Lifting 5 days a week

[Justshyofit]

Is it true that lifting 5 days a week is detrimental to muscle gain? See I have never done it, my entire three years of doing weights ive always done 1 day on, next day off etc. on average about 3 times a week. But is it ok to do 5 days a week? Would it be ok on something like my program P/RR/S (Push/Pull/Legs)? Whats your feedback?


(reason I ask is that my philosophy is the more you do it, the better results you will see....but thats the simpleton in me )

 

[Justshyofit]

bump

 

[Nate K]

It's all about recovery. How much you do each day, how well you recover, it all depends

 

[Justshyofit]

So what kind of split would you do say 5 days a week while using P/RR/S?

 

[NordicNacho]

i suggest you bookmark this and start reading

Routines, Routines, and more Routines

 

[Duncans Donuts]

The intensity would have to be very low

 

[bfoley]

You can, you just have to manage the intensity. See Dan John's "One Lift A Day" article on his website.

 

[Billie7]

I lift 5 days a week, my intensity is fairly high. I have had nothing but good results from this type routine. I have done 3 days week full body and 4 days a week upper/lower, I like the 5 day best....

 

[DiGiTaL]

I'd say go with 4 days a week, take a day off in the middle. (Sat and Sun not included).

 

[mdflows]

hmmm I love working out and have been doing a 6 days a week workout. I take Sunday off and can't stand not to hit the gym the other 6 days. I have been getting pretty decent gains and never get sore. I workout each body part 3 times a week. I know that many people like to rest more then this but I really don't think it's necessary unless you don't have time to go that often. I have also read the "Encycolopedia for Body Building" has tons of information about how Arnold trained and it starts you off with just 3-4 times a week and as you progress gets to 6 days a week and even 2 times on a couple days of those. I doubt I'll do 2 times a day unless you count cardio, but 6 days is working GREAT for me. So I guess what I am trying to say is that if you are happy with your results and making the gains you want well then "if it aint broke don't fix it" everyBODY is different and no one on here is going to be able to give you the appropriate sequence better then yourself through trial and error.

 

[Double D]

hmmm I love working out and have been doing a 6 days a week workout. I take Sunday off and can't stand not to hit the gym the other 6 days. I have been getting pretty decent gains and never get sore. I workout each body part 3 times a week. I know that many people like to rest more then this but I really don't think it's necessary unless you don't have time to go that often. I have also read the "Encycolopedia for Body Building" has tons of information about how Arnold trained and it starts you off with just 3-4 times a week and as you progress gets to 6 days a week and even 2 times on a couple days of those. I doubt I'll do 2 times a day unless you count cardio, but 6 days is working GREAT for me. So I guess what I am trying to say is that if you are happy with your results and making the gains you want well then "if it aint broke don't fix it" everyBODY is different and no one on here is going to be able to give you the appropriate sequence better then yourself through trial and error.

Your biggest mistake is training the way Arnold did. He was using steroids and I assume your not? There are much much better ways to go about things.

 

[Duncans Donuts]

hmmm I love working out and have been doing a 6 days a week workout. I take Sunday off and can't stand not to hit the gym the other 6 days. I have been getting pretty decent gains and never get sore. I workout each body part 3 times a week. I know that many people like to rest more then this but I really don't think it's necessary unless you don't have time to go that often. I have also read the "Encycolopedia for Body Building" has tons of information about how Arnold trained and it starts you off with just 3-4 times a week and as you progress gets to 6 days a week and even 2 times on a couple days of those. I doubt I'll do 2 times a day unless you count cardio, but 6 days is working GREAT for me. So I guess what I am trying to say is that if you are happy with your results and making the gains you want well then "if it aint broke don't fix it" everyBODY is different and no one on here is going to be able to give you the appropriate sequence better then yourself through trial and error.

cough, bullshit, cough

 

[Witchblade]

^

 

