CommunityTraining & Muscle

What's your workout routine?

40 replies29 peopleApr 16, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

What workout routines are people following while on weight-loss peptides?

Forum users describe a wide range of splits including PPL, upper/lower, full-body, and CrossFit-style sessions paired with cardio. Most report lifting 3–6 days per week, adding walking or running, and note that strength holds up well even in a large calorie deficit. Many credit peptides for better recovery and energy, allowing higher volume or consistency than before.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Some prefer high-frequency full-body or PPL while others favor body-part splits or CrossFit; opinions differ on how much direct leg work is needed versus compounds.

Nothing here is advice.

40 replies · 29 people
NorthWillow36archiveopening postApr 16

56 M, started at 279 two months ago, went over 300 right away even with a calorie deficit, probably mostly water and some muscle. Weight is now dropping again. Muscles feel surprisingly full and strong, like when I was 19. Using a stack of those peptides. I lift every morning then do 45 minutes on the Nordictrack. Day 1 is chest and back with incline bench, dumbbell rows, flys, Nordic curls, cables, and lat pulldowns, all 3 sets of 12/10/8, then short cardio and stretch. Day 2 hits shoulders, bis, tris with presses, hammers, kickbacks, side raises, preachers, pushdowns, rear delts, and curls in similar sets. Day 3 is legs with squats, extensions, curls, lunges, and calf raises. I usually manage two back-to-back days then rest.

KeenKettle43archiveApr 16

I just do PPL, skipping legs sometimes. Two sets of each exercise, keep going until I lose interest, then usually add some cardio. I figure 30-40 minutes is better than skipping entirely. Glad for the peptide help.

PlainAnchor67archiveApr 16

I pick a plan in Boostcamp and run it for some weeks, take a week off, then switch. Right now I'm on a Mike Mentzer program, three days on one day off, plus cycling a few times a week in the evening.

IronThistle53archiveApr 17

Can't find time for the gym so I do bodyweight stuff at home: about 25 pull-ups, 50 sit-ups, 50 push-ups, and cycle 15 km round-trip to work each weekday.

PatientHarbour23archiveApr 17

This got long, sorry. Basically I train every single day. After gastric sleeve five years ago and back surgery I became obsessive about fitness. Shoulder surgery in late Feb forced me to back off for two months and I miss heavy leg work badly. Now easing into cardio again. Before surgery I was up at 4 a.m. for 60-90 minutes of incline walking, jogging, or HIIT most days. I don't eat until around 9 a.m. because working out on food makes me sick.

SlowThistle36archiveApr 17

Push/pull/legs Monday Wednesday Friday. Three sets to technical failure in the 12-15 rep range, five or six exercises per day. Walk four to five miles daily on top of normal activity. Strength stays steady in a big deficit. Protein at 0.7-1 g per pound of lean mass. Feeling good and sleeping well while trying to keep muscle.

PlainPebble24archiveApr 17

I do CrossFit instead of a fixed split. Every session is full-body with strength moves like squats, deadlifts, presses, sometimes Olympic lifts, followed by a 10-20 minute conditioning WOD. It changes daily so it never gets boring and hits everything over the week. I like the class format and the people. Gets both strength and cardio done together. Also do a bit more on the side.

SlowSignal40archiveApr 22
↳ replying to @PatientHarbour23

Never thought I'd say this: could I borrow some of your specific OCD?

PatientHarbour23archiveApr 22
↳ replying to @SlowSignal40

Plenty to share! Went back to the gym yesterday for the first time since surgery. Had to get creative but managed. Almost cried when I could do the hip thrust machine one-handed. Used only a third of my normal weight but know I'll get closer next time.

SlowSignal40archiveApr 22
↳ replying to @PatientHarbour23

Achieving personal ambitions while effortlessly making guys look bad feels cool with zero envy here at all. My shoulder also has a ripped cuff muscle plus tendon issue nearby. Totally not bothersome in the rear. You seem attached to that thrusting device just like I'm hooked on my collection of arm curl tools, twisting handles, grip devices, and chest press equipment. Better stop talking now. Probably just a pervert at heart. The real issue is skipping a letter while chasing that orderliness condition and landing on the sloth version instead. This laziness fixation would stress out any performance compound.

