UNCOMMON Training Systems
Upper / Lower Build
8 Week Program · 4 Days Per Week

Program Overview

This program is designed for people who can consistently commit to four training sessions each week and want to increase overall training volume while still keeping sessions manageable and structured.

Compared to the Full Body Foundation program, this split allows slightly more focus on individual muscle groups while still maintaining balanced overall development. The objective remains the same: build consistency, improve movement quality, progressively become stronger over time, and improve body composition through structured resistance training alongside the nutrition system.

The exercises remain relatively stable across the 8 weeks to allow progression, confidence, and execution quality to improve over time. Constantly changing exercises usually makes it harder to track progress and often slows long-term results.

Most working sets throughout the program should fall around an RPE of 7-9.

The weight should feel challenging while still allowing controlled technique and full range of motion. Once technique starts significantly breaking down, the set is finished.

Each session should take approximately 60 minutes including rest periods and warm-up sets.

Weekly Structure

Every Week
MondayUpper
TuesdayLower
ThursdayUpper
FridayLower

Cardio

Perform 30 minutes of low-intensity steady-state cardio 2-5 times per week depending on your goal, activity levels, and recovery. Incline treadmill walking, cycling, or outdoor walking are all suitable options.

For most people, a heart rate range of approximately 120-140 bpm is a good target for Zone 2 cardio. The intensity should feel controlled and sustainable rather than maximal.

Warm-up

Before each session, spend approximately 5 minutes performing light cardio and complete 1 lighter warm-up set before most exercises. Larger compound movements such as leg press, hack squat, or dumbbell Romanian deadlifts may require 2 lighter warm-up sets depending on the weight being used.

