Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure

Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: Livewire on September 26, 2007, 10:33:58 AM

Title: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Livewire on September 26, 2007, 10:33:58 AM
I'm a 205 pound kid.  probably 10% bodyfat year roudn.  I want big muscles.

How often should I train?  I see most good guys at my gym go at least 5 times per week.  Dorian only trained THREE days a week to build his base. 

I'm confused.  thanks!
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: NoCalBbEr on September 26, 2007, 03:07:37 PM
if your just starting out. start with  3 days a week and move up, when you feel your body can handle it. You can just start out with 5 days because you'll  run your body to the groud.  rocovery is more important then  training and so is eating.

Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: theworm on September 26, 2007, 07:43:13 PM
4 days

1. chest and abs
2. back & bis
3. rest/cardio
4. shoulders/tris
5. legs
6. off
7. off
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Bluto on September 27, 2007, 03:30:05 AM
as often as possible.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Hedgehog on September 27, 2007, 03:37:27 AM
I'm a 205 pound kid.  probably 10% bodyfat year roudn.  I want big muscles.

How often should I train?  I see most good guys at my gym go at least 5 times per week.  Dorian only trained THREE days a week to build his base. 

I'm confused.  thanks!

I think three times a week is close to optimal.

Study shows that training twice every other day is more effective than training every day.

So if given a choice, three times a week.

Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on September 27, 2007, 05:34:45 AM
if your just starting out. start with  3 days a week and move up, when you feel your body can handle it. You can just start out with 5 days because you'll  run your body to the groud.  rocovery is more important then  training and so is eating.



to be honest most guys who workout more than 3-4 times a week (when training for bigger muscles, not sport specific training) do it mostly because they are obsessed not necessarily because it gives you better results. For the majority of people , 3-4 hard workout sessions per week is as much they can mentally and physically cope with in the long run.

Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: powerpack on September 27, 2007, 10:52:53 AM
4 times a week Monday Teusday, Thursday, Friday.
Sometimes with work I can only train on the week end.
Then I train Saturday morning and afternoon, Sunday morning and afternoon.
So bassically four sessions.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: TroubleReady39 on October 21, 2007, 12:28:58 PM
3 days a week for mass gains is usually enough.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: webcake on October 21, 2007, 10:10:03 PM
Everyone is different. I started doing 3 times a week, then 4 times a week then moved onto 5 times a week. Probably not the most effective but i just loved being in the gym. I'm about to start HST soon, 3 sessions a week, each session is a full body workout.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on October 22, 2007, 04:22:54 AM
Everyone is different. I started doing 3 times a week, then 4 times a week then moved onto 5 times a week. Probably not the most effective but i just loved being in the gym. I'm about to start HST soon, 3 sessions a week, each session is a full body workout.

lifting weights 5 times per week is not the best strategy if you wanna grow. most guys who train that many times per week are just obsessed and are only limiting their gains .i used to go in 5 days a week too, i got some results..but i have gotten alot better with 3..max 4 sessions per week...the same thing with everyone i have trained+talked too



Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Charlys69 on October 22, 2007, 05:19:40 AM
I don`t train by the "week". I`m doing 3 workouts in 5 or 6 days. If i only train every bodypart 1 time a week the progress is not better than on a 5-6 days schedule. So over the long run i can do more productive workouts. If my workout schedule where "shorter" i suffered overtraining earlier, and injuries and imflamation of the joints/Tendoms came also earlier.
But it also depends on how hard and how much you are training, and how much you`re Body can take....

So, for me that schedule works !!
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: kh300 on October 22, 2007, 11:01:35 AM
to be honest most guys who workout more than 3-4 times a week (when training for bigger muscles, not sport specific training) do it mostly because they are obsessed not necessarily because it gives you better results. For the majority of people , 3-4 hard workout sessions per week is as much they can mentally and physically cope with in the long run.



i agree.. if you had all the evidence in the world that all you have to do is A 3x's a week and anything else will slow down your gains.. 90% of everyone will add in B,C,and D and do it 5x's a week
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: thewickedtruth on October 22, 2007, 11:03:25 AM
4 on and two off lately..
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: triple_pickle on October 22, 2007, 11:20:48 AM
3-4 days a week does the trick for me
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: flexingtonsteele on October 22, 2007, 03:20:09 PM
mon, tues, thurs, fri ........works well

Gives u enough time to properly recover.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: tomgreynolds on October 23, 2007, 06:51:07 PM
I am on a training split that I made for myself and it works great

Day 1: Chest, Shoulders, Tris

Day 2: OFF

Day 3: Back, Bis

Day 4: OFF

----REPEAT----



I don't train legs right now because they are already over-developed

Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: webcake on October 23, 2007, 07:53:46 PM
I am on a training split that I made for myself and it works great