BlueSignal52archiveApr 22

Started a new split when I began the peptide. Monday leg day quad focus, Tuesday push chest and tri, Wednesday pull back and bi, Thursday rest with 5 mi walk, Friday leg day hamstring focus, Saturday push/pull, Sunday rest with walk. Aiming for 10-12 sets per muscle group weekly, 8-10 reps, most sets to failure, plus 20 minutes cardio after lifting days. Seeing better results than the old bro split.

LevelMarble91archiveApr 22

Lifting consistently for about a year and a half. Started at two days, moved to three, ran MAPS Anabolic, now switched to Gravl app doing four days on PPL rotation with cardio and pickleball twice each. The app is great. Already seeing strength gains after two weeks. Usually six to eight exercises, three to four sets, 8-12 reps.

CopperMarble29archiveApr 24

Monday pushing three hours total with two hours upper push lifting, cardio, core. Tuesday pulling similar with more lifting time. Wednesday lower. Thursday and Friday upper again. Saturday rest. Sunday Hyrox simulation with 8 km run and strength stations. Anyone tracking on Hevy can connect.

ClearMarble41archiveMay 3

Always did PPLPP with good protein but couldn't lose weight even when tracking. Realized I was probably replacing fat with muscle so scale didn't move. Now with better diet the new routine is push with incline chest, shoulder press, fly, triceps then zone-2 interval runs, pull with pulldowns, curls, rows, lower with squats, curls, extensions, calves, upper with press, rows, fly, curls, more running, and rest or light cardio.

KeenTimber66archiveMay 3

Do push/pull twice a week, two working sets and one drop set both to failure. Legs are already strong so I just tone them with walking or 40 minutes airbike or row a few days. New barbell equipment coming so I'll add squats and deadlifts. Still only have dumbbells and bench for now. High-stim pre-workout is becoming a habit.

BlueLantern10archiveMay 3

After years off I started with calisthenics since I was already heavy. Progressed to pull-ups, lunges, shoulder presses, planks, abs, curls, flys, bench, lat pulls, incline walks, burpees, deadlifts, glute bridges. Five days a week alternating. Not chasing ripped, just staying mobile and agile.

AmberMeadow80archiveMay 3

Alternative take: two 1-2 hour bouldering sessions, two hot yoga classes, and one short home session to hit opposing muscle groups. Been climbing almost 30 years and started the peptide mainly to get back to my best climbing weight.

SteadyLedger49archiveMay 3

Gym six days on PPL plus an hour cardio each day, probably too much but recovery peptides help. 35-mile mountain bike rides on weekends when weather allows. Started at 445 lbs, now 213, best shape of my life at 61.

BrightAnchor19archiveMay 3
↳ replying to @NorthWillow36 (opening post)

Excellent. Now in my 40s I spend more time stretching. Do Muay Thai three times a week with tons of push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and a painful amount of cardio.

BlueLantern84archiveMay 10

For years I've used typical bodybuilding splits like chest/shoulders, back, arms, legs. Usually three exercises per part for five sets. Recently added more leg days after a back injury that weakened one leg, so alternating upper and lower to hit legs more often. Also dropped to three or four sets and enjoying the change.

BlueCinder96archiveMay 10

Wall of text. I rotate programs every few months. Just started the peptide so shifted to maintenance after five strength days plus two cardio days. Keeping strength with less overall strain to help tendons. Each session has at least one set to absolute failure except compounds. Monday is 3 km jog, machine rows, incline press, pulldowns, face pulls, tricep pushdowns.

WryHarbour43archiveMay 15

Male early 40s. Started heavy lifting fall 2024 after years of cardio and sports. Got hungry and bulky but stronger. Went on tirz in January and built a more balanced split without a dedicated leg day, mixing legs and core into lifting days. Try to run a mile after lifting when possible. Mix up the days but recently it's back work with pulldowns, rows, supersetted with triceps and core, plus a run.

