will working out once a week do anything?
 

Up until this spring I was extremely out of shape, never exercised, ate junk. I started exercising 4 to 5 days a week on cardio machines (eleptical trainers) and eating better (no soda, more water, more fruits and veggies, less fried crap) and I've managed to lose about 30 pounds. I'm happy with my weight now, but I would like to put on some muscle, or at least tone the little I have a bit.

Now my problem is that I'm taking a very full courseload and working almost full time, and I don't have 2-3 hours to take out of my day (changing, showering, stretching, etc) to work out on weekdays. I can go to the gym on weekends, but I know it's a bad idea to work the same muscle groups several days in a row. The best I can do right now is upper body on friday or saturday, lower body on sunday, and maybe some jogging during the week. Is lifting once a week actually going to have any noticeable effect, or am I wasting my time?

Any excercise is better than no excercise. I think your best bet is to work out almost every day, but spend less time doing it, that way you dont interfere with your regular routine too much. I suggest going for about an hour a day. Bring only what you need (towel, waterbottle) or else you will be less motivated to go as often. I suggest working a couple muscle groups a day and take one day for just cardio. If you really don't have that much time though, your idea for upperbody/ lower body on the weekend and cardio during the week will work out alright, just make sure you keep it up and push yourself as hard as you can.

There is a saying; "If you don't use it, you lose it'. Once a week is not going to have any noticeable effect, however like spived2 said, any exercise is better then no exercise. Cardiovascularly it will benefit you to do anything that gets your ticker pumpin harder :). Keep your one day a week and try to squeeze in 30 minutes on a few other days when you have the time. Oh, and the days that you actually can workout, make sure you kick your ass at the gym...punish yourself hard to get better results.

I'd like to disagree with what Plan9 says about once a week not having a noticable effect. As long as you work the muscle groups hard and get a good work out you will notice a significant improvement. Just keep at it and you will find that you'll want to go more often because your getting into such good shape. Good luck!

Wrong. You wont notice a significant difference, might notice a little difference but not a "significant" one only working out 1 day a week.

i'm going with spived2 here. once a week will have noticeable results/improvements depending on what he's doing. one day obviously isn't enough to do a good full body workout, and results from what he does will be slower than if more often, but results can be noticable.

Prolly not.

Absolutely agree Plan9.

Also, it will take a minimum of 3-4 weeks to notice any difference IMHO. 1st week is you will feel good but go easy. 2nd week you will be sore, keep at it and work through it. 3rd week you might actually feel weaker than you had before you started but keep at it. 4th week you will feel stronger and actually start seeing a difference. Do not stop there, keep it up.

Best thing you can do is start. Second best is be patient and consistant, results will follow.

Let me explain why you wont notice a difference by working out only once a week.

First off, being that you can only have one session, you cannot possibly get an adequate workout to all of your muscle groups in the single workout session. Therefore you will most likely only do a few muscles that day and then the next time you will train other muscles. Studies have shown that in 2 weeks of inactivity, your body starts to lose what it has gained (muscular and cardiovascular). Ergo, although your body will benefit from any exercise it can get, you wont be seeing any noticable changes because it will be constantly fighting its own decline, so to speak.

I'd also like to politely disagree. I personally only work each muscle once a week, a lot of professional body builders do the same.

Once a week on with a balls-to-wall workout would do just fine. You'll still gain muscle, just not as much as if you had separated it into smaller workouts.

I work each muscle once a week as well, but EleqTrizi'T, you are missing the fact that he will be working out ONLY once a week. He cannot possibly work every muscle group good enough on one session of workout silly ;)

No, he can't. It wouldn't be either safe or healthy to try and fit a true week's worth into one day.

But, if you hit core muscles, such as doing a bench, tri's, bi's, leg press... wouldn't be so bad. Definetely better than going dormant.

Ok, I will have to disagree with all!!!!
One day a week will not have a significant impact, but like is has been said, it is better than none at all. Muscles continue to grow and develop when they are ripped up at the gym...literally. Muscles begin to expand because they are introduced to tiny microtears, that when fed properly, are replenished with new blood and tissue. Of course these muscles need down time as well....that's why you switch between different muscle groups on different days to allow the body to heal properly. The reason why one day of exercise will not work as some say, is because in one day you can't possibly burn all the calories thay you put into your body the previous week. Burning the fat calories off your body is a direct result from working out and is the reason we see changes in our muscles.

My suggestion is to do what I do....workout in the mornings so the rest of your day is freed up. Good luck!

Yay, somebody that agrees with me :).

Sorry, guy
I only really work out once a week and I do see some improvement.

However, I go for a significant amount of time,
and make sure that I get the group that I'm focusing on really good. (about 2 hours).

I would suggest if possible do something that will raise your heartrate
for about 30 min. two other days of the week.

While you won't see fast results, you WILL see results,
just keep at it, and be consistent...
over time you will beat those who take it up, power thru and then stop with burn out.

Tortoise vs. the Hare

I agree with both sides of this argument. You won't see "significant" changes in a short period of time. But you will see a difference in the long term. If you continue to change your routine so your body does not become use to your workout. Your results will take longer but they will still be there...eventually.