Total Body Workouts

[RBurke]

Hi everyone.
I have been off working out for a month or so but I am a Cathe veteran. I also have access to a gym. I've always done a split routine for weight training in a similar format as the PS Series. I've never done a total body workout. However, I am considering starting a program that was taken from a book that involves three total body workouts per week. Each time you work the muscle differently. I am usually sore after my split routine. I am afraid that I will have my whole body sore by starting this routine. Any suggestions? Is there a way to push yourself without making the whole body sore so you can't move? I want to try it because I want to do some different stuff. Anyone have experience with total body workouts? Is it more for beginners or is it an advanced thing too?
Thanks.

 

[cinza]

I am curious

what is your goal ?
and which book are you going with? and why this particular book?

Have you looked through lots of books or just feel like this one is the one you want for a particular reason.

I wouldnt have any advise that you couldnt think of yourself... but i do have a question or two:

will you be totally sore for ever as long as you are working out or just for a week or two when you start a new program.

If you stay sore all the time maybe there is something to think about about what you are doing ...
I think a little sore is ok but suffering all the time isnt ok.

I am chronicly overtrained ... i know i should rest more than i do but I dont because i have some stupid idea that i have to push all the time.
...But when i am forced to rest i come back feeling better.....

How old are you?
your age is going to effect how much rest you need.
I noticed in one book i read that some 'older' lifters (and older might only be 40 not 65!) only do one day for each body part a week... It takes longer for the muscles to heal and you dont get stronger till they heal... Period..

There is a woman at my gym who is 42 and looks like she is out of a muscle mag ... she tells me she works upper and lower each 2x a week... does cardio other days....

 

[competition bound]

Right now I am doing a total body routine. I like to alternate between split routines and total body. I get sore when doing total body. It takes a lot to get me sore doing splits. I don't know why. I feel it is good to alternate both. Your body keeps getting a shcok from the different training methods. Which will keep your muscles up. I do total body 3x/week. When I do split routines, I can only hit each body part 2x/week. So I'm getting in an extra day of weights. Give the total body routine a months go at it. You might be pleasantly surprised! Good Luck!!

Aimee

 

[RBurke]

My goal is to loose a little fat and get leaner muscles. I am usually sore after a split routine because I do exactly what I am told to do by all the magazines. I lift as much weight as I can where I am struggling on the 8th or 10th rep. I do three exercises for the same body part with a split. For example, I do three exercises for chest, three for shoulders and three for triceps one day. I only do this exercise once per week. I have three total lifting days but I do all the exercises at the same time.
The book is called "Sculpting her body Perfect". I've just never tried total body and a lady at work had good success with it so I thought I could try it. I've read many books and I read many magazines. I check this forum frequently for advice and such. How long does it take to do a total body routine? I will be doing different exercises for the same muscle but on different days. For example, day 1 I would do bench press, day 2 (couple days after day 1) I would do fly exercises, day 3 I would do cables. These are all exercises for the chest but they hit the muscle in a different way. I guess I really need power hour. I don't have MIS. I know...I am bad. I have everything else but MIS scares me and I don't have time to do a 75 minute tape most days.

 

[cinza]

i hope someone else comes along on this thread..with better qualifications

but my understanding is
if you want to cut out some fat along the way ... go for exhausting yourself with more reps .. not the heaviest for 8-10 but for 15 -20..
something more like body pump...

YOu might look at brad schoenfelds other book..."look great naked" .... i think that book is good too.... and i think it addresses fat a bit more...

if its your lower body you want to trim check out
"the Lower body solution"

Here is a web page and rotation that goes witht the lower body solution:
http://www.virtualfit-trainer.com/LBS.htm#videorotation

Are you following the 3 month challange in Muscle fitness mag?
I have the program but i am not doing it at the moment.

Its a 3 month routine to burn fat and get definition....they have suggestions like use groups of muscles when you work out... it burns more calories.
its in last month;s issue and this and next month.

good luck.

 

[Loriv]

Oh my goodness, the soreness is what keeps me driving on!!! I would suggest that rather than be sore (to where you can't move), simply take an hour walk, starting out at your normal pace and moving your arms gradually until you are warmed up, then gradually add speed and pump your arms up and down (elbows bent slightly, pumping from hip level up to head). You might think that you look funny, but that's what I do to fix soreness, if it becomes too much, and you burn more calories to boot! Besides if people critisize you for exercising, they are simply miserable in their lives - it has nothing to do with you AND any serious exerciser will know why you are pumping those arms because they probably do it themselves!!! It's better than lying around in misery. You may still be a little sore after your walk, but not nearly as much as before it, then all you should need is a nice long stretch and poof....the pain should be gone. Hope I helped! Sorry so long-winded!!