Full Body workouts or Split?

ShiraDarling
ShiraDarling Posts: 232 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just had a question for the experts.. is it better to do full body weight training sessions or to split up the workouts between upper/lower body, or by muscle groups??

I have been lifting weights for years but yet it seems like every Fitness article I read is saying one is better than the other... would love some input, thanks!

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,061 Member
    Depends on what your goal is: fitness, body enhancement, competition, etc.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Depends on what your goal is: fitness, body enhancement, competition, etc.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    and your training experience and time constraints.
  • ShiraDarling
    ShiraDarling Posts: 232 Member
    Ok, well I would like to lose 15lbs... but that doesnt matter as much as Body Fat % to me.. I am about 24% now, and would like to be at 18%.. so muscle gains are important to me. I am physically active already (I lift and run regularly but am not currently following a specific routine), but I want to kick it up a notch and actually see some results, I want to lean out, and gain muscle. Lose inches and fat. etc. Advice please guys!
  • ShiraDarling
    ShiraDarling Posts: 232 Member
    Depends on what your goal is: fitness, body enhancement, competition, etc.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    and your training experience and time constraints.

    When it comes to training experience.. I would say I am quite experienced, I have been athletic my whole life, and lifting weights for 10+ years, I run alot-10k's and half marathons.. So I'm not new to training.

    As for time constraints- I am thinking a 12-week window.. that would be ideal for me to see the results that I want .
  • rick_po
    rick_po Posts: 449 Member
    If I had enough free time to do a full body workout, I would only do a split if I needed the extra recovery time between workouts.

    A full body routine in a week:

    Rest | Full Body | Rest | Full Body | Rest | Full Body | Rest

    In a full body program, you're working every muscle 3 times a week, with 1 rest day between.

    An upper/lower split:

    Rest | Upper | Lower | Rest | Upper | Lower | Rest

    With the split, you're working every muscle 2 times a week, with 2 rest days between..

    Your progress will be slower with the split. But if you're lifting a lot of weight, you'll need the extra rest. Listen to your body and do a split if you need more time to recover.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    If I had enough free time to do a full body workout, I would only do a split if I needed the extra recovery time between workouts.

    A full body routine in a week:

    Rest | Full Body | Rest | Full Body | Rest | Full Body | Rest

    In a full body program, you're working every muscle 3 times a week, with 1 rest day between.

    An upper/lower split:

    Rest | Upper | Lower | Rest | Upper | Lower | Rest

    With the split, you're working every muscle 2 times a week, with 2 rest days between..

    Your progress will be slower with the split. But if you're lifting a lot of weight, you'll need the extra rest. Listen to your body and do a split if you need more time to recover.

    an oversimplification at best
  • mickey9694
    mickey9694 Posts: 74 Member
    I've been doing full-body for years. I think it just boils down to preference and how much time you have for exercise

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