3 day split or mixed routine

[robbo]

gday gday, at the moment im on a 3 day split, monday biceps and back, wednesday legs, friday chest tris and shoulders. i have a few friends who are doing a full body workout each session they are at the gym and are getting good gains. i am just wondering what are peoples opinions on this, do you think its better to do a 3 day split or a full body workout each time you go to the gym?
any feedback would be great.

[JayFive]

Originally Posted by robbo

gday gday, at the moment im on a 3 day split, monday biceps and back, wednesday legs, friday chest tris and shoulders. i have a few friends who are doing a full body workout each session they are at the gym and are getting good gains. i am just wondering what are peoples opinions on this, do you think its better to do a 3 day split or a full body workout each time you go to the gym?
any feedback would be great.

It seems more likely that they're just becoming leaner. A full body workout seems less likely to give good strength gains unless you're a newb than a proper split. You can't work your full body hard enough in 1 workout session and theres not enough rest to allow for proper growth.

A full body workout circuit training routine with supersets is more likely to develop endurance and offer an aerobic workout than to increase strength. Also, it'd probably just be temp gains. They're working every body part each workout so I'd bet that their muscles are inflamed all week (basically swollen while the body rushes blood to them to get to repairing). My money is that it isn't actual gains and that its more likely either one of the above or they're newbs that would gain with any routine.

[lee thompson]

Each to their own,years ago bodybuilders did total body workouts 3 times a week,check out Reg Park,John Grimek and Clarence Ross,but i suppose its down to time and personal choice.

[JaimeA]

I don't do it this way but I do upper body all in the same day, so I have a question and I hope this I'd the right place . If you were doing this would you just follow you split or know you can work out again when all soreness is gone? I mean should you follow your routine or just go ahead and let your body tell you when to work out again (whether it's sooner or later )?

[PhiSigPhi]

I fail to see how a properly put together full body routine would not build muscle. You need to look at it from a big lift picture though. On a full body routine, you end up working the muscles the same amount in a week as you do on a split.

They both work, just have to have the proper diet, the right motivation, and a correctly executed routine.

EDIT: Additionally, everyone's bodies respond differently to different trainings types. To be honest, jsut stick with one training type until you hit a plateau and then change it up. There are advantages and disadvantages to every training type. To make sure you get all the advantages, do it all. No matter what, you aren't hurting yourself.

[mitchcumstein]

Originally Posted by robbo

gday gday, at the moment im on a 3 day split, monday biceps and back, wednesday legs, friday chest tris and shoulders. i have a few friends who are doing a full body workout each session they are at the gym and are getting good gains. i am just wondering what are peoples opinions on this, do you think its better to do a 3 day split or a full body workout each time you go to the gym?
any feedback would be great.

Full body workouts in my opinion are for newbies and women. If youve been lifting at least a few months then you should probably get on a 3 day split like the one you listed. Its a good way to train.

[JayFive]

Originally Posted by PhiSigPhi

I fail to see how a properly put together full body routine would not build muscle. You need to look at it from a big lift picture though. On a full body routine, you end up working the muscles the same amount in a week as you do on a split.

They both work, just have to have the proper diet, the right motivation, and a correctly executed routine.

EDIT: Additionally, everyone's bodies respond differently to different trainings types. To be honest, jsut stick with one training type until you hit a plateau and then change it up. There are advantages and disadvantages to every training type. To make sure you get all the advantages, do it all. No matter what, you aren't hurting yourself.

Granted, but it's doubtful it'd be a full body routine that's properly put together. For example, maddcows 5x5 and the texas method, along with rippetoes' starting strength, are all bull body routines but mostly centered around the big lifts only. And the idea its basically to use the compound exercises to stimulate the full body.
Most full body workouts are going to have bench as the only big lift in there, or if you're really lucky then there'll be squats. It'll follow the ridiculous 3x8 rule and it'll have the same amount of sets dedicated to each body part, ignoring the fact that legs and back are way bigger and more complex than bis and tris.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by mitchcumstein

Full body workouts in my opinion are for newbies and women. If youve been lifting at least a few months then you should probably get on a 3 day split like the one you listed. Its a good way to train.

Bingo!

[skullmurdoc]

I currently do Madcow 5x5 routine! Would I be better off doing a split? I like the program and I have had some great result with 5x5 routine but if it's not optimal I will switch it!

[JayFive]

Originally Posted by skullmurdoc

I currently do Madcow 5x5 routine! Would I be better off doing a split? I like the program and I have had some great result with 5x5 routine but if it's not optimal I will switch it!

Madcow, from what I've seen, should give you a lot more bas strength. It'll give a bit of size with the strength too but I believe it was said in another thread around here that Dogcrapp will give you better size gains. I like the Madcow program personally and I'll use that for a while before I alter it to start focusing on weakpoints.

[PhiSigPhi]

I'm absolutely loving the Madcow program. Nothing like working out for no more than 3 hours a week and getting into better shape! (thats not including outside the gym activities)

It's just so simple, and mentally easy. It's pure, raw strength and nothin like getting to the point where you have PR's week after week. I'm going to do it until my squat 5 max squat is 300 (which is about 50lbs more than I've ever tried I think?)

[pontiac]

Hi , i'm a newb at this and just woundering what you think about m1t, or something slse to use, i'm 5 feet 10 inches and weigh 145 lb, with 13% body fat......38 yrs old, i would like to gain size and have a good figure, any information is helpfull thx......