Full Body or Split Routine?

[quela]

Which do you consider best and why? I've read that full body burns more fat due to total body overhaul but split allows for more muscle growth due to more time for rest and recoup. What's your take?

[kimm4]

I normally follow split routines, but throw in full body workouts every few months for about a week or 2...just for the change.

As for dropping the body fat it's really about the diet...not how you train.

[sueljo]

I think both have a place in everyone's training regimen. Changing it up and doing splits for a bit then weeks later doing a full body is a good way to go. This keeps the body unfamilar with the same program. However splitting up the body parts does allow you to hit specific muscles harder for that day. If you are just starting out with lifting, a full body workout is a good idea at first. Hitting all the muscles a bit a few times a week then moving to more defined splits.

[quela]

Originally Posted by kimm4

I normally follow split routines, but throw in full body workouts every few months for about a week or 2...just for the change.

As for dropping the body fat it's really about the diet...not how you train.

So with that being said, is it safe to say cardio is not an absolute must? You look stunning by the way!

[kimm4]

Originally Posted by quela

So with that being said, is it safe to say cardio is not an absolute must? You look stunning by the way!

Eating plan, training and cardio in that order. Nothing wrong with cardio...but you don't need to kill yourself with it!

Thank you!!

[quela]

Thank you both for the quick responses. Your help is greatly appreciated.

[Emoore]

I do full-body routines because with my boxing schedule I can only lift twice per week. I want the quickest, most time-efficient, calorie-torching workout and a fast-paced full body routine is the answer to that.

If I were able to devote four days to lifting plus cardio, I'd do a split routine.

[Rachella_24]

I have done both a split and a full. When I do a full I will lift one day and I will do cardio and abs the next day. I take Sundays off. When I do the split, I do arms one day with abs and I do legs and cardio the next day. I found them both to be beneficial. My routines just vary due to time and whether Im back at school or home for the holidays. I find the most important thing though is to not let yourself get off schedule too much because its hard to get back into the swing of things again. You know?

Make sure to be eating healthy as well of course. You can build all the muscle and toneness you want, but it will hide under fat. I mean you will lose some fat from cardio and lifting does speed up your metabolism, but you will have such better results with a proper diet or as I like to call it *a life change* in eating.

Good luck

[ifbbprobetsy]

I really think it depends on your goals..I will do full body in the offseason when Im trying to maintain and not trying to change my physique..its good for functional strenght and conditioning but not so much balancing weaker body parts or bringing up lagging muscle groups..this is just my experience...