The goal over the next 8 weeks is simple: train consistently, recover properly, and improve gradually over time.
Session
Upper
EXERCISE 01
Incline Chest Press Machine
Sets
3
Reps
8-10
RPE
8
Rest
2 min
expand_more Target Progression
8 / 8 / 8
9 / 9 / 9
10 / 10 / 10
expand_more Description
Primary upper body pressing movement targeting upper chest, shoulders, and triceps.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep chest lifted against the pad
  • Lower the weight under control
  • Press smoothly without bouncing
  • Keep shoulders stable throughout
  • Avoid shrugging forward
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 02
Chest Supported Machine Row or Seated Cable Row
Sets
3
Reps
10-12
RPE
8
Rest
2 min
expand_more Target Progression
10 / 10 / 10
11 / 11 / 11
12 / 12 / 12
expand_more Description
Upper back movement designed to improve posture, upper back development, and pulling strength.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep chest supported or torso stable
  • Pull elbows toward the hips
  • Squeeze the upper back at the finish
  • Lower the weight with control
  • Avoid using momentum
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 03
Lat Pulldown
Sets
3
Reps
10-12
RPE
8
Rest
2 min
expand_more Target Progression
10 / 10 / 10
11 / 11 / 11
12 / 12 / 12
expand_more Description
Vertical pulling movement targeting lats and upper back.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep chest tall
  • Pull elbows down toward the ribs
  • Pause briefly at the bottom
  • Control the return phase
  • Avoid leaning excessively backward
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 04
Seated Shoulder Press Machine
Sets
3
Reps
10-12
RPE
8
Rest
90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
10 / 10 / 10
11 / 11 / 11
12 / 12 / 12
expand_more Description
Vertical pressing movement targeting shoulders and triceps.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep core braced
  • Press directly overhead
  • Control the lowering phase
  • Avoid arching the lower back
  • Keep shoulders stable throughout
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 05
Cable Lateral Raise
Sets
3
Reps
12-15
RPE
8-9
Rest
90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
12 / 12 / 12
13 / 13 / 13
15 / 15 / 15
expand_more Description
Isolation movement targeting side delts to improve shoulder width and upper body balance.
expand_more Cues
  • Lift elbows out to the sides
  • Keep shoulders relaxed
  • Raise with control
  • Lower slowly
  • Avoid swinging the body
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 06
Machine Preacher Curl or EZ-Bar Preacher Curl
Sets
3
Reps
12-15
RPE
8-9
Rest
90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
12 / 12 / 12
13 / 13 / 13
15 / 15 / 15
expand_more Description
Isolation movement targeting the biceps while reducing momentum and improving stability.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep upper arms fixed against the pad
  • Lift with control
  • Squeeze the biceps at the top
  • Lower slowly
  • Avoid lifting the elbows off the pad
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 07
Rope Tricep Pushdown
Sets
3
Reps
12-15
RPE
8-9
Rest
90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
12 / 12 / 12
13 / 13 / 13
15 / 15 / 15
expand_more Description
Isolation movement targeting the triceps.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep elbows tucked close to the body
  • Push fully through the movement
  • Separate the rope at the bottom
  • Control the weight on the return
  • Avoid using body momentum
expand_more Training Log
Session
Lower
EXERCISE 01
Leg Press or Hack Squat
Sets
3
Reps
10-12
RPE
8
Rest
2 min
expand_more Target Progression
10 / 10 / 10
11 / 11 / 11
12 / 12 / 12
expand_more Description
Primary lower body compound movement targeting quads and glutes while building lower body strength and stability.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep feet flat throughout the set
  • Lower the weight with control
  • Drive through the middle of the foot
  • Avoid bouncing at the bottom
  • Do not aggressively lock the knees
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 02
Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
Sets
3
Reps
10-12
RPE
7-8
Rest
2 min
expand_more Target Progression
10 / 10 / 10
11 / 11 / 11
12 / 12 / 12
expand_more Description
Hip hinge movement targeting hamstrings and glutes while developing posterior chain strength.
expand_more Cues
  • Push hips back throughout the movement
  • Keep chest tall
  • Keep the dumbbells close to the legs
  • Feel a stretch through the hamstrings
  • Do not round the lower back
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 03
Seated Leg Curl
Sets
3
Reps
12-15
RPE
8-9
Rest
90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
12 / 12 / 12
13 / 13 / 13
15 / 15 / 15
expand_more Description
Isolation movement targeting hamstrings while supporting balanced lower body development.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep hips locked into the seat
  • Pull through the heels
  • Control the weight on the return
  • Squeeze the hamstrings at the finish
  • Avoid using momentum
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 04
Leg Extension
Sets
3
Reps
12-15
RPE
8-9
Rest
90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
12 / 12 / 12
13 / 13 / 13
15 / 15 / 15
expand_more Description
Isolation movement targeting the quadriceps to support balanced lower body development.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep lower back against the pad
  • Lift with control
  • Fully extend the knee at the top
  • Squeeze the quads at the finish
  • Lower the weight slowly
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 05
Standing Calf Raise or Seated Calf Raise
Sets
3
Reps
12-15
RPE
8-9
Rest
90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
12 / 12 / 12
13 / 13 / 13
15 / 15 / 15
expand_more Description
Isolation movement targeting the calf muscles.
expand_more Cues
  • Lower into a full stretch
  • Drive through the balls of the feet
  • Pause briefly at the top
  • Control the lowering phase
  • Avoid bouncing through the movement
expand_more Training Log
EXERCISE 06
Cable Crunch
Sets
3
Reps
12-15
RPE
8-9
Rest
60-90 sec
expand_more Target Progression
12 / 12 / 12
13 / 13 / 13
15 / 15 / 15
expand_more Description
Abdominal movement targeting trunk control and core strength.
expand_more Cues
  • Keep hips stable
  • Curl through the torso
  • Exhale as you crunch
  • Control the return phase
  • Avoid pulling with the arms
expand_more Training Log

The objective over the next 8 weeks is not to chase perfection or constantly change the plan. The objective is to become more consistent, improve your execution, recover properly, and progressively improve your performance over time.

Small improvements repeated consistently create significant change over the long term.