How to workout to build strength

[NathL]

Hi Cathe,
Greetings from Québec City, Canada!

I workout 3 times a week (with 2 kids, it's hard to do it more often!!!). I do some aerobics then strength training. I usually try to work legs, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps and abs in every session. I change my strength training workout each time, thinking that it's better beacause my body doesn't get used to a routine and gets "challenged" every time. But I noticed on the forums that a lot of people seem to use the same workout for a certain time (often a couple of weeks) and do not workout every muscle group every time.

So I wonder, if my goal is to increase strength and definition, what would be the better way to workout?

Thanks a lot. Happy Holidays to you

Nathalie

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Nathalie!


It sounds like your body has become acclimated to your routine even though you change your exercise selections a bit.

Being that three days a week is the only time you can lift....rather than do cardio first, do weights then cardio. This will shock your system a bit. Another way to change things up is instead of covering all of those body parts in each session, do 1) back/biceps/abs, 2) chest triceps/abs, and then 3) legs/shoulders. During these sessions lift heavier and select a variety of exercises for each of these muscle groups.

Another big shocker would be if you have time on your three days to do a split session as in cardio in the morning and weights by evening (or vice versa). If so, you could do the Pure Strength Series at one time of day and your cardio during the other.

Just some ideas.