What is your standard recovery time in the gym?

[Primemuscle]

Assuming a serious answer to the question of recovery time is not out of order here; I allow a week's recovery time before working out most muscle groups again, with the exception of calves. I used to do a split routine where I worked each muscle group twice a week. However, being an older gentleman, I find that a full week works better for me. As for soreness, that usually only last two days at most. Oddly enough, if I am sore at all, it is usually on the second day after the workout rather than the next day. I am not sure why this is the case though. I doubt this routine would work for someone who was competing though. I am just trying to maintain a good level of fitness.

[Dr Dutch]

The reaction of people is even more funny than the joke itself, sometimes...

[Dr Dutch]

Assuming a serious answer to the question of recovery time is not out of order here; I allow a week's recovery time before working out most muscle groups again, with the exception of calves. I used to do a split routine where I worked each muscle group twice a week. However, being an older gentleman, I find that a full week works better for me. As for soreness, that usually only last two days at most. Oddly enough, if I am sore at all, it is usually on the second day after the workout rather than the next day. I am not sure why this is the case though. I doubt this routine would work for someone who was competing though. I am just trying to maintain a good level of fitness.

I train the same way. I stay sore somewhat longer though, especially in the legs. I also found that the soreness starts earlier when I am more in shape, don't know if anyone has that experience too ?

[gym**rat]

The reaction of people is even more funny than the joke itself, sometimes...

So very true. I laughed so hard I farted and the blast dried up my sea monkey.

[Dr Dutch]

So very true. I laughed so hard I farted and the blast dried up my sea monkey.

hahahaha  god.   Have to go now, 5 PM.  Another day getbigging paid by the boss.

[_bruce_]

As long as you're performance doesn't degrade work out as many times as you like/can.

[Coach is Back!]

No more than 72hrs. One week is too long.

[Coach is Back!]

BTW...in the gym my recovery time with power exercises is 2-4min supplemental lifts 90sec.

[Papper]

Hey I will give you credit, at least you didn't put a text bubble coming out of his mouth saying "ET, phone home." You held back nicely.

Fool proof way of getting in your own off colour joke there

Assuming a serious answer to the question of recovery time is not out of order here; I allow a week's recovery time before working out most muscle groups again, with the exception of calves. I used to do a split routine where I worked each muscle group twice a week. However, being an older gentleman, I find that a full week works better for me. As for soreness, that usually only last two days at most. Oddly enough, if I am sore at all, it is usually on the second day after the workout rather than the next day. I am not sure why this is the case though. I doubt this routine would work for someone who was competing though. I am just trying to maintain a good level of fitness.

Thanks. And yes, it is very known to me that the second day after the workout is by far the worst one.

No more than 72hrs. One week is too long.

Sounds Im on the right track then. Feel like one week is way to long.

[Cashfan]

After a hard leg session it's not uncommon for me to feel sore a solid week or more.  Back workouts generally 4-5 days of soreness, chest 3-4, arms rarely sore at all, shoulders 1-2 days.

[freespirit]

Needs work on those calves.

[Hulkotron]

I came out of the womb so jacked and tan that I have never actually worked out, still recovering.

[gym**rat]

Fool proof way of getting in your own off colour joke there

Thank you, and nice catch.

[garebear]

I rest everything a week. I'm sure steroids changes everything, though.

[Dreadlifter]

Depends on the body part. I can train most parts twice a week without trouble apart form my hamstrings. They can take 5-7 days to recover from a good workout.

[Coach is Back!]

I hope you guys are not correlating soreness with effective training. There is no correlation.

[funk51]

Knowledgeable posters in getbig, I'd be interested on how you decide your recovery time?

48h? 72? A week? Different depending on muscle?

I tend go by feel in many aspects of working out, and recovery time is dictated by my soreness and a minimum rest of two days, meaning if it has gone two days and my muscle isn't still sore I feel like I can train it again.

And the keyword is: natural. What is the best for us?

Thoughts? Good articles on the subject? Thanks.

when breathing returns to normal.

