which would be less taxing on the body

[fendertele]

more frequent gym visits but less time there.. not doing too much etc..
less frequent visits but hitting it harder... more sets etc...

Both will have the same intensity just instead of doing more sets its split out over more visits.

[tblodg15]

If the weekly volume is the same (same number of hard sets) then they are both very similar. It is really more of a preference or what works for your schedule and allows you to be consistent. The overall volume is usually considered the main factor in stress we are applying and progress as long as we are recovering.

[Garage Rat]

One thing is with less days in the gym you would have more recovery time.
That is similar to Mike Mentzer's heavy duty training system.with no m,ore than three days a week in the gym.
More days in the gym will tax into your recovery more.

[willybrokeback]

more frequent gym visits but less time there.. not doing too much etc..
less frequent visits but hitting it harder... more sets etc...

Both will have the same intensity just instead of doing more sets its split out over more visits.

I would choose the one that you can be consistent on. I like high frequency lower volume workouts. I can get in and out in 45 minutes, but I go 6 days a week. I don't have time for long gym sessions and my ADD acts up.

[ElrondHubbard]

Interestingly, this podcast came out yesterday, addressing that very topic!

[John Prophet]

one "catch" with shorter/more frequent sessions. you might keep the actual volume the same as with longer/less frequent workouts....but the intensity WILL tend to creep up.

Think about it, you might do squats, leg curls, seated rows, db curls, calves all in one workout. If you split it up and did squats. leg curls, calves....and then in a later workout u did the seated rows and db curls, think how much harder u will hit those seated rows and curls?

IMo the more frequent stuff is better but u just have to watch the intensity factor because u WILL be able to hit stuff harder and its sort of easier to work yourself into the ground

[marinevet63031]

With my spinal cord injury I tried the less trips to the gym I was adding more muscle parts per session. I have to take longer rest periods due to my injuries. Well the less trips to me was not good. So, I myself do a 5 day a week session. It is best for me. I do the following split, 1, chest and back, biceps and triceps, legs and shoulders. I only work legs once a week for range of motion movement. So I will use bench for an example. Lets say I do 3x15 for flat bench on first workout. next time I do bench I will do 3x15 with 315. etc.

[drudixon]

Almost all of the frequency studies equated for volume show that greater frequency yields better results.

[tblodg15]

Almost all of the frequency studies equated for volume show that greater frequency yields better results.

I have done 3 times per week frequency when I switched to a full body routine for almost a year and saw good results.

Another interesting difference since I have recently been doing only twice per week - doing the same weekly volume but split up only twice per week instead of 3X I am definitely more sore between workouts than I was. To me that another advantage to frequency is that I saw good progress and was almost never sore.

[KidFreeze]

Read the book "High Intensity Training" by Mike Mentzer. Hit it hard, less is better, more rest equals better recovery and growth.

[OldFartTom]

Read the book "High Intensity Training" by Mike Mentzer. Hit it hard, less is better, more rest equals better recovery and growth.

Just to muddy the water
Or you could read "Power to the People" by Pavel Tsatsouline who says essentially the opposite.
I think there is heaps of YMMV + What stage you're at now + differences of opinion
My most constructive comment is "try it and see"