to much in the gym?

[jhall27]

Ok I get it I need time to heal, but I'm (like so many) are addicted. I don"t want to slow down the progress or the motivation that I have gained. Can' I still go to the gym 5 to 6 days a week and still give my muscle time to heal. Can't I go heavy on chest on Mon. then do legs on Tue. giving each group its own time to heal. I just fear that if I lessen the amount of time in the gym it will effect my motivation. You guys have been very helpful I hope I can return the favor one day.
Thank you,
Jeff

[dmaipa]

Hey J; I think it's still possible to train 5 days week if you program it out smart, what are you thinking program wise if you do train 5 days a week. 6 a week is a bit much in my opinion.

[Fazc]

One of the most important things I ever heard was that 'you can do anything if it's light enough'.

Now personally this has lead me down to the road of (eventually) doing 4 days per week full body routines. However I built up to this very slowly, we're talking years. I'm sure there is an upper limit to volume that an individual can handle, but for now it's going well.

Bear in mind goals too, i'm big enough and strong enough to suit me. My goals now are fitness, health and staying in shape, these are also things to consider while you programme your routine.

What are your goals? If you're looking for size and strength then it's very unlikely you would need a 5-6 day split, a 3 day full body routine would be preferred in my opinion.

[glwanabe]

[quote]

Originally Posted by jhall27

Ok I get it I need time to heal, but I'm (like so many) are addicted.

This is BS. You want somebody to tell you that it is ok for you to do what you want, instead of the advice that you have recieved here already.

I don"t want to slow down the progress or the motivation that I have gained.

This is BS. You already said that your progress had slowed down. You were told you were training too much, and that you needed more rest and food to grow.

Can' I still go to the gym 5 to 6 days a week and still give my muscle time to heal. Can't I go heavy on chest on Mon. then do legs on Tue. giving each group its own time to heal.

You don't need permission to do what you want. Go do what you want to do.

I just fear that if I lessen the amount of time in the gym it will effect my motivation.

This is BS. Try the advice that was given to you, and your motivation will be just fine with the progress you will make.

Thank you.

You're welcome.





I've included a pack of finishing sandpaper in various grits so you can
polish off the any rough edges I may have left in my response. I didn't have time to make it all pretty, so it might be a little rough.

That should be ok though, because weightlifting is really about the work that you are willing to put in. That includes the time in the gym, and out of the gym.

[glwanabe]

Originally Posted by Fazc

One of the most important things I ever heard was that 'you can do anything if it's light enough'.

Now personally this has lead me down to the road of (eventually) doing 4 days per week full body routines. However I built up to this very slowly, we're talking years. I'm sure there is an upper limit to volume that an individual can handle, but for now it's going well.

Bear in mind goals too, i'm big enough and strong enough to suit me. My goals now are fitness, health and staying in shape, these are also things to consider while you programme your routine.

What are your goals? If you're looking for size and strength then it's very unlikely you would need a 5-6 day split, a 3 day full body routine would be preferred in my opinion.

I was going to put a post together today talking about this very thing.
I got busy watching a bunch of reruns of Stargate, and taking a nap, and time slipped by.

I used this approach with a gymnastic strength training bodyweight program to great success.

[Abaddon]

Not to point too fine a point on it, Jeff, but I must echo what GL has said; he was firm but fair. We both know you're overtraining and it is affecting your gains.

I train on average only 3 days a week, using my 4 day routine on a rotation, and 99% of the time I hit around 50% PRs with each training session.

This is not common for most trainers, even those who've only been training for 14 months.
I can do this because I afford myself plenty of time to rest and grow.

I can practically guarantee you, if you halve the training you do each week (in fact, more than halve, given you often train for 1.5 hours) and get your eating squared away, you will significantly improve your gains.

To touch on what Dmaipa has mentioned: YES, you can train 5 days a week... but there are many more caveats on that statement - especially for an intermediate, natural trainer.

A 5 day template would need to be highly nuanced so it does not cause you injury. I have been lambasted for saying this in the past, but honestly - unless you're a *natural* pro like Dmaipa, or you have the knowledge base to construct a 5+ day routine that's just right - then don't pursue it.

[BendtheBar]

Just remember there is more to lifting than just muscles. You are also working your CNS, connective tissue, etc.

