Time between workouts - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

nfa · 03-20-2004, 03:26 AM

I have read so many contradictions about the amount of times you should workout a particular muscle group, and the amount of rest between. I find it really confusing, and was hoping to find some concrete answers.

How many times should you work out a particular muscle group per week? I've seen a lot of sources with similar plans, where you work out your whole body 3 days per week, with 48 hours rest between workouts. Others say the only way to go is to separate muscle groups and do a different one each day.

Is working out a muscle group once per week enough to build muscle? I've also heard that some major muscle groups such as your chest need more than just one workout per week, so you need to do that twice... It's really confusing.

Anything to clear this up would be really helpful.

Phaenx · 03-20-2004, 07:48 AM

The idea is to give your body time to recover, you're tearing your body up remember. That's how you build muscle.

Now, I don't know the intricacies of the human body, but I personally break my workouts down into muscle groups once a week.

hannukah harry · 03-20-2004, 12:36 PM

once a week is enough to build muscle, any more than that and any gains made might be lost due to lack of use (usually starts after about 2 weeks of disuse).

you should give your muscles between 24-48 hours at the very least before you work them out again. obviously, you have to figure out what exactly you need, you may recover a little slower or faster than others. you may be able to do teh same group with one day of rest in between, or you may need at least two days.

bookerV · 03-22-2004, 08:09 AM

You can easily put on muscle by only working out a muscle group once per week. You need to give your muscles time to rebuild. Rest is very important. I usually like to give a muscle group at LEAST 3 days rest before i hit it again. But I usually just work out a group once per week.

bubbles · 03-23-2004, 10:24 AM

I don't really have a distinguished program, so I just workout (not too extensive though) the same stuff daily, like abs, biceps, triceps, shoulders and a few more with one or two days of total rest a week.

It worked pretty well since my upper body has gained some visible and tangible muscle but as I read this, I wonder whether this might be unhealthy or at least too much ?

bookerV · 03-23-2004, 12:32 PM

Bubbles. A workout where you do the same stuff daily will give you a few visable gains. But the end result is you will be toning your muscles more than building them. And of course you get the added benefit of fat loss due to working out so much. You will find that you will plateau fairly quickly with a workout like this. Of course if toning is your goal then its all good. However if you are looking to bulk up then i would suggest working each group hard with low reps, high weight, and lots of rest in between.

Overtraining can stress out your body and lead to some bad things. I've been guilty of it in the past myself with unpleasant results in the long run.

bubbles · 03-23-2004, 01:11 PM

Thx for the reply. I forgot to mention that I am indeed currently in a fat loss period during which I've already lost about 10 pounds in 4 weeks, enforced by working out, I guess...?!

thingstodo · 03-23-2004, 06:23 PM

Once a week is good. Rest is critical and that means at least two days rest for a muscle group. also, you need to think about the related muscle group. By that I mean you can't do chest and the tris the next day because you need tris to do chest. Just think about the physiology.

In addition to rest, you need to eat right, which really means a balanced diet, not the fad stuff.

A final word on lifting to burn fat. It's a good thing and better than just cardio. Lifting provides a metabolism boost for several days. It also builds muscled which in turn cranks your metabolism. The best benefit for fat burning is to do at least 2 sets oper movement of about 15 reps with the last 2-3 very hard to do. When it gets easy, bump the weight. llso, slow, even reps are better. And pay careful attention to your form.

Good luck!

apeman · 04-01-2004, 04:58 AM

I've been doing weights a little every other day about 20 kilos, (44 pounds is that?) and I'm doing about 16-20 reps. For at least a year.

I can still feel muscles hardening after a hard workout, but bulk is fairly slow in coming (mind I'm not really aiming for bulk).

I'm going to try the 1 muscle group once a week and see what happens. Thanks for the info! I'll let you know what happens.

dimbulb · 04-01-2004, 07:12 AM

I just switched over to working each muscle group once a week. I used to do a whole body workout 3 times a week.

Although I haven't been eating enough this week, and I've only been on it for one week, I can feel the gains coming along much faster.

