide range of motions. That being said, it can also be one of the hardest to maintain without proper nutrition, rest or workout-programming. This split is also not ideal if you want to maximize the weight you can lift.

What are the downsides of PPL?

Imbalance Potential: If not structured carefully, a PPL routine may lead to muscle imbalances. For example, if someone focuses too much on pushing exercises (like bench presses) and neglects pulling exercises (like rows), this can cause strength imbalances and increase injury risk.

Is PPL not good?

Yes, the PPL split is a good split, whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced lifter. The PPL split provides a good amount of frequency amongst the muscle groups, with a rest day or two per week, so there is also enough time for recovery.

What are the cons of upper lower splits?

Cons – Beginners may find two lower body only sessions a week difficult to adequately recover from where as advanced lifters may struggle to fit enough variety into a session dedicated to the upper body with smaller targeted exercises for the arms or deltoids being shunned for larger compound lifts.

Is a 6 day PPL split too much?

Is 6 day push pull legs too much? A 6-day push pull legs workout split schedule is ideal for giving each of the muscle groups adequate days of rest in between training sessions, while at the same time being able to work each area two times per week.

Do You Need 20 Sets A Week?

Is PPL better than bro split?

Both are solid picks! Bro Split shines for isolating muscles and crushing PRs, while PPL keeps the gains steady with higher frequency. Your vibe matters—choose what fits your goals, schedule, and recovery game.

Is 7 day split bad?

Seven-day workout plans can be beneficial for some individuals, and completely derailing for others. Because this type of workout plan requires so much energy and focus inside the gym, and attention to recovery outside the gym, only the most dedicated and experienced lifters should attempt it.

Is PPL or UL better?

Consider factors such as your training experience, schedule, goals, and recovery ability when choosing between Upper Lower and Push Pull Legs. Beginners and those with limited time may prefer Upper Lower, while intermediate to advanced lifters looking to increase frequency and volume might opt for Push Pull Legs.

What is Arnold Split?

The Arnold split is a six-day workout split in which you train the chest and back, shoulders and arms, and legs twice per week. It's a muscle-building program that's designed to help you increase muscle mass and improve your physique. Because of its high amount of volume, it's only for advanced lifters.

What are the cons of splits?

Some of the drawbacks of split training include:
  • More time: Getting the best from a split routine requires a significant time investment. If you're a beginner, less frequent full-body workouts may be better for you. ...
  • Potential imbalances: Targeting specific muscle groups requires a sound understanding of exercise.

Is PPL best for bulking?

The push/pull/legs split is probably the most efficient workout split there is because all related muscle groups are trained together in the same workout. This means that you get the maximum overlap of movements within the same workout, and the muscle groups being trained get an overall benefit from this overlap.

What is the Texas method workout?

The Texas Method is a three-days-per-week training regimen that emphasizes volume on Mondays, active recovery on Wednesdays, and intensity on Fridays.

What is bro split?

What are Bro Splits? The term is used to describe a way of dividing one's training up across a week, specifically as it relates to weightlifting. Generally speaking, Bro Splits divide the training across major muscle groups.

Is 3 days a week at the gym enough?

Is it OK to Go to The Gym Every Day? Absolutely! It isn't necessary to have a daily workout routine, as we've explored, but having daily gym sessions can become a valuable part of your daily routine, regardless. As long as you're going to the gym two to three times a week, you will see (and feel) the effects.

What is the best bro split?

A typical bro split program might look like this:
  • Monday: Chest.
  • Tuesday: Back.
  • Wednesday: Shoulders.
  • Thursday: Legs.
  • Friday: Arms.
  • Saturday: Rest.
  • Sunday: Rest.

Is PPL good for fat loss?

Yes, you can 100% lose weight and preserve lean muscle and strength with a push pull split as long as you are in a caloric deficit throughout the entire period. A calorie deficit (eating fewer calories than your body needs to maintain weight) is required for fat loss.

What was Ronnie Coleman's workout split?

He typically trained six days per week, focusing on one muscle group per day. For example, he would start his week with chest and triceps, followed by back and biceps. He would then take a rest day before hitting his legs twice a row. On leg day, he would start with quads before moving on to hamstrings and calves.

Should I train my arms and chest together?

Training biceps with chest allows you to attack biceps from a fresh poison every workout. If you pair the biceps with the back or triceps with the chest, the smaller arm muscles will start their first primary exercise in a fatigued state as they assist the larger muscle group in its exercises.

What is cbums workout split?

He follows an 8-day Push-Pull-Legs training split, which usually looks something like the following: Day 1: Legs: Quad dominant. Day 2: Push Day: Chest, with a little bit of triceps. Day 3: Pull Day: Back, with a little bit of biceps. Day 4: Rest.

What is the downside of PPL?

Here are some of the main drawbacks of PPL splits: May not provide sufficient rest and recovery time between sessions targeting the same muscles. Might not be ideal for specific physique development goals. Demands a higher weekly training frequency to reach optimal training volume for each muscle group.

How many days a week for PPL?

PPL is a split that usually allows you to hit the gym anywhere from three to six times a week — and you can get in and out with only three to four hours per week! This set-up seems weird at first, but it's really easy once you understand the concepts. Think about your pull muscles — back, biceps, traps and forearms.

Is upper-lower split bad?

By splitting the body's workout, you can also do more exercises for each muscle, which can be better for building muscle. Plus, if you're short on time one week, you can still give all your muscles some attention with just two workouts—one for the upper and one for the lower body.

Is a gym 4 times a week enough?

do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week. spread exercise evenly over 4 to 5 days a week, or every day. reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity.

What workouts for 75 hard?

What Kind of Workouts Can I Do For 75 HARD?
  • Weight lifting.
  • Running.
  • Biking.
  • Swimming.
  • Hiking.
  • Walking (I use a weighted vest to make it more challenging)
  • Rucking.
  • Interval training.

How do you know if you're overtraining?

When you're trying to tell if you're dealing with overtraining, consider these common symptoms:
  • Your Performance Declines. The hallmark sign of overtraining, Dr. ...
  • Fatigue and Soreness Ramp Up. ...
  • You Get Sick or Injured More Easily. ...
  • Sleeping Gets Harder. ...
  • Your Mood Changes. ...
  • Other Physical Symptoms Pop Up.

Previous article
How to exfoliate skin to remove tan?
Next article
What is the disadvantage of Brazilian waxing?