Complete Guide to Will Tennyson’s Training Plan
If you’ve ever watched Will Tennyson on YouTube, you know he’s more than just a fitness influencer — he’s a dedicated lifter who combines humor, discipline, and intelligent programming. His training focuses on balance: building muscle mass, improving strength, and maintaining conditioning.
Our team at Generation Iron is going to break down Will Tennyson’s complete workout routine, training split, philosophy, and how you can apply it to your own fitness plan.
Who Is Will Tennyson?
Will Tennyson is a popular fitness YouTuber known for documenting his journey through bulking, cutting, and lifestyle transformations. He’s built a loyal following through his honest approach to fitness and nutrition, as well as his emphasis on sustainable progress. His workout routine is designed to target every major muscle group twice per week, using a five-day training split that mixes compound lifts with accessory movements for balanced development.
Training Philosophy
Tennyson’s approach to training is rooted in consistency, effort, and structure. His main principles include:
- Training Frequency: Typically five days per week, with a mix of push/pull and upper/lower body days.
- Full-Body Coverage: Each muscle group gets trained at least twice per week.
- Progressive Overload: Gradually increasing weight, reps, or sets to ensure long-term progress.
- Varied Rep Ranges: Heavy compound lifts for low reps, followed by higher-rep accessory work.
- Conditioning & Recovery: Regular cardio and 10,000+ steps per day for endurance and recovery.
Will Tennyson’s Weekly Workout Split
Below is a representative version of his five-day split based on his shared routines and videos.
| Day | Focus | Sample Exercises |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Chest, Back, Biceps | Incline Dumbbell Press, Barbell Row, Cable Fly, Lat Pulldown, Dumbbell Curl |
| Day 2 | Legs, Triceps | Squat, Leg Press, Hamstring Curl, Tricep Pushdown, Skull Crusher |
| Day 3 | Shoulders, Biceps | Seated Shoulder Press, Lateral Raise, Upright Row, Preacher Curl, Hammer Curl |
| Day 4 | Chest, Back | Bench Press, Pulldown, Incline Press, Cable Row, Pec Deck Fly |
| Day 5 | Shoulders, Legs, Triceps | Overhead Press, Smith Squat, Romanian Deadlift, Lateral Raise, Dumbbell Skull Crusher |
| Day 6 & 7 | Active Recovery | Light Cardio, Walking, Mobility Work |
Example: Upper/Lower Split Variation
When Tennyson runs an upper/lower split, it looks something like this:
Upper Day 1
- Incline Bench Press – 3 sets of 6-8 reps
- T-Bar Row – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Dumbbell Shoulder Press – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Lat Pulldown – 3 sets of 8-12 reps
- Cable Chest Fly – 3 sets of 10-15 reps
- Lateral Raise – 3 sets of 12-15 reps
Lower Day 1
- Hack Squat – 3 sets of 8-10 reps
- Leg Press – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Seated Hamstring Curl – 3 sets of 12-15 reps
- Cable Curl Superset with Rope Tricep Extension – 3 sets of 10-12 each
- Hammer Curl Superset with Tricep Pushdown – 3 sets of 10-12 each
Upper Day 2
- Flat Bench Press – 3 sets of 8-10 reps
- Chest-Supported Row – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Arnold Press – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Neutral-Grip Pulldown – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Incline Dumbbell Press – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Cable Lateral Raise – 3 sets of 15-20 reps
Lower Day 2
- Belt Squat – 3 sets of 12-15 reps
- Bulgarian Split Squat – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Leg Extension – 3 sets of 12-15 reps
- Romanian Deadlift – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Overhead Dumbbell Tricep Extension Superset with Calf Raises – 3 sets each
Key Takeaways
- Start Smart: If you’re new to lifting, reduce the number of sets and focus on learning proper form before increasing weight.
- Compound First: Begin each session with a major lift like bench press or squats.
- Mix Rep Ranges: Alternate between heavy low-rep and lighter high-rep sets for balanced strength and hypertrophy.
- Use Supersets: Combining exercises for opposing muscle groups saves time and increases training intensity.
- Stay Consistent: Tennyson’s success comes from years of training without skipping workouts or chasing fads.
Recovery and Lifestyle
Will emphasizes recovery just as much as training. He walks daily, stays hydrated, and prioritizes sleep. He also tracks his nutrition closely during bulking and cutting phases, aiming for balance rather than strict restriction.
Final Thoughts
Will Tennyson’s workout routine offers a proven structure for anyone serious about fitness. Whether your goal is to build muscle, get stronger, or develop a more athletic physique, his plan delivers the right balance of effort, variety, and recovery.
If you’re inspired by his approach, start by adopting the five-day split or the upper/lower version that best suits your schedule. Track your lifts, progress gradually, and make recovery part of your plan. With patience and consistency, you’ll start seeing results just like Will does.
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