Necessary or Not So Much?

Will_Thrust_For_Candy

Hey all!

I follow bb.com on my FB page and frequently read the articles and transformation stories that come through. I have noticed a common theme among many of the transformation stories in regards to their training. Their lifting sessions are LONG and have many many exercises.

This is the one that I just read now as a reference: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/body-transformation-muscle-beats-skinny-fat-every-time.html?mcid=face

Now I think this girl looks great and I'm most certainly not criticizing her routine, or anyone else's routine for that matter.

What I would like to know......is it inevitable that eventually I will have to have long lifting sessions with a crazy amount of exercises? Do I need to start to mentally prepare myself for this now?

Discuss :bigsmile:

vjohn04

My weight sessions last 30 minutes and I've been doing the same routine for almost 6 months. I'm pretty happy with my results. Why be in the gym longer than needed?

I'm sure you will find varying degrees of times for sessions. Some people get in and out, some just go until they're done, and so forth. Don't really think there's a 'wrong' or a 'right', it's preference.

Will_Thrust_For_Candy

Yeah, I hear what you are saying!

I have run Stronglifts for 6 months now and am going to be starting my next program shortly....but should be in the same time frame as SL....about 45 min all said and done.

I guess I'm wondering if those type of routines resemble a more advanced routine and if that's more what an advanced routine would look like?

Rayman79

As I see it, there are a couple of things to think about on this topic...

One: The person putting in a lot of time at the gym is often the obsessive type, you know, the type that will consider having an extra bite of their protein bar as a cheat meal. They often feel the need to do as much as humanly possible, thinking it is in their best interest to do so.

Two: The law of diminishing returns. Whilst there may be some benefit in training longer, the benefits will be minor over doing a focused 30-45 minute workout. It depends on ones goals too, if you are training like a body builder (for hypertrophy) then spending hours sculpting individual body parts is seen as 'per for the course'. If you are training for strength though, doing that much work is going to be counter productive.

For those on a deficit, whose goal is muscle preservation more than growth, I would see little point in working for that long - especially if you are not going to enjoy being in the gym that often. You would be better served having a 45 minute, well thought out lifting plan, then if you feel like doing something else, go for a walk for an hour.

Sarauk2sf

As I see it, there are a couple of things to think about on this topic...

One: The person putting in a lot of time at the gym is often the obsessive type, you know, the type that will consider having an extra bite of their protein bar as a cheat meal. They often feel the need to do as much as humanly possible, thinking it is in their best interest to do so.

Two: The law of diminishing returns. Whilst there may be some benefit in training longer, the benefits will be minor over doing a focused 30-45 minute workout. It depends on ones goals too, if you are training like a body builder (for hypertrophy) then spending hours sculpting individual body parts is seen as 'per for the course'. If you are training for strength though, doing that much work is going to be counter productive.

For those on a deficit, whose goal is muscle preservation more than growth, I would see little point in working for that long - especially if you are not going to enjoy being in the gym that often. You would be better served having a 45 minute, well thought out lifting plan, then if you feel like doing something else, go for a walk for an hour.

Agree with all of this.

Also, if you are bulking, you can only build a finite amount of muscle each day. More is not always more.

Sarauk2sf

Yeah, I hear what you are saying!

I have run Stronglifts for 6 months now and am going to be starting my next program shortly....but should be in the same time frame as SL....about 45 min all said and done.

I guess I'm wondering if those type of routines resemble a more advanced routine and if that's more what an advanced routine would look like?

I would think about adding assists into the program at this stage. See where your areas of weakness are and look to shore those up.

Will_Thrust_For_Candy

Yeah, I hear what you are saying!

I have run Stronglifts for 6 months now and am going to be starting my next program shortly....but should be in the same time frame as SL....about 45 min all said and done.

I guess I'm wondering if those type of routines resemble a more advanced routine and if that's more what an advanced routine would look like?

I would think about adding assists into the program at this stage. See where your areas of weakness are and look to shore those up.

I have decided to go with a Nia Shanks workout from her Beautiful Badass book. I really like it because it's one main lift plus 2 accessory lifts on each workout day....and obviously from running SL for so long I have only worked on the compound lifts, nothing else (short of the complexes I do at the end of my lifting session which are not much different, truth be told). I have a feeling I am about to be very humbled quite shortly :laugh:


@rayman.....great points you bring up there and honestly the obsessive pattern is not one I had considered.....that really makes a lot of sense in this case!

Rayman79

... Also, if you are bulking, you can only build a finite amount of muscle each day...

Unless you're Sara that is. She builds all teh muscles and sets all the PR's!!!