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• Training routines...3 days or 5 days

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Training routines...3 days or 5 days

bigblue8888 Posts: 15 Joined: 2002/10/25	2002/11/26, 04:08 PM Hi everyone, Just wondering... I'm aware that you have to work out each muscle group once a week to establish muscle growth. What is the difference if it takes you 3 days or 5 days to complete that routine. I am currently 160 lbs and 5'10". I'm VERY lean and would like to gain LEAN muscle growth. Which amount of exercise days would better suit my purpose? Thanks
mandre Posts: 212 Joined: 2002/04/23	2002/11/26, 04:14 PM Have you tried the mass gains program? :) Melissa -------------- Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. - -- Aristotle
mackfactor Posts: 766 Joined: 2002/10/17	2002/11/26, 04:45 PM I think it's better to go three or four days. The more fibers in more groups you work per training session, the more overall stimulation and hence, muscle growth you'll get. Spreading out a full body workout over 5 days will run you a little thin in the intensity department in my opinion. -------------- "Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!" -- Bob Dylan
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2002/11/26, 10:48 PM On the contrary, I think 5 days is excellent. One big reason....you can divide your muscle groups up even more, meaning you can put even more intensity into each workout when you only have one or two muscle groups to work. Plus, you will be in and out of the gym in about 45 min. which is an optimal workout time. My opinion anyway...each has what works for them. Experiment, find what works for you and use it. No workout is a one size fits all. Bottom line, if what you are doing now is working for you and you are progressing the way you like, then stay with it. If not, a chamge may be in order.
chris789 Posts: 99 Joined: 2002/09/06	2002/11/27, 09:39 AM I agree with BB1fit on this one. If you spread it out over more days, you can focus more on that muscle group that day. Let's say you work 2 muscle groups a day over 5 days. When you get to your second muscle group, you have only worked 1 other one before it, that way you still have plenty energy to spare. Now if you work 3 or 4 muscle groups a day over 3 days, then toward the end of your workout, your energy is drained, making the workout less effective. Even though this is what I believe, my personal schedule allows me to only work out 3 days a week, but I think 5 would be better. -------------- "Some people call it insanity, I call it intensity"
the_w8lifter Posts: 138 Joined: 2001/08/03	2002/11/27, 10:49 AM I mix it up a little. I agree that spreading over more days is most beneficial. I have a four day split and then one extra day in a muscle group I want to target a little more. I rotate this target group as to not overtrain. I also make sure it is evenly spaced from the last workout hitting that area so that I have had plenty of recuperation time. My favorite split is legs. I get much more out of my quads and hams when working them on different days.
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2002/11/27, 05:27 PM Good views w8lifter...you are exactly right. That is an optimal workout. There are many. Some people benefit more from more work, some from less. Depends alot on what predominatley fiber twitch you are in most cases.
bigblue8888 Posts: 15 Joined: 2002/10/25	2002/11/30, 09:47 PM thank all for your input