Cast aside preconceptions of juiced-up gym bros with veins for days — when you strip it right back, bodybuilding is about just that: building your body. Not only did the labourer-turned-lifter win the Arnold Classic in , he was also the highest placed Brit in Mr Olympia, so the competitive bodybuilder knows a thing or two about muscle mass. A question nearly every beginner asks: how many hours of training should you average a week to become bigger and more defined? The answer is this: it really depends on your training splits. There are a number of ways, however, you can tackle them — for example, splitting them by upper and lower body exercises or focusing on push and pull motions — and then even more ways of scheduling them: every other day, four days on three days off, and so on. Generally speaking, the best routine is the one that fits in with your life.