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Friday — Lower Hypertrophy

Moderate weight, leg & glute pump  ·  8–12 reps  ·  60–90 sec rest
Post-surgery: no deadlifts. Spine neutral on all movements.
Mounjaro: hit 160g protein + 100oz water today.
Main Lifts
1
Hack Squat or Leg Press
4 × 10–12
Higher rep than Monday, same machine
Setup — Hack Squat

Shoulders under pads. Feet shoulder-width on platform, toes slightly out. Disengage safety handles.

Execution — Hack Squat

Lower under control, back flat against pad throughout. Descend until thighs at or past parallel. Drive through full foot to push back up. Slight tension at the top — no hard knee lockout.

Setup — Leg Press

Back and head flat against the pad. Feet shoulder-width, high placement for more posterior chain.

Execution — Leg Press

Lower until knees at roughly 90 degrees — stop before lower back peels off the pad. Press back to near full extension without locking out hard.

⚠ Warnings

No shallow depth. No heels lifting. Push knees out actively on ascent. No lower back rounding or peeling off the pad.

2
Cable Pull-Through
4 × 12–15
Hip hinge pattern; spine-safe deadlift substitute — no spinal compression.
Setup

Attach rope to low pulley. Stand facing away from machine, straddle the cable, hold rope between your legs. Step forward until there is good tension.

Execution

Hinge at the hips (not the waist) — push hips backward as the rope pulls between your legs. Keep back flat, neutral spine throughout. Drive hips forward to standing by squeezing the glutes hard.

⚠ Warnings

Squatting instead of hinging (knees should bend only slightly). Never round the lower back. Step too close and you lose the tension.

3
Leg Curl Machine
3 × 12
Isolates hamstrings, zero spinal load
Setup — Lying

Face down, pad just above heels, legs nearly straight at start.

Setup — Seated

Sit in machine, pad against back of lower leg, thighs flat on the seat.

Execution

Curl pad toward glutes as far as machine allows. Squeeze hard at the top — hold 1 second. Extend back to start under full control — do not let the weight slam.

⚠ Warnings

Lying: hips must not lift off the pad — if they do, reduce weight. Both versions: don't rush the descent. Achieve full extension at start.

4
Bulgarian Split Squat (DB)
3 × 10 each leg
Rear foot elevated; single-leg stability
Setup

Stand in front of a bench, DBs at sides. Place top of one foot on the bench behind you. Step out far enough that your front shin stays vertical when you lower down.

Execution

Lower rear knee toward the floor, torso upright. Front knee tracks over your second toe — don't let it cave inward. Drive through your front heel to return. Complete all reps on one side before switching.

⚠ Warnings

Foot too close causes the front knee to go excessively forward. Torso leaning forward turns it into a hip hinge. Rear leg is only for balance — don't actively push with it.

5
Seated Calf Raise
4 × 12–15
Soleus emphasis — different muscle than standing raises on Monday
Setup

Sit in the machine, pad on lower thighs just above the knee. Balls of feet on the platform, heels off the edge.

Execution

Lower heels as far below the platform as possible. Pause 1 second at the bottom. Rise as high as possible. Pause 1 second at the top and squeeze. Seated position keeps the gastrocnemius slack, isolating the soleus.

⚠ Warnings

No bouncing through the bottom stretch. No partial range of motion. The pause at the bottom is everything.

Core + Lower Back Block
A
Bird-Dog
3 × 10 each side
Multifidus, erector spinae, glutes, deep core
Setup

Hands and knees, wrists under shoulders, knees under hips. Neutral spine. Brace your core.

Execution

Simultaneously extend right arm forward and left leg backward — both parallel to the floor. Hold 2 full seconds. Zero torso movement. Return under control, repeat opposite side.

⚠ Warnings

Hips rotating when the leg extends — keep both hip bones pointing at the floor. No hyperextending the low back. Don't rush.

B
Dead Bug
3 × 10 each side
Transverse abdominis, deep core, hip flexors
Setup

Lie on back, arms straight up, knees at 90°, shins parallel to the floor. Lower back PRESSED FLAT to the floor — maintain throughout.

Execution

Slowly lower right arm behind your head while simultaneously extending left leg toward the floor. Stop just before either touches. Return under control, repeat opposite side.

⚠ Warnings

Lower back must not arch off the floor — that is the entire purpose of this exercise. Don't move too fast. Don't let limbs touch the floor.

C
45° Back Extension
3 × 12–15
Bodyweight or light plate; squeeze glutes at top, no hyperextension
Setup

Pads just below hip bones so you can hinge freely. Arms crossed or light plate at chest.

Execution

Lower upper body toward the floor by hinging at the hips until you feel a good stretch. Drive hips into the pad and squeeze glutes to return. Body forms a straight line at the top — DO NOT hyperextend past this point.

⚠ Warnings

Hyperextending at the top is where disc stress happens — stop at neutral. No rounding the lower back on the descent.

D
Side Plank
3 × 30–45 sec each side
Quadratus lumborum, obliques, lateral spine stabilizers
Setup

Lie on side, forearm on floor, elbow under shoulder. Stack or stagger feet. Lift hips so body forms a straight line from head to feet.

Hold

Maintain straight line — hips don't sag or pike. Breathe throughout.

⚠ Warnings

Hips sagging is the most common error. Look forward. Don't hold your breath.

E
Pallof Press
3 × 12 each side
Transverse abdominis, obliques, anti-rotation stabilizers
Setup

Cable or band at chest height. Stand sideways to the anchor, handle at chest, feet shoulder-width, slight knee bend, core braced.

Execution

Press handle straight out until arms are fully extended. Hold 1–2 seconds — resist the cable's pull to rotate your torso. Bring handle back to chest under control. Torso does not move at all.

⚠ Warnings

If the torso rotates toward the cable, you're missing the point — resist that rotation. Don't stand too close. Press directly in front of your sternum.