The PHAT Workout: Build Mass & Strength
The PHAT (Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training) Training Program Starting the PHAT (Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training) workout routine can be a game-changer for your fitness journey. Blending powerlifting and bodybuilding elements, this unique approach offers a diverse range of benefits that can elevate your workout experience to new heights. From enhancing strength and muscle mass to boosting metabolism and improving overall body composition, PHAT workouts are designed to push your boundaries and unlock your full potential. Whether you are a seasoned gym-goer looking to break through a plateau or a beginner seeking an efficient and effective workout regimen, incorporating PHAT into your routine can lead to remarkable results. Join me on this blog as we delve deeper into the numerous advantages of embracing a PHAT workout routine and discover how it can revolutionize your fitness goals. The PHAT workout routine was designed by Layne Norton, PhD; who is a natural bodybuilder and powerlifter. The PHAT program combines both powerlifting and bodybuilding routine into a single training program. Although powerlifters and bodybuilders use different reps and weight schemes to reach their respective goals, Layne Norton’s program focuses has put together a training system balances the demands of both, so you can both sculpt and build strength. The Goals of the PHAT Workout Routine Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training (PHAT) combines both bodybuilding and powerlifting techniques to give you the best of which both have to offer. The goal of PHAT workouts is to gain both mass and strength. Bodybuilders utilize lower weights, higher reps and shorter rest times to help build muscle. Powerlifters use heavier weights, lower reps and longer rest times. Power and Mass Workouts Two workouts during the week will be dedicated to building power. After a rest day, the next three workouts are spent building muscle. The workouts are tough, but you have a mental and physical mix-up that keeps you from over training during each week. Your hypertrophy days and power workouts will support new mass and increased strength, the foundations for progressive overloads. Check Out the PHUL Workout Routine Benefits of the PHAT Workout: Increase overall strength Stimulate hypertrophy (muscle building) Improve overall strength and conditioning Foundation for strength and Fitness How the PHAT Routine Works The training system takes draws from the “strengths” of both types of training that leads to progressive overload. The PHAT Workout Routine can help powerlifters build more mass and to break plateau. For bodybuilders, the goal is it add strength in order to pack on muscle mass. A great mix up with another workout every 12 weeks or so is the Push Pull Legs (PPL) Split. It adds one more day, but can still be used as a 5-day as well. Day 1Upper Power ExerciseSets x Reps Bench Press3 x 3-5 Weighted Pull Ups2 x 6-10 Horizontal Row2 x 6-10 Weighted Dips2 x 6-10 Pendlay Rows3 x 3-5 Dumbbell Shoulder Press3 x 6-10 Cambered Bar Curls3 x 6-10 Dumbbell Skull Crushers3 x 6-10 Day 2Lower Power ExerciseSets x Reps Squats3 x 3-5 Hack Squats2 x 6-10 Leg Extensions2 x 6-10 Stiff Legged Deadlifts3 x 5-8 Leg Curls2 x 6-10 Standing Calf Raise3 x 6-10 Seated Calf Raise2 x 6-10 Day 4Back & Shoulders Hypertrophy ExerciseSets x Reps Pendlay Rows6 x 3 Horizontal Row3 x 8-12 Seated Cable Row3 x 8-12 Braced Dumbbell Rows2 x 12-15 Close Grip Pulldowns2 x 6-10 Dumbbell Shoulder Press3 x 8-12 Upright Rows2 x 12-15 DB Side Lateral Raises3 x 12-20 Day 5Legs Hypertrophy ExerciseSets x Reps Squats6 x 3 Leg Press3 x 12-20 Leg Extensions3 x 12-15 Romanian Deadlift3 x 8-12 Lying Leg Curls2 x 12-15 Seated Leg Curls2 x 12-15 Donkey Calf Raises4 x 12-15 Seated Calf Raises3 x 12-20 Day 6Chest & Arms Hypertrophy ExerciseSets x Reps Dumbbell Press6 x 3 Incline Dumbbell Press3 x 8-12 Incline Chest Press3 x 12-15 Incline Cable Flys2 x 15-20 Preacher Curls3 x 8-12 DB Concentration Curls2 x 12-15 Spider Curls2 x 15-20 Cambered Bar Tricep Extension3 x 8-12 Cable Press downs w/ Rope2 x 12-15

The PHAT (Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training) Training Program
Starting the PHAT (Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training) workout routine can be a game-changer for your fitness journey. Blending powerlifting and bodybuilding elements, this unique approach offers a diverse range of benefits that can elevate your workout experience to new heights.