Most of the big name trainers in this industry advocate no more than 4 days per week...from Rippetoe to Louie Simmons. I mention this because most realize the importance of balance.

You can train 5 days per week if it's smart. With that said, most injuries come from doing too much, too often. Make sure you learn to maximize every set and every workout. If you are at this point then do what you wan to do....as long as it's working.

[dmaipa]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Just remember there is more to lifting than just muscles. You are also working your CNS, connective tissue, etc.

Most of the big name trainers in this industry advocate no more than 4 days per week...from Rippetoe to Louie Simmons. I mention this because most realize the importance of balance.

You can train 5 days per week if it's smart. With that said, most injuries come from doing too much, too often. Make sure you learn to maximize every set and every workout. If you are at this point then do what you wan to do....as long as it's working.

and i would listen to those guys because I think they know what they are talking about..haha

When I help others with their training programs i usually just keep it with just training 3-4 days. I train 5 days a week at times but i have it programmed in to my overall training and go back to 4 days a week or 3. It's all about smart programming and having effective and efficient workouts.

[Bodybygamma]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Just remember there is more to lifting than just muscles. You are also working your CNS, connective tissue, etc.

Most of the big name trainers in this industry advocate no more than 4 days per week...from Rippetoe to Louie Simmons. I mention this because most realize the importance of balance.

You can train 5 days per week if it's smart. With that said, most injuries come from doing too much, too often. Make sure you learn to maximize every set and every workout. If you are at this point then do what you wan to do....as long as it's working.

Agreed with ^^^^^.

There are many ways to do this if you take the time to do the reading and research. If your healing always stay under 70%, the Repetition Method should be used, which essentially is 30% or less for reps within a 1-3 minute time frame, just enough to "pump" & sent blood to the muscles. What I suggest you do is have 4 lifting days, and maybe some G.P.P. days where you do light cardio just to keep blood moving. So example would be:

1Compound lift, 1 compound assist. lift, 2-3 assist lifts
Sunday-Rest
Monday- Chest,Triceps (Bench Press, Dips,PullUps, Incline Flies, Db Pull overs)
Tuesday- *Legs (Squats, Leg Press/Calve raises, Lunges, Extensions/Curls)
*(Quads,Calves,Hamstrings)
Wednesday- Rest/G.P.P (light cardio to keep the blood flowing to your legs)
Thursday- Shoulders,Triceps (Barbell Push Press, DB Arnold Press,*Delt raises
*(front, middle, rear delts) Db overhead extensions, Triceps Kick bakcs
Friday/Sat- Rest/Cardio
Fri/Saturday- Back,Biceps, Forearms(Deadlift, Row, Barbell Curls, Db Hammer)
Sunday- Rest

[Bodybygamma]

Originally Posted by Bodybygamma

Agreed with ^^^^^.

There are many ways to do this if you take the time to do the reading and research. If your healing always stay under 70%, the Repetition Method should be used, which essentially is 30% or less for reps within a 1-3 minute time frame, just enough to "pump" & sent blood to the muscles. What I suggest you do is have 4 lifting days, and maybe some G.P.P. days where you do light cardio just to keep blood moving. So example would be:

1Compound lift, 1 compound assist. lift, 2-3 assist lifts
Sunday-Rest
Monday- Chest,Triceps (Bench Press, Dips,PullUps, Incline Flies, Db Pull overs)
Tuesday- *Legs (Squats, Leg Press/Calve raises, Lunges, Extensions/Curls)
*(Quads,Calves,Hamstrings)
Wednesday- Rest/G.P.P (light cardio to keep the blood flowing to your legs)
Thursday- Shoulders,Triceps (Barbell Push Press, DB Arnold Press,*Delt raises
*(front, middle, rear delts) Db overhead extensions, Triceps Kick bakcs
Friday/Sat- Rest/Cardio
Fri/Saturday- Back,Biceps, Forearms(Deadlift, Row, Barbell Curls, Db Hammer)
Sunday- Rest

Sets and Reps Scheme should be like this more or less:
70% Bench Press- 5-7 wrm up sets 1-3 working sets 3-8reps
Dips- Pending on body-weight/strength 5x5 (repsxsets)
Pull Ups- ^same as above^
Incline Flies- 30% for 1minute x 3 sets or 45-65% 4sets of 5-12
Db Pull Overs- ^as above^