information overload!

[JCDay]

I am new to weight training. I have been researching things on the net and hear so many different things. "Do 12 reps, no do 8" "Do 2 exercises per bodypart if beginning" If you are a beginner, you should start with body for life" Body for life is too much in the way of training"
Ughhhh. this is why I get frustrated and end up quitting because I dont feel confident that what I am doing is right.
I do 2 exercises per bodypart, 3 sets of 8.
Mon- chest tri's and shoulders
Wed- back and bi's
Fri- legs
Tues, thurs, sat- cardio

Should I ever change a split? What happens when you get more advanced? How will I know what to do then?
I read people's journals (on various sites) and see they are doing 4 sets sometimes 5. Theyre doing 20 reps on some things. How will I learn how many reps to do and all this other stuff I don't know about?
How will I know when and why to do a superset?
I guess what I 'm asking is how will I learn all these advanced techniques?
Or is it necessary?

[Telly]

JC Day,

Sounds like you're thinking about alot.

Firstly, you are no different to anyone who starts out in this sport. We all started as novices, and made our mistakes along the way, but that's what this sport is about, experimentation. Each individual is different, but first, you have to set yourself a goal. What are you looking to achieve. Do you want to be a bodybuilder, are you just looking to tone, do you want to look muscular, are you just looking to improve overall fitness etc.

My pholosophy on this sport is to keep it as simple as possible. Concentrate on compound movements and free weight exercises to form the core of your workouts.

Generally, in order to build muscle size, you really need to work in a rep range of 6-8 reps. 12 reps is really not overloading the muscle, and the workout becomes more of an endurance test.

As far as sets is concerned, you need to experiment to find out what is your ideal set range, without overtraining. Don't forget, that it's not how long you workout for, but how hard you're working out when you do.

If you're just starting out, there is nothing wrong with the routine you suggested. Your bodypart split looks fine. There is no real need to change a split, unless you feel your current split is not working for you. What you can do though, is mix up your exercises to add a bit of variety every now and then, which will be good for muscle growth. But don't go changing every workout, because there are only so many good quality muscle building exercises in my opinion.

Let me know what you are seeking to achieve, what your goals are, and i will be able to be more specific with my comments to you.

Chin up, i'll try to help you become an expert in no time.