5-day split

Bikini Competition Workout Plan

Five days shaped around what the division is actually judged on: glutes, shoulders and a back that holds a line.

Who it’s for

For anyone training toward a bikini division or simply wanting that shape. The week is weighted to the areas the category rewards — two glute-led days, a dedicated shoulder day for the delt width that makes a waist look smaller, and back and arms together. It assumes you are past your first year of training.

How the week runs

Five sessions: glutes, shoulders, quads, back and arms, then glutes and legs again. Glutes appear twice by design. Shoulders get their own day rather than a few sets tacked onto a push session, because lateral delt development is slow and needs the volume.

The program

All 5 sessions and 25 exercises, exactly as they arrive in the app. Rep ranges and rest are the defaults — change any of them once it is yours.

Bikini Day 1 – Glutes

5 exercises
ExerciseMuscleSetsRepsRest
Barbell Hip ThrustBarbell · compoundGlutes48–12120s
Romanian DeadliftBarbell · compoundHamstrings38–12120s
Cable KickbackCable · isolationGlutes310–1590s
Lying Leg CurlMachine · isolationHamstrings310–1590s
Hip AbductorMachine · isolationAbductors310–1590s

Bikini Day 2 – Shoulders

5 exercises
ExerciseMuscleSetsRepsRest
Overhead PressBarbell · compoundShoulders48–12120s
Dumbbell Lateral RaisesDumbbell · isolationShoulders310–1590s
Reverse Pec DeckMachine · isolationUpper back310–1590s
Front RaiseDumbbell · isolationShoulders310–1590s
Cable CrunchCable · isolationAbs310–1590s

Bikini Day 3 – Quads

5 exercises
ExerciseMuscleSetsRepsRest
Hack Squat MachineMachine · compoundQuads48–12120s
Leg PressPlate machine · compoundQuads38–12120s
Dumbbell Walking LungeDumbbell · compoundQuads38–12120s
Leg ExtensionsMachine · isolationQuads310–1590s
Standing Calf RaiseBodyweight · isolationCalves310–1590s

Bikini Day 4 – Back & Arms

5 exercises
ExerciseMuscleSetsRepsRest
PulldownsCable · compoundLats48–12120s
Seated Cable RowCable · compoundUpper back38–12120s
FacepullCable · isolationUpper back310–1590s
Dumbbell Bicep CurlDumbbell · isolationBiceps310–1590s
Triceps ExtensionsDumbbell · isolationTriceps310–1590s

Bikini Day 5 – Glutes & Legs

5 exercises
ExerciseMuscleSetsRepsRest
Barbell Hip ThrustBarbell · compoundGlutes48–12120s
Bulgarian Split SquatsDumbbell · compoundQuads38–12120s
Cable KickbackCable · isolationGlutes310–1590s
Seated Leg CurlMachine · isolationHamstrings310–1575s
Calf RaisesMachine · isolationCalves310–1590s

Run it without typing any of it in

This split is built into Gym Journal. Star it and it becomes your week — the app knows what today’s session is, tracks every set, and tells you when to add weight.

Frequently asked questions

How long before a show should I start prep?

Training structure like this can run year-round. The nutrition side of prep is usually 12–20 weeks depending on where you are starting, and that is a conversation for a coach rather than an app.

Why train shoulders on their own day?

Lateral delts are what create the shoulder-to-waist line the division is judged on, they are small, and they recover fast. A dedicated day is the simplest way to give them enough sets.

Do I need cardio as well?

For a show, eventually — but cardio is a fat-loss tool, not a shaping one. The training here is what builds the shape; cardio and food reveal it.

Other splits

All split guides