Not weight training opposing muscle groups - myth?

Captain_Tightpants

When I was in my early 20's I got on a big muscle building kick (didn't last... obviously), and I subscribed to Muscle and Fitness magazine for a while. This was back in the early 90s. I remember one of the big recommendations back then was to avoid working opposing muscle groups on the same day - i.e. don't work your biceps and triceps, or your quads and hamstrings in the same workout - because for some reason it would minimize gains.

I don't see this advice being given much any more. Has it been debunked?

JennBrown83

I would presume so. I've worked with two personal trainers and they both worked "opposing muscle groups" during our sessions. I don't know if it minimized my gains or not but I do know that I lost inches on my upper arms and thighs pretty quickly and what muscles I did have did seem to tone up pretty quick so maybe it was shown to be false... who knows LOL

Adrenaline_Queen

I would work both!! Until I could not move!! Then again that just works for me xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

chrisdavey

never heard that before.

I personally think it's best to work opposing muscle groups together as it creates a balance. I'm thinking shoulders especially here. Better to do more rows than presses for good shoulder balance & posture.

If you're a beginner, I would just stick with a full body routine like starting strength or stronglifts & concentrate on putting more weight on the bar. Get stronger all round.

SHBoss1673

In fact, there's a whole training philosophy that focuses around antagonistic muscle training, where you train muscles that work opposite of each other. The routines are called super-sets and both muscles in an antagonistic pair. Ideally you want to work the extensor muscle then immediately work the flexor muscle with little or no rest or recovery. The biceps and triceps are antagonist of each other.