What's your opinion re: strength training

[midnight]

Hi,

I am wondering what people have found to be more effective, doing a total body workout 2-3 x per week, or spreading out the muscle workouts i.e. upper body one day, lower body another day, abs whenever. The reason I am asking is that I have been doing mostly total body muscle workouts but I am considering the Gym series. Can anyone tell me what has worked for you????

Be well

 

[kathryn]

Well, it depends on what your goals are. For general "toning," and fitness, I would recommend a total body workout 2 or 3 times a week. If you want to increase strength and grow some muscle, then hitting each body part hard once a week, while allowing for recuperation and fueling your body with enough calories for growth will take you in that direction.

Of course, it also depends on where you are at in your strength training. For someone just starting out, I would recommend a full body workout 2x/week, increasing to 3x after 2 weeks. Then move one to a two-day split (like the Pyramids), doing each twice a week. Then do a three-day split (like PS or the new Gym Styles), doing each once a week.

 

[Shelbygirl]

What has worked pretty well for me is to work all the upper body parts in one day (half in the morning and half later on) and do this twice a week. I also do a leg workout once or twice a week. Finally, I try to get either a full body workout in (say Power Hour or ME) or a circuit workout once a week. I've gotten pretty strong doing this and have fairly good definition (in my upper body anyway).

I haven't tried the Gym Style workouts yet. They do look good, though, don't they? I just hope I'm able to easily convert them into my preferred two day split without killing myself!).

Take Care,
Shelbygirl

 

[midnight]

I'm not a strength training novice. I was doing total body workouts mostly for the time factor but I'm definitely ready for the next level. I do have MuscleMax, which I've done once and liked. Maybe if I get the Gym series I'll just figure out a rotation that works with my cardio program. I don't want to stop doing MuscleMax completely since I just got it. I also have MIS (which I'm sick to death of but that's what got me started) and SuperSets (which I do when I don't feel like doing much but feel like I should). I'm really starting to wish I had pre-ordered the whole set!!

Midnight (aka Lois)

 

[cakebaker]

Lately I've been doing upper body one day, lower body another day, and total body one day for 3X per week. I've been doing pilates 3X per week on top of that by teaching classes, too - 3 1/2 hour classes. I would never do pilates instead of - it's a bonus, which is what I see Oprah is doing now, too.

 

[jordan]

I have to agree with Kathryn. This is what I have found to be the best progression. It really depends on where you are in your program and what your goals are.

jordan

 

[hippahips]

I like to spread things out: upper body one day, lower body the next; or two body parts a day -- it all depends on what I want to accomplish, how much time I have and how motivated I am.

I like spreading out the upper body in two sessions, either chest/shoulders/triceps and back/biceps or chest/tri and back/sh/bis (HC gym style) or in the push pull method, chest/back and sh/bi/tri.

I also like spreading out my leg sessions in three: standing one day, then floor work two days later, then kickboxing at the end of the week.

There are also months when I alternate one week of strength workouts with a week of endurance workouts. With endurance, body parts are worked out more often but with lesser weights.

Pinky