Besides potentially burning less calories, are there any negative issues with having a training session take place across several hours. I've been spending alot of time at home helping to take care of my kids while my wife is in recovery from giving birth. So, I've been doing my training in pieces as I can fit it in. I may do a couple of sets of one exercise, and then walkaway for 15 minutes. Then, two more sets, and I may be away for an hour. I'm still getting in the work, but spread out over a much longer period of time. Today I did 24 total sets on my workout.....but over the course of about 6 hours.
I assumed that you would likely burn less calories simply because you're not doing back to back sets so your heart rate is never getting quite as high for as long a period of time. I could be totally wrong. It was a guess. Either way calorie burn isn't really my concern.
My understanding is that Human Growth Hormone is produced by the body only during intense workouts (particularly cardio). Production of human growth hormone is believed to be an important factor in slowing down aging. So, if you portion your workouts throughout the day, you are probably going to lose this particular benefit. I would also think it would be more difficult to turn up the intensity required for a serious workout (or set) if it is done multiple times throughout the day.
It's not my goal to do this long term, but I don't feel like I can just take weeks off of training. Though, if my elbow keeps hurting I may have to take several weeks off!
Wil58, I hear what you're saying about HGH. Thankfully, this isn't the longterm plan.
I actually think training this day would be superior, you would be more recovered after each movement. The effects of gh raises with intensity I imagine are minimal, and I know that they are poorly understood anyway.
The only thing I would try to do - is do one movement per session (not split the movement into 2 sessions) this is only because you would not have to 're-warmup' during a single exercise.
That was my thought. Finish whatever single "exercise" or superset or whatever in a sitting.
I do this a lot when in a deficit because I simply can't handle much intensity… and it gets me up and moving more often. I actually notice better strength improvement this way because I'm really rested for each thing. Also DOMS tend to be less.
I do this at night sometimes if I have to also work in spurts. Do squats. Go work for 15 or 20. Do bench. Go work. Do deads. Go work. Stretch out. Go work.
At least I get the workout in and get all the work done.
I agree with Frank S. on trying to complete a movement (vertical push, vertical pull, horizontal push, horizontal pull, hip dominant, knee dominant, core, etc.) before stopping. I would try to cut the time down to no more than three hours. Why? I'm no expert and not really sure but 6 hours seems a bit much. However, if this seems to work and it is only while your wife is recovering, then go for it.
You still haven't answered my question about Dragon Flags over at DailyBurn!
The only area of concern that I could think of was warming up. You guys seemed to confirm that. I try to pick windows of time when I'll have the opportunity to get in several uninterrupted sets, but its not always possible. Necessity dictates that I do this or nothing at all. Thankfully, chasing the little ones can be a sort of warmup of its own.
I usually workout at 5am before anyone else gets up. But, lately that isn't feasible. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to get back to that. Right now while I'm heading into what will hopefully be the last leg of my very long fat loss phase. I'm more concerned about diet and calories at this point. But, I'm trying to lift as heavy as I can to preserve muscle mass. I've also been able to make substatial gains in maximal strength while losing weight, mostly because I was so unconditioned previously. I want to take as much advantage of that phenomenon as possible.
Training Broken Up Throughout Day
Linear Mode
