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split routines

Xphobicas Posts: 98 Joined: 2002/09/19	2002/10/07, 12:01 PM I don't see how split routines where u only work a particular muscle once a week is better than working that same muscle monday,wednesday,and saturday.It seems that using split routines is limited.I only go to the gym when i am fully healed from the prior work out so i don't think i am overtraining?Can someone describe to me if split routines is better or worse than my 3 day full body work outs a week?
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2002/10/07, 12:39 PM Well I think it depends on your goals, how long you have been training. I know that when i first started 8 years ago, I did each bodypart 2x a week. That was with cardio. Now I have progressed, by that I mean that if I was to do a full body workout M, W, S, I would be in there for at least 2 hours with no cardio. There is no way that my body would grow with that type of work out. I do not know if yours is either. Like I said it depends on your goals, if you want to gain muscle mass I do not think you will do so in thelong run. The difference between the two is this, You most likely know that when you lift a weight it tears the muscle tissue. When you eat and rest the right amount it repairs, and that is how you bulid muscle mass. By doing a split routine you allow the body enough time to do this. By doing a full body 3 x a week it does not fully recover to rally bulid mass and muscle tissue. I know that you do not feel sore and can do the workout the next time, but in reality the body is just used to that level of strain. And that brings us to another benefit to the split or the 3x a week routine. YOu can put greater stress on the body doing a split routine, this enables you to keep the body guessing and averting a plataeu (spelling I knowLOL). And that is the other thing about splits vs full body. I have done both for a number of years each. I have made greater gains with the split routine. Because it does breed "muscle confusion" whereby your body does not know what weight, exercise, or reps or sets you will do. One other thing it saves you a lot of time in the gym as well. If your goals are that you want to bulid lean mass and not huge muscles do not worry, that will not happen even witht he split routine. Also the full body style workouts should only be used by begginers/or as a shock routine to break out of a slump. Hope this helps you...anyother questions feel free to write. -------------- I LIFT, THERFORE, I AM!
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2002/10/07, 12:41 PM Let me add that when I said you will not bulid huge muscles I meant to say that you will not do so even with a split routine unless you want to. Depends on what you want to do. -------------- I LIFT, THERFORE, I AM!
Xphobicas Posts: 98 Joined: 2002/09/19	2002/10/08, 12:16 PM Thanks mutt for the help,i really appreciate it.I got one more question.For building muscle what is the best number of sets for each excersize?i use 2-3 but this site suggests 4? should i do
EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/10/08, 12:22 PM also, if your trying to get some mass in ur bigger muscles in your body, its good to do a split routine. It depends on what muscles your working out. Smaller muscles take less time to grow, so therefore bigger ones take more time to grow. I do my upper body about 3 times per week cuz they have small muscles, ab's twice a week. and then i do legs and back only once per week because they are bigger muscles. So i think it all depends on what muscles your using and like 7707mutt says, your goals. -------------- Tiffany Der #10 "You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."
Xphobicas Posts: 98 Joined: 2002/09/19	2002/10/08, 12:24 PM never mind about the last question above.i have another question.Should i work out 3 or 4 times a week with split routines with the goal of building muscle. right now i work out 3 times a week.
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2002/10/08, 12:25 PM If you are a begginer stay with 2-3 for at least 3 months or longer, then work up tp 3-4/ -------------- I LIFT, THERFORE, I AM!
Xphobicas Posts: 98 Joined: 2002/09/19	2002/10/08, 12:42 PM thanks for the help again