[Primemuscle]

No more than 72hrs. One week is too long.

I am days away from being 67 years old. Would you agree that the older one is the longer it takes to recover? I've been told this is the case, but I suspect it varies by person and how hard they workout.

My workouts are still pretty intense despite being an old codger. I work out not less than one hour and often as long at 90 minutes per workout. My routine goes pretty much like this: Monday I work arms, Tuesday hamstrings and calves, Wednesday back, Thursday it is delts traps and abs, Friday chest and finally on Saturday it is quads and calves. I limit my rest time between sets to two minutes or less and about the same amount of time between exercises. If someone is using the equipment I need, I move on to another exercise rather than wait for it. Although I am friendly, I keep talk to a minimum. As many days as possible I finish off by doing 20 to 30 minutes of cardio.

One advantage I found with waiting a week to repeat working a muscle group is that the muscles react as if each week is something new for them....gaining the advantage of shocking them each time I work them out. Plus, I don't get bored with my routine as easily as I did when I did the normal twice a week split.

I am just finishing up a two month holiday from the gym. I'll likely start back with the same routine I was doing in June, but I am always up for new ideas too.

[ManBearPig...]

I am days away from being 67 years old. Would you agree that the older one is the longer it takes to recover? I've been told this is the case, but I suspect it varies by person and how hard they workout.

My workouts are still pretty intense despite being an old codger. I work out not less than one hour and often as long at 90 minutes per workout. My routine goes pretty much like this: Monday I work arms, Tuesday hamstrings and calves, Wednesday back, Thursday it is delts traps and abs, Friday chest and finally on Saturday it is quads and calves. I limit my rest time between sets to two minutes or less and about the same amount of time between exercises. If someone is using the equipment I need, I move on to another exercise rather than wait for it. Although I am friendly, I keep talk to a minimum. As many days as possible I finish off by doing 20 to 30 minutes of cardio.

One advantage I found with waiting a week to repeat working a muscle group is that the muscles react as if each week is something new for them....gaining the advantage of shocking them each time I work them out. Plus, I don't get bored with my routine as easily as I did when I did the normal twice a week split.

I am just finishing up a two month holiday from the gym. I'll likely start back with the same routine I was doing in June, but I am always up for new ideas too.

good for you old man, at least you're still going at it.

got pics of any chicks you boned in the 40's?

[Primemuscle]

Sorry....happily married man here. No photos of extramarital affairs with trashy women. Not only will I be 67 soon, my wife and I will celebrate our 47th wedding anniversery in October. Yes....I was just a kid of 20 when I married.

[cephissus]

I hope you guys are not correlating soreness with effective training. There is no correlation.

How do you measure the effectiveness of training in the short term (ie workout to workout)?

[Cashfan]

@Primemuscle-Good for you for sticking with it.  It seems like a lot of men just give up on thier bodies as soon as they start to get a little creaky.  Are you taking any HRT or GH to help you maintain muscle and recover? 

[Primemuscle]

Have not tried GH, however I am on TRT, injecting 150 mg of Testosterone Cypionate once a week prescribed by my urologist to which I added on my own HCG an anti-estrogen and progesterone cream. I have considered upping the test dose, but I would need to buy it online/black market because my doctor isn't likely to approve my taking more since my labs are good....between 700 and 1,000.

Fortunately, I enjoy really excellent health. I credit some of this to a lifetime commitment to exercise and healthy eating, the rest is genetics. I'll never be a bodybuilding contest winner unless I enter in some contest where I am the only fit person in my age group. What would that be? Ancient masters! LOL! I think my kids would kill me if they saw pictures of me in some bodybuilding magazine wearing a "thong" on the bodybuilding stage.

[dj181]

How do you measure the effectiveness of training in the short term (ie workout to workout)?

An increase in either reps or weight or both from the previous workout, that's how.

[gatorr]

Of course soreness is a good indication of a good workout. If i dont train hard iam not sore, i train hard iam sore simply as that.