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Full body weights okay?

rayner Posts: 7 Joined: 2002/07/31	2002/11/27, 06:27 AM I have a question regarding the effectiveness of full body weight workouts. I am quite new to heavy weights. I have tried split routines, but due to work commitments found that sometimes I wasn't able to make the workouts, and would sometimes end up going longer than a week between body parts. I have now started a full body weight workout twice every 7 or 8 days, using a workout in Muscle and Fitness magazine (plus step/kickbox videos 2-3 times a week). I enjoy these workouts, and really like the feeling of working everything and feeling sore all over the next day. However, is this effective for gaining muscle mass? If so, for how long? I know that most people use a split routine, but I just prefer doing this. (BTW, I am female, 130 pounds, 5 feet 8 inches, very skinny upper body, wobbly legs!) Thanks in advance! Sharon.
mikencharleston Posts: 1,585 Joined: 2002/01/09	2002/11/27, 07:36 AM Several schools of thought on this one and I know a few folks that do full body twice a week and are making fair gains in spite of less than ideal diets. Then again, they've just started a few months ago and beginner gains are almost possible just by walking into the gym. There are a couple of web sites that specialize in this kind of workout but when it gets right down to it, If that's what time you have available it doesn't matter if it's the best for you or not. Let us know how it works for you.
rayner Posts: 7 Joined: 2002/07/31	2002/11/27, 09:04 AM Thanks Mikencharleston. Do you happen to know the website addresses that you mentioned? Sharon.
mikencharleston Posts: 1,585 Joined: 2002/01/09	2002/11/27, 09:20 AM Sharon - I have all my links on another pc but I'll dig them up and post later.
chris789 Posts: 99 Joined: 2002/09/06	2002/11/27, 09:55 AM Mike is right. If the only time you can go in the gym is to do this twice a week, then by all means do it. It's far better to go twice a week and do this than to not go at all. It is also good that you are doing a full body workout since having a overall well balanced routine is very important. Good luck. -------------- "Some people call it insanity, I call it intensity"
mikencharleston Posts: 1,585 Joined: 2002/01/09	2002/11/27, 10:47 AM Here's a couple that might be worth be worth checking out. I asked one of my friends that does the twice a week and he emailed me the first one so I can't vouch for it. I've used (and still do when on travel) the second one (it's from Dave Drapers site) and it works. http://www.2-fit.com/bodybuilding/workouts.html http://davedraper.com/sample-full-body-workout-contents.html
hey_yoda Posts: 36 Joined: 2002/10/03	2002/12/12, 02:27 AM I found this to be a good article for beginners. The first part focusses on diet and workout "rules", second part focusses on the actual exercises. http://www.weightrainer.com/training/beginners1.html http://www.weightrainer.com/training/beginners2.html These are the exercises they recommend doing every time: Squats Bench Presses Bent-Over Rows Overhead Barbell Presses Stiff-Legged Deadlifts Barbell Curls Donkey Calf Raises Reverse Crunches I think that's a good routine, but myself I would substitue the barbell curls with lat pulldowns or chin-ups (if you can do them). You'll get plenty of bicep work with these, and work your lats as well. I've heard of people getting better results on their biceps by focussing on their upper back rather than on the biceps themselves.