Remember, muscle is built while you sleep. Working out actually destroys muscle tissue (but it stimulates new muscle growth as well.... )

03-20-2004, 03:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
nfa Upright	Time between workouts I have read so many contradictions about the amount of times you should workout a particular muscle group, and the amount of rest between. I find it really confusing, and was hoping to find some concrete answers. How many times should you work out a particular muscle group per week? I've seen a lot of sources with similar plans, where you work out your whole body 3 days per week, with 48 hours rest between workouts. Others say the only way to go is to separate muscle groups and do a different one each day. Is working out a muscle group once per week enough to build muscle? I've also heard that some major muscle groups such as your chest need more than just one workout per week, so you need to do that twice... It's really confusing. Anything to clear this up would be really helpful.

03-20-2004, 07:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	The idea is to give your body time to recover, you're tearing your body up remember. That's how you build muscle. Now, I don't know the intricacies of the human body, but I personally break my workouts down into muscle groups once a week. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

03-20-2004, 12:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
hannukah harry Junkie	once a week is enough to build muscle, any more than that and any gains made might be lost due to lack of use (usually starts after about 2 weeks of disuse). you should give your muscles between 24-48 hours at the very least before you work them out again. obviously, you have to figure out what exactly you need, you may recover a little slower or faster than others. you may be able to do teh same group with one day of rest in between, or you may need at least two days. __________________ shabbat shalom, mother fucker! - the hebrew hammer

03-22-2004, 08:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
bookerV Addict Location: Ontario, Canada	You can easily put on muscle by only working out a muscle group once per week. You need to give your muscles time to rebuild. Rest is very important. I usually like to give a muscle group at LEAST 3 days rest before i hit it again. But I usually just work out a group once per week. __________________ "That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy." Lionel Hutz

03-23-2004, 12:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
bookerV Addict Location: Ontario, Canada	Bubbles. A workout where you do the same stuff daily will give you a few visable gains. But the end result is you will be toning your muscles more than building them. And of course you get the added benefit of fat loss due to working out so much. You will find that you will plateau fairly quickly with a workout like this. Of course if toning is your goal then its all good. However if you are looking to bulk up then i would suggest working each group hard with low reps, high weight, and lots of rest in between. Overtraining can stress out your body and lead to some bad things. I've been guilty of it in the past myself with unpleasant results in the long run. __________________ "That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy." Lionel Hutz

03-23-2004, 10:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
bubbles Upright Location: Germany	I don't really have a distinguished program, so I just workout (not too extensive though) the same stuff daily, like abs, biceps, triceps, shoulders and a few more with one or two days of total rest a week. It worked pretty well since my upper body has gained some visible and tangible muscle but as I read this, I wonder whether this might be unhealthy or at least too much ?

03-23-2004, 01:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
bubbles Upright Location: Germany	Thx for the reply. I forgot to mention that I am indeed currently in a fat loss period during which I've already lost about 10 pounds in 4 weeks, enforced by working out, I guess...?!

03-23-2004, 06:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Once a week is good. Rest is critical and that means at least two days rest for a muscle group. also, you need to think about the related muscle group. By that I mean you can't do chest and the tris the next day because you need tris to do chest. Just think about the physiology. In addition to rest, you need to eat right, which really means a balanced diet, not the fad stuff. A final word on lifting to burn fat. It's a good thing and better than just cardio. Lifting provides a metabolism boost for several days. It also builds muscled which in turn cranks your metabolism. The best benefit for fat burning is to do at least 2 sets oper movement of about 15 reps with the last 2-3 very hard to do. When it gets easy, bump the weight. llso, slow, even reps are better. And pay careful attention to your form. Good luck! __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

04-01-2004, 04:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
apeman Wah Location: NZ	I've been doing weights a little every other day about 20 kilos, (44 pounds is that?) and I'm doing about 16-20 reps. For at least a year. I can still feel muscles hardening after a hard workout, but bulk is fairly slow in coming (mind I'm not really aiming for bulk). I'm going to try the 1 muscle group once a week and see what happens. Thanks for the info! I'll let you know what happens. __________________ pain is inevitable but misery is optional - stick a geranium in your hat and be happy

04-01-2004, 07:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
dimbulb Riiiiight........	I just switched over to working each muscle group once a week. I used to do a whole body workout 3 times a week. Although I haven't been eating enough this week, and I've only been on it for one week, I can feel the gains coming along much faster. Remember, muscle is built while you sleep. Working out actually destroys muscle tissue (but it stimulates new muscle growth as well.... )