SlowSignal40archiveMay 15

Sidewinder stands out as the hidden power tied to Obesos who rules over Var.

BlueSignal52archiveMay 15
↳ replying to @NorthWillow36

On my push days the shoulders always get trained.

KeenKettle50archiveMay 15

Two days upper body, two days lower, and two days cardio.

QuietFenwick11archiveMay 15

Lifting 15+ years, now it's about variety. Enjoy unilateral lifts and balance work. Three sessions a week with cardio same day. Three leg exercises and two upper. Change routine yearly and track volume for progress. Men overemphasize upper body; most muscle mass is below the waist so train legs more if you want size.

SlowSignal40archiveMay 15
↳ replying to @QuietFenwick11

Interesting but obvious answer: that's the means not the end. Most muscle below waist? Maybe. Stronger? Possibly. Still agree we should train legs, just differently because knees, hips, and ankles are hit hard by aging.

QuietFenwick11archiveMay 15
↳ replying to @SlowSignal40

I thought that was obvious: largest muscle is gluteus maximus, second is quads, fourth is hamstrings.

SlowSignal40archiveMay 15
↳ replying to @QuietFenwick11

Yes that's true. Doesn't that make it more important to train upper body more since legs are already stronger? Plus in many upper exercises legs get trained anyway, like Roberto Carlos.

ClearQuill72archiveMay 15

38M 185 lbs. Mon/Wed/Fri full-body lifting, runs Tue/Thu/Sat mostly zone 2. About 20 miles running and 20 miles walking weekly. Sunday rest. Organize lifting into blocks for quick flow: heavy compounds, posterior chain, chest accessories, finishers. Around 44k volume per session. Full body works better than splits with all the cardio. Consistency and progressive overload matter most. Just started the peptide too.

WarmAnchor46archiveMay 15

Four workouts a week, two upper Monday and Friday, two lower Tuesday and Saturday. Upper: side laterals, military press, preacher curls, tricep pushdowns, decline bench, chin-ups, dips. Takes 45-50 minutes with two-minute rests. Lower: leg lifts, hamstring curls, seated calf raises, glute bridge, lunges.

QuietFenwick11archiveMay 16
↳ replying to @SlowSignal40

And vice versa with compounds. Core, back, grip all get worked in squats and deadlifts so no need for separate core time if form is solid. From efficiency view muscle growth is local so big muscles give more mass, so start with lower body. Aesthetics change priorities and genetics limit growth eventually, but biggest easiest gains come from legs first.

RustKettle12archiveMay 17
↳ replying to @NorthWillow36 (opening post)

Following traditional powerlifting split plus accessories almost 10 years. Monday squats, rows, sled work, back extensions, sit-ups. Tuesday cardio/mobility. Wednesday bench, pulldowns, triceps, raises, sled. Thursday home curls, OHP, rows, twists, calf raises. Friday deadlifts, OHP, sled, rows, extensions, sit-ups. Saturday hiking 20-30 miles. Sunday rest. Female 50, on 1 mg reta and 15 mg test-c weekly.

ClearHarbour22archiveMay 18
↳ replying to @BlueSignal52

True. Few realize shoulders and triceps get hit on push, biceps on pull, so one or two exercises are enough. Shoulders work fine until they don't, so add side lateral raises to stay safe.

BrightMeadow31archiveMay 19

Tired of bro splits taking 2-2.5 hours for over 10 years. Now limit sessions to 60-90 minutes doing PPL every six days with Sunday rest.

PlainPebble65archiveMay 19

Soon to be 49 male. Rolling split: upper, lower, push, pull, legs, rest, repeat. Upper and lower mostly big compounds. PPL days start with compounds then isolation. Body likes volume so about 30 sets daily to 1-2 RIR or failure. Use drop sets, rest-pause. Mostly 8-15 reps.

WarmAlder51archiveMay 22

I cycle through back work then pushing moves arm focus leg sessions and running looping nonstop with zero recovery time.

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