Maximizing 2 workouts

[EagleRider]

I have a one hour weight training class at school twice a week. I'm thinking of doing a second workout after my last class which is 5pm. Would that additional hour each time make any difference in my fitness level? It's still only 2 days a week.
Next semester I'll be taking 2 P.E. courses and working out 4 to 5 days a week.

[westside24]

as long as theres enough space in between, to eat and kind of relax for a bit, that would be ok I think....... some of the employees at the gym I go to , do that, They workout before they have to work, and after...

just make sure you aint doing the same body parts twice in day...

[Dan C]

You're better off killing yourself in the gym those two days a week. Train as hard as you can, full body workouts, concentrating on compound movements.

[westside24]

what if he did whole upper body routine early in the day, then abs and legs for later in the day, twice a week?

[Dan C]

Originally Posted by westside24

what if he did whole upper body routine early in the day, then abs and legs for later in the day, twice a week?

He's better off killing himself in the gym those two days a week. Training as hard as you can, full body workouts, concentrating on compound movements.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by Dan C

He's better off killing himself in the gym those two days a week. Training as hard as you can, full body workouts, concentrating on compound movements.

I was told that just might be what works for you, thats really not proven. Not trying to call you out, but im just kind of mentally confused about all aspects of working out, and its making it hard to stay consistent when I hear so much sh!t from so much people, in and outside of the gym (including several influences). so if theres really any sound evidence to back that up, I just wanna see it so I can find a way of being more consistent myself...

that prolly in no way makes sense.

[lsuguy1]

DAY 1
SQUATS 1X20
BARBELL BENCH PRESS 2XFAILURE
PULLUPS 3XFAILURE
SHOULDER PRESS 2XFAILURE
DIPS 2X6-12
CURLS 2X6-12

DAY 2
DEADLIFTS 1X20
INCLINE BENCH 2XFAILURE
ROWS 2XFAILURE
SHOULDER 21
DIPS 2X6-12
CULS 2X6-12


try this.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by Dan C

He's better off killing himself in the gym those two days a week. Training as hard as you can, full body workouts, concentrating on compound movements.

28. So Training A Muscle Group Every Other Day is Superior?

Training a muscle group every 48 hours sounds great in theory, yet in the real world doesn’t hold up very well for a lot of people. The frequency is too great for many people to recover well enough from to make continual and rapid strength increases. This is particularly true the stronger a person gets. The ability to generate fatigue increases a lot more then the ability to recover from fatigue does. As you get stronger you develop an extreme ability to intensify or create stress, yet your ability to recover from that stress doesn’t change quite so much. A 600 pound deadlift requires more recovery time then a 200 pound deadlift, even if the 600 pound deadlifter has been training for 10 years while the 200 pound deadlifter has been training for 10 days.


I found this in a post maverick put up, after I asked you the question of proving that 2 days a week would be optimal, I decided to do my own research, and found that the above statement is fairly consistent, being the reason for HST programs. So I now believe this, ive convinced myself but...

I still get why personal trainers deny this type of working out, like its the devil. People who go to school for certifications should be taught all the concepts and physics of working out. every body builder I know personally, every gym-goer Ive seen or known and many personal trainers I know all use the Basic BB style plan, the 2body parts a day... not saying that it wont bring benefits. and like that above statement says, an experienced trainer would need more time then 48 hours to recover, so maybe 2 body parts a day is optimal for the bigger experienced guy... But for me and Isuguys case. I think 2-3 full body workouts a week will work fine, for now...

something I just wanted to clear up, and clear up for myself. im not so confused.

[Dan C]

Well, I'm confused. I don't know what you are trying to say.

Is there evidence that 2 full-body workouts will work / is optimal? Yes.

Do I have any desire to look for such evidence so I can post it here? No.

Would "evidence" make a difference in anyone's opinion anyway? Probably not.

The best thing to do is try it for a while and see how it works.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by Dan C

Would "evidence" make a difference in anyone's opinion anyway? Probably not.

The best thing to do is try it for a while and see how it works.

It would make a difference for me... I understand, im not asking you to prove yourself, its my decision to believe and figure all things out from this website, I just meant it more like, can you help me understand a little more... but again its ok, Ive done enough research on a few things to ease my mind. the second post I made was more of a statement, stating how I figured it all out....

And I agree, Im just gonna try it.

[Dan C]

Think of it like this... if you have limited time to train (like the original poster), what better than to train as hard as you can for that time?

Most of the studies that certified trainers cite have a duration of one to three months. Then the researchers are off to some other, more fascinating subject. While the research is compelling it doesn't show long term results.

Look at older lifters who came of age in the 50's and early 60's. Strongmen like Bill Pearl & Chuck Sipes, bodybuilders like Reg Park, Steve Reeves, and Dave Draper, Oly lifters like Paul Anderson (well, he might have been a genetic freak, but what the heck), even the guys they competed against were not far off from their levels -- and they got big & strong via 3 workouts per week, using compound exercises, lots of food, and plenty of rest. Their stories aren't very scientific, but I'll take their real world results any day.

Just remember that full body routines fell out of vogue when steroids came onto the scene. That is when full body routines began being considered as "beginners routines". It wasn't because full body routines didn't build great bodies - its just that juicing could build ones so much better.

[westside24]

yes yes, thats what I was saying to dan, after I did some research, I figured out, that a full body routine would be better for some one with not much time, or someone of my size trying to gain as fast as possible, 2-3 times a week.... I also figured out, the bigger you get, the more time muscle needs to heal, if your goal is hypertrophy and muscle size anyways, I dont know about strength building and training for particular lifts, im just saying now that I agree that full body routines are the best for gaining size for a few years, then when you become TODD's size or ronnie or Jay's size, then yeah, you need more recovery time..... is this agreeable what im saying? if that is still a no, then I just wanna know why... Im trying my hardest to learn, I have Weight lifting A.D.D.