Training Frequently?

[JimBo123]

If i were able to work out many times a week (5?) should i work out that much? or is there a preferred amount of days that i should be working out a week?
I know that muscle grows during the resting period but if you were to continually work out like that, would it be of any benefit?

[eros]

well I'm currently working out 5 days each week and I'm doing every muscle group one time a week. Maybe you should take a look at max-ot. It has great workouts all under 50 mins and it's a 5 day routine.

[chris_f]

JimBo: It's not just how much you work out, but how much you work muscle or movement plane. If you're on a 5 day body part split, you'd be fine. If you're doing total body workouts 5 times a week, you're seriously overtraining (unless the volume and intensity of each session is really low).

[JimBo123]

i'm wondering though, which way is the preferred way to go? because im pretty sure i have the schedule flexibility to do either one.
(many days of working out or a just a few days a week of total body workouts)

[Jimbo]

It's pretty much up to you...I like MAX-OT myself cause there's no place I'd rather be than in the gym. 5 day split - high intensity workouts. I love it. You should check it out if your considering hitting the gym 5 days a week.

[JimBo123]

and if i were to go with the 3 day total body thing what program should i look into??

this will be the first program im trying (either max ot or a total body thing).

[JimBo123]

anyone? is the book of muscle a total body workout?

[Rev]

ok I've typed this multiple times but I'll jump in here real quick anyway.

Depends on your goals to what type of split you use. Everything works, but some methods work better for certain goals. For instance, if you train a muscle group once a week you can train five times a week giving more specialization to each muscle group. This is the method most common for bodybuilders, individuals most concerned with adding mass and bringing out detail. Thing is, these guys aren't the strongest bunch, not saying you can't gain strength off of this split you definately can BUT we have to realize the most efficient method of training for strength is through your motor units not your muscle mass (although adding mass does give you more strength capabilities).

What type of training do motor units progress most efficiently from you ask? Frequent training (important to note training types must vary given each workout of the week). This is what frequency is about when it comes to weight training. You adjust your volume according to the frequency you choose. Before everyone jumps in with there preferred split battle cries, it's important to note you can gain mass and strength off of all of these splits and set and rep schemes play a HUGE role in this. Once muscle group a week, upper lower body split, full body split, now you have the ground work of info you need to have to choose which one is best for you. Whichever one you choose and whatever goals you have, there is a lot more to it than choosing a split, believe it or not I am being really brief in this post. Good luck.

[JimBo123]

wait,but. so basically does the appearance of your body depend on the amount of body fat you have? like if you were muscular and fat your body would look buff but not cut. but if you had very low body fat you can look cut no matter how you train?

and also. if you go for strength instead of muscle how will that turn our appearance wise?

[vandamme]

yes bodyfat plays a large role in appearence. having low bodyfat is not the only ingredient to looking cut or ripped though, you do need a minimum of muscle to see otherwise you'll just look skinny.
strength gains stress more of the CNS to adapt to the load, you certainly can gain size from training your CNS. max ot addresses this very well IMO. its not a conventional split by any means. I think you will gain strength very fast with max ot if you train and eat correctly. thats my choice.