[mdflows]

well glad I was able to get some good information from such an elite crowd! There is no bullshit in my above post, that is my routine and it has been my routine for the past 4 months that I have been deployed. My muscles are always rested and ready to go for each workout and FOR ME there is no need for any adidtional rest. I also never said I TRAIN LIKE ARNOLD LOL. I said I got the workout from a bodybuilding book that yes does give great detail about what it was like to workout back then. Before I read this book I was already working out 6 days a week. The only thing I changed was instead of doing chest/tris same day and back bis same day I started doing supersets. Now I superset just about every workout witht he apposing muscles and love the feeling of chest and back or bis and tris being pumped on the same day. I always did abs everyday but I used to slack when it came to legs doing them only 1 maybe 2 times a week.

 

[Gazhole]

3 days a week is ample.

Any more than that and its easier to overtrain, you're more likely to simply get bored because you're always in there, plus you'll end up repeating yourself far too much.

All three kinda link in as one point really.

 

[mdflows]

I understand ample and all that and I agree that 3 times a week is plenty. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I have been working out off and on (mostly on) for about 7 years now. I have been big into running and ran in a couple marathons in Hawaii. Aside from that I pretty much just love the pump/high/rush w/e you want to call it that is caused from working out whether it be running or lifting. I don't see myself getting bored of this. I have worked out 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... times a week and as I have progressed to working out as often as I do now I have not experienced any set backs from over training. I have only read about overtraining because it's never happened to me. What I have read though in more then one place is that it doesn't just sneak up on you! You will notice that you're not getting that same pump that you are used to and can start taking some time off for more rest if needed. As long as you recognize this and take the time off if/when it happens I feel that 6 days a week is fine, for me anyway.

 

[Witchblade]

Actually overtraining does kind of sneak up on you. It's easy as hell to overtrain (overreaching to be correct).

 

[DanVSHbk]

hi, iv just signed up to this site, not sure if im in the right place or not, but just trying to get some advice. Im 16 years old and i train with weights between 5 and 8 times a week, for about 45 minutes, is 45 mintues to long or not enough because i read that you shouldnt train longer than 45 minutes on weights? some advice wouldnt go a miss, ta.

 

[Gazhole]

hi, iv just signed up to this site, not sure if im in the right place or not, but just trying to get some advice. Im 16 years old and i train with weights between 5 and 8 times a week, for about 45 minutes, is 45 mintues to long or not enough because i read that you shouldnt train longer than 45 minutes on weights? some advice wouldnt go a miss, ta.

Welcome to IM.

You probably should have started another topic for this, but it fits in with what we're talking about here so i guess its okay

I think the bigger issue with what you said is that you're training between 5 and 8 (!!!) times a week with weights?

This is overkill. Take it from me, unless you want to overtrain and seriously mess yourself up, learn how to set up a decent program.

3-4 times a week is ample.

Read the training stickies in this section and learn!!

 

[DanVSHbk]

what are stickies?

 

[Gazhole]

what are stickies?

Theyre the topics in this section that are always at the top of the list. They're "stuck" there, aka "stickies"

 

[Double D]

I understand ample and all that and I agree that 3 times a week is plenty. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I have been working out off and on (mostly on) for about 7 years now. I have been big into running and ran in a couple marathons in Hawaii. Aside from that I pretty much just love the pump/high/rush w/e you want to call it that is caused from working out whether it be running or lifting. I don't see myself getting bored of this. I have worked out 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... times a week and as I have progressed to working out as often as I do now I have not experienced any set backs from over training. I have only read about overtraining because it's never happened to me. What I have read though in more then one place is that it doesn't just sneak up on you! You will notice that you're not getting that same pump that you are used to and can start taking some time off for more rest if needed. As long as you recognize this and take the time off if/when it happens I feel that 6 days a week is fine, for me anyway.

