full body workout vs muscle groups

[mommyof5boys]

i am just wondering if doing a full body workout bad oppose to working like 2 muscle groups at a time like legs and back,shoulders and arms etc...i just feel that this way takes much longer...i would like to build as much muscle as i can by summer which is only about 3 months away...not saying i will be totally buff by then but i would like more definition...

any idea which i would benefit more from?

i also posted this in training but thought that i would ask in here as well...

thank you

[member67]

i am just wondering if doing a full body workout bad oppose to working like 2 muscle groups at a time like legs and back,shoulders and arms etc...i just feel that this way takes much longer...i would like to build as much muscle as i can by summer which is only about 3 months away...not saying i will be totally buff by then but i would like more definition...

any idea which i would benefit more from?

i also posted this in training but thought that i would ask in here as well...

thank you

you said specifically that your goal is to build as much muscle as you can..well in that case your better off targeting specific muscle groups, working them hard to induce catabolism and breakdown, and then giving them time to rest and grow..in which case a split would be more beneficial than total body i think

[sharonatkinson]

I personally gain more doing a full body 3 times a week

The more i split my muscle groups the less i gain

[crimsonfox]

I'd say full body in the 8-10 rep range. You should really watch the diet. Eat at or slightly, like 100 calories, below maintanence. Stay away from cheat meals, junk food, etc.

[KyleAaron]

Full-body. Doesn't have to take ages. You just need one exercise each with a deep knee-bend, picking something heavy up off the floor and putting something heavy overhead.

Bodyweight squats, inverted rows, pressups
Machine leg press, machine cable row, machine bench press
Dumbell lunges, dumbell one-armed bent-over rows, dumbell overhead press
Barbell squats, barbell deadlifts, barbell overhead press

the possibilities are endless. Pick three exercises and progress in them - in every workout, more weight, or more reps, or more sets than last time. More, more and more.

For bodyweight work, just pick a rep total and achieve that in the workout, however few or many sets it takes you. For example, squats 20, inverted rows 15 and pushups 10. Next workout, add at least 1 to the total of each.

For machine, dumbell and barbell work, you can adjust weight, and will do well with specific sets and reps.

Let us know what you have available to work with and we can advise you on what might be some good exercises. It's senseless our (for example) babbling on about barbells if you can't afford a gym membership and must work out at home with what you can find around you.

[mommyof5boys]

actually i have i believe it's called elite gym which has the lat pull down,leg workout,arms(not sure what they are called)i have a set of barbells which varies from 30 to 100 lbs,dumbells from 2.5 to 30 lbs,workout bench that inclines and changes position for shoulder press and i also use for my weighted crunches and bands...i like the fact of a full body as you can work every part about 3x a week rather then muscle groups that might get done once a week but wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing...

thanks for you advice

[BatsyWatsy]

I switched to full-body workouts last fall and I love them! I have really seen a lot of changes in my body. I keep them fast paced and as heavy as I can, always increasing weight when I need to. They are quick workouts with real results, plus I think they are more fun.

[kimm4]

It's an individual choice. The "best" program is the one that you stay consistent with.

I prefer split routines.

[Defiant1]

It's an individual choice. The "best" program is the one that you stay consistent with.

I prefer split routines.

Great answer.

And "best" will likely change as you progress or change your internal/external motivation.

[kimm4]

Great answer.

And "best" will likely change as you progress or change your internal/external motivation.

Exactly!^^

[justass]

It's an individual choice. The "best" program is the one that you stay consistent with.

^This.

I prefer split routines.

Me, too. Primarily because I like working a muscle group from different angles to near failure and if I tried to do a whole body workout or even an upper/lower split I'd a) have to be in the gym for at least 4 hours at clip and b) I'd never make it through it.

[KyleAaron]

It's an individual choice. The "best" program is the one that you stay consistent with.

I prefer split routines.

It is true that the best workout is the one you'll stick to. But assuming there might be a few different versions of that so you've some choice...

Splits are definitely recommended for someone who has been working out consistently for a few years. But in the first year or two...