Training 3 days a week?

[tom joad]

Does anybody recommend training just 3 times a week, rather than 4 or 5 times?  I've always trained 4 times a week (training each bodypart once a week) but I was wondering whether I might get better growth by training on just Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  That would give me (at least) a full day of rest and recovery before and after each workout.  Wednesdays would be leg day, and i'd spit up the upper body between Mondays and Fridays.  What do you think?  Do you think the body responds better to more rest?

[edit:  Sorry, I just noticed that there's already a somewhat similar topic on this page that I probably should have posted this on.]

[pjs]

I like training 3 days a week.  Because of my job, rest, nutrition, work capacity, and training style, it's worked well for me using a couple of different training methods.

What you need to assess first is not how many days you should train, but where you are on a Novice to Elite continuum, and what your short and long term goals are.  An Elite level Olympic Weightlifter would most likely train 6 days a week.  A Novice might be very well served to train just twice.

[Deicide]

Does anybody recommend training just 3 times a week, rather than 4 or 5 times?  I've always trained 4 times a week (training each bodypart once a week) but I was wondering whether I might get better growth by training on just Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  That would give me (at least) a full day of rest and recovery before and after each workout.  Wednesdays would be leg day, and i'd spit up the upper body between Mondays and Fridays.  What do you think?  Do you think the body responds better to more rest?

[edit:  Sorry, I just noticed that there's already a somewhat similar topic on this page that I probably should have posted this on.]

Recovery is KING!

[Bluto]

trainign 3 times a week is fine. biggest benefit of doing more to me is the split of one bodypart per workout or something like that. the fewer the days the more you need to squeeze into those workouts which can be solved by having it be about the big exercises mostly and less isolation exercises

[John O]

I love training 3 days a week, but most powerlifters do (with maybe a 4th day in the off season)
Mine goes like this.

Sat :Legs
Sun: Chest, triceps  ( my shoulders are to shot to do any weight at all)
Wed: Back, biceps

Remember you grow when your resting not lifting.

[slaveboy1980]

I love training 3 days a week, but most powerlifters do (with maybe a 4th day in the off season)
Mine goes like this.

Sat :Legs
Sun: Chest, triceps  ( my shoulders are to shot to do any weight at all)
Wed: Back, biceps

Remember you grow when your resting not lifting.

i would add in some direct shoulder work...do shoulders on another day (if you cant do them after chest)....its not just to build em up, its important from an injury prevention standpoint too.