Should I do each muscle groups ONCE or TWICE a week?

[Idorus]

How many times?

Right now, and for the next 15 workouts I'm going with 1 day each muscle group, once a week (I go to the gym 5 days a week, since I want to do a lot of cardio).


I train each upper body muscle groups in the body but on different days and I do legs and abs at any given day of the week too.


But what would be optimal??

Doing each muscle group twice, or once like I am doing now?

[ahnold8]

Once a week is fine. Some genetically gifted individuals(like arnold) can train each bodypart as many as 3 times a week(while on steriods) but even most pro bodybuilders nowdays train each bodypart only once per week.

[amusclehead]

well, there are different cases

you could train them each 3x a week if you were on a full body split(because yo'ure doing a LOW volume for each muscle group-2-3sets at most for each group)


but for most other cases, once a week is optimal. remember, a muscle has 2 days- primary and auxilary(e..g,. biceps primary day is bicep day, then auxilary day is upper back day). if you train each muscle 2x a week, then actually you're training it 4x a week(primary+auxilary)

[Zen_Lifter]

once a week, medium volume.

[Idorus]

What do you mean by "once a week, medium volume"

You mean the BEST is to train once a week and lift medium weights?

Or do you mean that it will give me medium volume, and hence, twice a week is better?

[kennyhowru]

Medium volume meaning not too many sets of exercises.
It does not mean medium weight.
LIFT HEAVY!

[blessthemartyr]

I target once a week, 3 sets: Medium Warmup, Then Max until Failure, small bit above medium