Split versus full body...

[cleanbluesky]

Anyone got any thoughts on this...

I've always thought a rationale behind split was that it allowed more resources to be used in building a specific part... BUUUUUUUT full-body might be better because when I'm actually doing something instead of just training (climbing, whatever) I'm using my whole body and it is often a good idea to train in the way that you wish to play.

[Piggymon]

Depends what your goal is I guess :)

As you say, if building muscles then a split is better as you're allowing the muscles to recover longer.

How many days would you be doing a fully body and what exercises would you be doing ? I personally can't imagine doing squats more than once a week ;D

I personally do a 2 day split with boxing and Muay Thai in between.

[Roberta]

As Piggy says, depends on your goals.

[Desmo]

As Piggy says, depends on your goals really. If you're looking to build mass, a two, three or more day split is better as it allows more time for that muscle group to recover. Remember, muscles get bigger in the recovery stage as they're repairing. If you're just looking for an overall fitness and slight bulk, I don't think there's any real need to split. You'll still get some decent gains over time.

[cleanbluesky]

BUUUUUUT, if you split you'll only work out each muscle group once a week rather than twice...

[Piggymon]

But if you're wanting to BUILD muscle then once a week is more than enough ;)

You're still using your muscles as you do your climbing training, you're just not training them directly

[Piggymon]

Here's a training split, this dude is a top PRO bodybuilder

Mon: quads
Tue: chest, bicep
Wed: abs, calves
Thur: back
Fri: hams, calves
Sat: delts, triceps
Sun: off

[cleanbluesky]

But if you're wanting to BUILD muscle then once a week is more than enough ;)

You're still using your muscles as you do your climbing training, you're just not training them directly

With climbing, I'm training them for different things compared to when I'm at the gym and as long as I'm not knackered there shouldn't be any interference (according to last month's FitPro anyway)...

I'm gonna google how long muscle takes to rebuild.

[Piggymon]

www.muscletalk.co.uk

Best info you'll get :)

[Roberta]

It all depends upon what you want to train for.

For example, I like to do workouts that help with my pole training. With this in mind I choose to lift light weights and do endurance work as I get my strength and power training while actually doing the pole work. I also train full body each time. It's how I prefer to work and what suits me.

[cleanbluesky]

Perform exercises at least 2 days per week
More frequent training may elicit slightly greater strength gains but additional improvement is relatively small.
(Progress is made during the recuperation between workouts)

Probably the answer is that being and feeling rested is more important than a set time between workouts

[Desmo]

It's all down to how extreme you want to go and what theories you believe in I guess. If you do a 5 day split, you can work a group of muscles harder on a particular day. They may well recover and repair in 3 days so it's not necessarily the only reason you'd now wait 5 days before working them again, but it's just the way the routine fits.

I've always done a 2 day split as it just suits how much I want to train and it fits my work/home lifestyle time wise. You could do a push/pull split or an upper/lower split amongst others.

[cleanbluesky]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I think you're right that there are no hard and fast rules. I might do a two/three day split.