Jay Cutler is helping his fans start the New Year with a concrete training strategy. On Dec. 30, 2025, via YouTube, he revealed that training 12 total sets per body part works best for progress and recovery.
The smallest details during a workout can make-or-break a bodybuilder’s career. This was the case for Jay Cutler, who mimicked Ronnie Coleman’s training habits to catch up with him onstage. In 2006, Cutler cemented himself as an Olympia champion and managed to win the prestigious contest four times before calling it a career.
Cutler hasn’t lost his condition or mass in retirement. He still trains seven days a week, focusing on longevity and functionality over hypertrophy. At 52 years old, recovery drives his routine, which nudged him to drop his total working volume per muscle group.
Jay Cutler on the Ideal Sets Per Body Part for Progress and Recovery
In his latest video on the JayCutlerTV YouTube channel, Cutler revealed that 12 sets per body part is best for progress. He admits that he used to aim for 20 sets per body part, but decreased it for recovery. These numbers exclude warm-up sets.
“Ideally, I try to do at least four movements now for a body part. If we do four movements, and we do three working sets each, that’s 12 total sets, plus a couple warm-ups, maybe adding one or two here. We end up with just enough, where I used to promote doing 20 sets a body part.”
“With recovery and eating less, and the schedule I’m on right now… a minimum of 12 total sets,” Jay Cutler shared. “
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High-volume training defined Cutler’s career and helped him stand out in the Men’s Open. Even today, he uses volume-focused training, especially when building larger muscle groups like the back. Since he’s less concerned with size in retirement, he believes this style of training suits him best.
Aside from Cutler, 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper explored how many sets were optimal for strength gains. For a normal gym-goer, he recommended 10 to 15 working sets per week in the one-to-eight rep range.
“You should train the number of days a week that you are able to with your lifestyle and what you can keep consistent. One of the most important things is that when you are in the gym you’re in there putting in a reasonably substantial effort.
Cutler hasn’t taken a backstep since his last bodybuilding contest in 2013. He believes using 12 sets per body part fits best with his current lifestyle and recovery demands.
RELATED: Bodybuilding Legend Jay Cutler Breaks Down His Current Chest, Calves, and Abs Routine at 52
Watch the full video from the JayCutlerTV YouTube channel below:
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