From enhancing strength and muscle mass to boosting metabolism and improving overall body composition, PHAT workouts are designed to push your boundaries and unlock your full potential. Whether you are a seasoned gym-goer looking to break through a plateau or a beginner seeking an efficient and effective workout regimen, incorporating PHAT into your routine can lead to remarkable results. Join me on this blog as we delve deeper into the numerous advantages of embracing a PHAT workout routine and discover how it can revolutionize your fitness goals.
The PHAT workout routine was designed by Layne Norton, PhD; who is a natural bodybuilder and powerlifter. The PHAT program combines both powerlifting and bodybuilding routine into a single training program. Although powerlifters and bodybuilders use different reps and weight schemes to reach their respective goals, Layne Norton’s program focuses has put together a training system balances the demands of both, so you can both sculpt and build strength.
The Goals of the PHAT Workout Routine
Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training (PHAT) combines both bodybuilding and powerlifting techniques to give you the best of which both have to offer. The goal of PHAT workouts is to gain both mass and strength. Bodybuilders utilize lower weights, higher reps and shorter rest times to help build muscle. Powerlifters use heavier weights, lower reps and longer rest times.

Power and Mass Workouts
Two workouts during the week will be dedicated to building power. After a rest day, the next three workouts are spent building muscle. The workouts are tough, but you have a mental and physical mix-up that keeps you from over training during each week. Your hypertrophy days and power workouts will support new mass and increased strength, the foundations for progressive overloads.
Check Out the PHUL Workout Routine
Benefits of the PHAT Workout:
- Increase overall strength
- Stimulate hypertrophy (muscle building)
- Improve overall strength and conditioning
- Foundation for strength and Fitness
How the PHAT Routine Works
The training system takes draws from the “strengths” of both types of training that leads to progressive overload. The PHAT Workout Routine can help powerlifters build more mass and to break plateau. For bodybuilders, the goal is it add strength in order to pack on muscle mass. A great mix up with another workout every 12 weeks or so is the Push Pull Legs (PPL) Split. It adds one more day, but can still be used as a 5-day as well.
Day 1 | Upper Power |
---|---|
Exercise | Sets x Reps |
Bench Press | 3 x 3-5 |
Weighted Pull Ups | 2 x 6-10 |
Horizontal Row | 2 x 6-10 |
Weighted Dips | 2 x 6-10 |
Pendlay Rows | 3 x 3-5 |
Dumbbell Shoulder Press | 3 x 6-10 |
Cambered Bar Curls | 3 x 6-10 |
Dumbbell Skull Crushers | 3 x 6-10 |
Day 2 | Lower Power |
---|---|
Exercise | Sets x Reps |
Squats | 3 x 3-5 |
Hack Squats | 2 x 6-10 |
Leg Extensions | 2 x 6-10 |
Stiff Legged Deadlifts | 3 x 5-8 |
Leg Curls | 2 x 6-10 |
Standing Calf Raise | 3 x 6-10 |
Seated Calf Raise | 2 x 6-10 |
Day 4 | Back & Shoulders Hypertrophy |
---|---|
Exercise | Sets x Reps |
Pendlay Rows | 6 x 3 |
Horizontal Row | 3 x 8-12 |
Seated Cable Row | 3 x 8-12 |
Braced Dumbbell Rows | 2 x 12-15 |
Close Grip Pulldowns | 2 x 6-10 |
Dumbbell Shoulder Press | 3 x 8-12 |
Upright Rows | 2 x 12-15 |
DB Side Lateral Raises | 3 x 12-20 |
Day 5 | Legs Hypertrophy |
---|---|
Exercise | Sets x Reps |
Squats | 6 x 3 |
Leg Press | 3 x 12-20 |
Leg Extensions | 3 x 12-15 |
Romanian Deadlift | 3 x 8-12 |
Lying Leg Curls | 2 x 12-15 |
Seated Leg Curls | 2 x 12-15 |
Donkey Calf Raises | 4 x 12-15 |
Seated Calf Raises | 3 x 12-20 |
Day 6 | Chest & Arms Hypertrophy |
---|---|
Exercise | Sets x Reps |
Dumbbell Press | 6 x 3 |
Incline Dumbbell Press | 3 x 8-12 |
Incline Chest Press | 3 x 12-15 |
Incline Cable Flys | 2 x 15-20 |
Preacher Curls | 3 x 8-12 |
DB Concentration Curls | 2 x 12-15 |
Spider Curls | 2 x 15-20 |
Cambered Bar Tricep Extension | 3 x 8-12 |
Cable Press downs w/ Rope | 2 x 12-15 |
