Full BOdy or Split?

Rocky89 · 04-Jul-08, 03:17 PM

i have been doing splits for awhile now and am thinking about switching to splits. I have heard from numerous people that full body would not get me lean? might get me strong but not lean?

the reason i am going for the change is because, in a week I might go to the gym 3 days sometimes less. and i had each major body part planned for each day . so it would take more than two weeks for me to return to the same body part again .. thus resulting in weakness.. it is like starting all over again .. my body would have to get used to the weight...

I am trying to get lean .. by lean i dont mean ripped.. but more like atleast some cuts showing.. alittle muscle showing on the side of the arms...... What do you think?

below is the routines i will be following.. i used to do the full body ... but the new one comprises of each one...

westside24 · 05-Jul-08, 08:47 AM

I switched to full body because of the same reason, because I wss doing 5 day splits like all the professional gym rats. I realized after not seeing too many results with the full body either that I would make a more simplified split...

Try a A-B day split, just make up 2 workouts, and alternate. or try an ABC split (3day)

Last week, I did B on tuesday, C on wednesday, A on saturday, This week B on monday, C on thursday (before party) and hoping to do A today or tommorow, this is a rough week of partying with friends and family!

See what im saying, theres too many thing in my life going on besides partying, where I dont feel like I can dedicate my whole life to lifting wieghts, although believe me, I would love too. so I just wing it, with the an ABC split

Rocky89 · 05-Jul-08, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westside24

I switched to full body because of the same reason, because I wss doing 5 day splits like all the professional gym rats. I realized after not seeing too many results with the full body either that I would make a more simplified split...

Try a A-B day split, just make up 2 workouts, and alternate. or try an ABC split (3day)

Last week, I did B on tuesday, C on wednesday, A on saturday, This week B on monday, C on thursday (before party) and hoping to do A today or tommorow, this is a rough week of partying with friends and family!

See what im saying, theres too many thing in my life going on besides partying, where I dont feel like I can dedicate my whole life to lifting wieghts, although believe me, I would love too. so I just wing it, with the an ABC split

thanks westside. you always give great advise.

can you lookover my workout schedule for full body and tell me how it is ....

CliffA74 · 06-Jul-08, 05:50 PM

Full body workouts create a huge release of endorphins and hormones necessary for optimal growth.
You can grow some good, decent muscle doing a split routine, but it's not as efficient.

But switching from one to the other wouldn't be bad. Just to keep things fresh and interesting for your mind and your body. One month full, one month split, two full, whatever.

Looking over your workouts, I have one question: When are you working on your legs? If gaining muscle, losing fat, looking good are anywhere in your goals, then training your legs is a must.
Training your legs is the best way to get your pituitary gland to squeeze out a big healthy dose of Growth Hormone. For free! No supplements involved!
And running on the treadmill one day then doing some single leg extensions on the machine the next day is not enough. No where close.

Look up the Goblet Squat. It's a great exercise which is beginner friendly. The sand bag deadlift is another great, challenging lift that is not too intimidating.
Your upper body workouts are pretty good, but you need to devote your time hitting the big muscles 90% of the time. Curls are the sprinkles on top of a big ole cake full of compound joint exercises.
(OK, maybe not the best analogy, but hopefully you get the point)

Check out the workout journals here on this forum. It's a good place to get some ideas.

Have fun,
Cliff

Rocky89 · 07-Jul-08, 12:44 AM

I really didnt know to what to add in the legs section. I know leg is a huge thing when working out. the place i workout at isnt some big gym more like an appartment gym where i have dumbells , bench , few smith machines and treadmill

some things that are availabe to me at the gym place is the treadmill and dumbbells and the smith machine from which i can only extensions.

i was thinking about adding lunges ... what are some other things i can add in the leg place

MA in my excel workout sheet means .. those machines . they are not dumbells ... SUNDAY is my favorite exercise day .. all my favorites.. wednesday is MA day .. or working till failure day

**LiftGirl** · 07-Jul-08, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky89

i was thinking about adding lunges ... what are some other things i can add in the leg place

squats and deadlifts are both great for legs, as well as (IMO) overall fat burning.

CliffA74 · 08-Jul-08, 04:08 PM

Have no fear Rocky,
If you have some dumbbells, open space, fresh air and four working limbs, you have more than enough equipment to sculpt a fantastic physique.

Goblet Squats are performed with dumbbells.
So are a wide variety of deadlifts.
Try the wall squat, a personal favorite of mine. Sit back against a wall like you are sitting in a chair, legs parallel to floor (around 90 degrees) . Now stay there till your legs burst into flames.

Jumping squats require no weights, and are a killer.
Lunges with and without dumbbells are good.

But stick with squats and deadlifts for starters, in my opinion.
Remember, it's not how much weight you use, it's how you use the weight.

Have fun,
Cliff