Home
🇫🇷 FR🇬🇧 EN🇪🇸 ES🇧🇷 PT🇩🇪 DE🇮🇹 IT🇮🇳 HI🇸🇦 AR

Smart Rabbit Blog

AI fitness, personalized programs and expertise by Jacques Chauvin

← Back to articles

Full-Body vs Split Program: How AI Chooses for You

Full-Body vs Split Program: How AI Chooses for You

How does Smart Rabbit choose between Full-Body and Split?

Smart Rabbit analyzes your complete profile (available frequency, level, goals, recovery capacity) to determine which structure matches your unique situation. There is no universal formula.

Full-Body or Split? Smart Rabbit doesn't impose an arbitrary choice: it analyzes your situation and identifies the structure that may suit your profile.

The fundamental differences

Full-Body Program

All muscle groups each session. Typical frequency: 3 times/week per muscle.

Split Program

Division by muscle groups on different days. Typical frequency: 2 times/week per muscle.

How Smart Rabbit analyzes your profile

Smart Rabbit evaluates 4 main criteria to identify which approach may suit you:

1. Available training frequency

General research trends:

  • 3 days available: Full-Body often suits, allows 3x/week muscle frequency
  • 4 days available: Upper/Lower or Full-Body may suit depending on preferences
  • 5-6 days available: Split PPL becomes feasible if adequate recovery capacity

Smart Rabbit adaptation: Analyzes your real schedule, personal constraints, and preferences to recommend structure consistent with your life.

2. Experience level

General research trends:

  • Beginners (0-6 months): Research often shows better results with Full-Body for technical learning and high frequency
  • Intermediates (6-24 months): Increased flexibility, can progress with different approaches
  • Advanced (24+ months): Split often appreciated for high volume per muscle, but Full-Body remains effective for some

Smart Rabbit adaptation: Evaluates your real technical mastery, progression history, and personal preferences beyond simple training time.

Beginner? Check the beginners guide.

3. Main objectives

General research trends:

  • Maximum strength: Full-Body often allows high frequency on compound movements
  • Hypertrophy: Split can allow high local volume, but Full-Body remains effective for many
  • Muscle definition: Full-Body works well with high energy expenditure

Smart Rabbit adaptation: Combines your goals with your other parameters (time, level, recovery) to identify consistent structure.

4. Possible session duration

General research trends:

  • 45-60 min: Compact Full-Body with essential exercises
  • 75-90 min: Allows Split with comfortable volume per muscle group
  • 90-120 min: Split with very high volume becomes feasible

Smart Rabbit adaptation: Optimizes density and exercise selection according to actually available time.

Inter-individual variability

Research shows great response variability between individuals. Some people progress excellently with 3-day Full-Body, others prefer 5-day Split. Smart Rabbit tests and adjusts based on your feedback.

My advice as WNBF coach

In 15 years of competition, I've seen excellent results with both approaches. The key: consistency trumps format. Smart Rabbit asks the right questions and optimizes for YOU, not for a general theory.

Discover your optimal format

Let Smart Rabbit analyze your unique profile.

Create my personalized program

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is Full-Body really better for beginners?

Yes, scientifically. Full-Body allows a frequency of 3 times/week per muscle, ideal for motor learning and rapid progression. Smart Rabbit systematically recommends it to beginners to maximize technical memorization.

Can I do Split with 3 sessions per week?

Technically yes, but not optimal. With 3 days, a Split means each muscle is only worked once per week, which is sub-optimal according to scientific literature. Smart Rabbit will recommend Full-Body to maximize your results.

What if I want to change format after a few weeks?

No problem\! Simply dialogue with Claude: "I would like to switch from Full-Body to Upper/Lower". Claude will instantly recalculate your program with the new structure, keeping your goals and level.

Is PPL (Push/Pull/Legs) the best Split?

PPL is excellent for 6 days/week as it allows 2 times per muscle with high volume. But for 5 days, Smart Rabbit may suggest Upper/Lower. For 4 days, Full-Body often remains more effective. The "best" depends on your actual frequency.

How does Smart Rabbit calculate the total time for each format?

Smart Rabbit adds (execution time + rest time) × number of sets for EACH exercise. If the total exceeds your available duration, it adjusts the number of exercises or suggests a more compact format like Full-Body.

👨‍💼 About the author

Jacques Chauvin

Sports coach and WNBF competitor (4th place world amateur New York)

Ready to transform your fitness?

Discover Smart Rabbit and create your free personalized program.

Try Smart Rabbit
Smart Rabbit: The Full App