So I have been training since I was 14 years old. Pretty much nonstop for 14 years. And I train 3-4 days a week with weights right now. So reguardless how experienced you are, 6 days is still a bit much. You can and probably will grow from it, just be sure to keep intensities low. It is tough to conteract human movement. Meaning if you are benching it is impossible to not use your triceps. So try to leave enough time between chest and triceps. Understand? Best of luck partner.

 

[Duncans Donuts]

I understand ample and all that and I agree that 3 times a week is plenty. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I have been working out off and on (mostly on) for about 7 years now. I have been big into running and ran in a couple marathons in Hawaii. Aside from that I pretty much just love the pump/high/rush w/e you want to call it that is caused from working out whether it be running or lifting. I don't see myself getting bored of this. I have worked out 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... times a week and as I have progressed to working out as often as I do now I have not experienced any set backs from over training. I have only read about overtraining because it's never happened to me. What I have read though in more then one place is that it doesn't just sneak up on you! You will notice that you're not getting that same pump that you are used to and can start taking some time off for more rest if needed. As long as you recognize this and take the time off if/when it happens I feel that 6 days a week is fine, for me anyway.

What does pump have to do anything?

If you are training with resistance for more than 15 minutes, 6 days a week, you better be on steroids OR be a genetic freak and on steroids.

 

[Double D]

Ya I saw the pump comment, but decided to steer clear of it. Thats a term that needs to be squashed.

 

[moopsimoo]

I understand ample and all that and I agree that 3 times a week is plenty. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I have been working out off and on (mostly on) for about 7 years now. I have been big into running and ran in a couple marathons in Hawaii. Aside from that I pretty much just love the pump/high/rush w/e you want to call it that is caused from working out whether it be running or lifting. I don't see myself getting bored of this. I have worked out 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... times a week and as I have progressed to working out as often as I do now I have not experienced any set backs from over training. I have only read about overtraining because it's never happened to me. What I have read though in more then one place is that it doesn't just sneak up on you! You will notice that you're not getting that same pump that you are used to and can start taking some time off for more rest if needed. As long as you recognize this and take the time off if/when it happens I feel that 6 days a week is fine, for me anyway.

I understand what your saying Im addicted to the feeling of a good workout I go 5days/week. I only do 1 sometimes 2(bi/tri) bodyparts a day. Some people might say thats overtraining. Ive listened to some of guys tellin me that you only need to go 3xs a week. I seen nothing but decreases in just about everything, I felt like I was goin backwards. And I'm sure I'll hear from someone ..well you were obviously lacking intensity.. but it just made me believe it may work for some but clearly doesn't work for me.. Im not tryin to brag but I can assure you I wouldn't be shoulder pressing 100lbs DB going 3xs a week.( I'mcurrenly 175lbs)
Whatever works for you and makes ya happy, if your gettin gains then kodus!!

 

[AKIRA]

Working out 6 days a week would be more for a peace of mind than muscular gain. More does not = better.

 

[mdflows]

ok I'll bite! what's wrong with getting a pump from working out? also I am by no means a genetic freak but I do have muscular endurance.

 

[Duncans Donuts]

if you want to be big ignore muscular endurance. nothing is wrong with getting a pump, it is usually inevitable from any type of hard work. it is not, however, an indicator of anything except blood swollen tissue

 

[bfoley]

Is it true that lifting 5 days a week is detrimental to muscle gain? See I have never done it, my entire three years of doing weights ive always done 1 day on, next day off etc. on average about 3 times a week. But is it ok to do 5 days a week? Would it be ok on something like my program P/RR/S (Push/Pull/Legs)? Whats your feedback?


(reason I ask is that my philosophy is the more you do it, the better results you will see....but thats the simpleton in me )

Read some of Chad Waterbury's stuff. He espouses more frequent training.

 

[AKIRA]

if you want to be big ignore muscular endurance. nothing is wrong with getting a pump, it is usually inevitable from any type of hard work. it is not, however, an indicator of anything except blood swollen tissue

Fuck yeah! Preach it! Shortest, sweetest, and most direct answer.