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this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2025
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Weightroom
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I'll admit I'm biased in favor of simplicity in programming (fewer workouts, fewer exercises per workout), lower-rep sets (generally aiming for 5 reps per set unless I have a specific reason to do more or less), and complex barbell movements (I can move more weight when I use my whole body to move a rigid object rather than isolating each side).
I would consider greater simplicity in your programming. When I read your workout, it sounds like you're spending more time lifting weights in lots of different ways.
Simplicity helps with the positive feedback of beginner gains. When you've got an alternating weekly schedule, you're not getting that immediate reinforcement of constant improvement. With an alternating weekly schedule, you're not progressing on any particular exercise more than once every 2 weeks. Sure it's nice to be stronger than you were 14 days ago, but being a beginner means that you should be able to see concrete progress every 7 days or even 3 days. That's the best part of being a beginner, is seeing proof that you are stronger than you were earlier in the week!
If you're able to make it to the gym consistently and keep detailed logs of what you're doing, great. I was never like that, so I needed workouts that I could just jump into and remember which of the main lifts were at which weights, without writing down logs or looking at my phone. Simplicity was helpful for me as a beginner, especially for building a new routine into a full habit. That's something I'd recommend considering, too.
The actual exercises you've chosen also seem to have unusual ratios. You're doing about twice as much vertical pulling than horizontal pulling. You're doing curls 4 times more than you're flat bench pressing. Is that the most effective use of your gym time, for your goals? How long is each gym session, and are you competing with other lifters for access to high-demand equipment?
So you think I should maybe stick to only A version of PPL instead of PPL A and PPL B?
I usually swap A and B during the week, so Pull A, Push A, Legs A, Rest, Pull B, Push B and Legs B
What do you think for me as a natural beginner this could be: Upper (Back/ Chest) Body, Lower Body, Arms&Shoulders, Rest ?
MY arms are lacking huge, thats why I do more curls etc.
So you're doing a 4 day cycle, and your rest days fall on different days of the week every week? That's fine, if you can stick with that. I (and many others) base our workouts on the days of the week because it's easier to stick to that way and fit it into our overall schedules.
You're fine sticking with PPL. I would just recommend heavier complex movements (barbells usually involve more weight than dumbbells) to build up overall strength before you start fiddling with the isolated exercises that only target one or two muscles.
And if you're OK with that many different exercises to master in your program, that's fine, too. I just think that simplicity is easier to stick with, and that a focus on specific progress in the big lifts (squat, bench, deadlift, overhead press) is a good psychological boost for motivation.