Day 1: Chest, Shoulders, Tris

Day 2: OFF

Day 3: Back, Bis

Day 4: OFF

----REPEAT----



I don't train legs right now because they are already over-developed



You should still train them. Unless they are WAY out of proportion with your upperbody, keep training them.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: lilwoday09smb on October 25, 2007, 12:46:54 PM
day 1
bench
squats
chins
curls
db rows
calf raises

day 2
off

day 3
deadlifts
dips
military press
lat raises
skull crushers
leg raises

day 4
off

day 5
incline bench
front squats
pull ups
t-bar rows
db curls
standing calf raises

day 6
off

day 7
rack deads
cling and press
close grip bench
upright rows
leg raises
lunges

repeat
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: CalvinH on October 25, 2007, 01:22:55 PM
Right now I do 4 days a week.I wanna get back to 5 days a week with taking the weekends off.I hardly ever see the inside of the gym on a weekend.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: candidizzle on October 25, 2007, 09:39:24 PM
to be honest most guys who workout more than 3-4 times a week (when training for bigger muscles, not sport specific training) do it mostly because they are obsessed not necessarily because it gives you better results. For the majority of people , 3-4 hard workout sessions per week is as much they can mentally and physically cope with in the long run.


thanks for your analysis, Sigmund.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Cold on October 26, 2007, 11:23:24 AM
3 days a week. that's a fucking joke.

gimme a break.  i don't know anybody builder (with serious development) who train 3 days a week. DOrian yates BS'ed. He didn't train 3 days a week.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on October 26, 2007, 03:51:14 PM
thanks for your analysis, Sigmund.

yw, miss pumpfelstrapf
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on October 26, 2007, 03:54:30 PM
3 days a week. that's a fucking joke.

gimme a break.  i don't know anybody builder (with serious development) who train 3 days a week. DOrian yates BS'ed. He didn't train 3 days a week.

dorian did train 3 days a week his first few years...(did more workout per week after 86 tho)

dexter trained 3 days a week for years

i know several guys who weight over 120kg who train 3 days a week.

but thats not the point. guys who go in 6 days a week are just obsessed (in many cases) and would get alot better results by working out 3-4 days a week. (bodybuilders)
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Rydawg on October 27, 2007, 03:36:15 AM
Its a trial and error process to figure out what will work best. I used to train with a guy and he responded best to lifting 6 days a week, hitting each body part twice a week. I've tried everthing: the push/pull routines, high volume routines, three days a week, four days a week. For me, I've found that I respond best to five days a week on a High Intensity Training routine. My days are divided into: Chest, Back, Legs, Shoulders/Traps, and Bi's/Tri's/Forearms, with abs four times a week.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: nuyork143 on October 28, 2007, 04:33:35 PM
I do a 5 day workout, only because I dont like to spend forever in the gym.

Looks something like this:

Chest
Back
Shoulders
Off
Legs
Bi's/Tri's
Off

Repeat

Works for me. ;D
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Gavin Laird on October 30, 2007, 12:29:44 AM
For Hypertrophy?

Whole body, 3 days a week. Or any other split that allows you to train each muscle group every 48-72 hours.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: webcake on October 30, 2007, 12:33:16 AM
For Hypertrophy?

Whole body, 3 days a week. Or any other split that allows you to train each muscle group every 48-72 hours.


Yep, HST training. I'm about to start HST for the open challenge thread.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: mass 04 on October 30, 2007, 01:00:13 PM
I have tried 3 day 4 day and 5 day splits. I think 4 days is best by far

M-Shoulders Biceps Calves
T-Legs
W-Chest Triceps
TR-Back Calves Forearms
Fri Sat Sun-off
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: nuyork143 on October 31, 2007, 02:52:31 PM
I am on a training split that I made for myself and it works great

Day 1: Chest, Shoulders, Tris

Day 2: OFF

Day 3: Back, Bis

Day 4: OFF

----REPEAT----





I don't train legs right now because they are already over-developed



Sure they are!
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: mass 04 on November 01, 2007, 02:40:25 PM
Sure they are!


off topic, but your avatar is priceless  ;D
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: untamedsense on November 01, 2007, 04:33:13 PM
I'm probably going to get nailed big time on this board but here's my workout schedule:  12 days on, 2 off, then restart...
Chest
Shoulders
Triceps
Legs
Back (thickness one week, width the next)
Biceps

With each workout I LITERALLY do different exercises for each bodypart then restart all over the next cycle.  I like the gym, feel I get plenty of rest between respective workouts, my gym-time is from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes and I hit very hard and heavy.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: mass 04 on November 01, 2007, 07:17:53 PM
I'm probably going to get nailed big time on this board but here's my workout schedule:  12 days on, 2 off, then restart...
Chest
Shoulders
Triceps
Legs
Back (thickness one week, width the next)
Biceps

With each workout I LITERALLY do different exercises for each bodypart then restart all over the next cycle.  I like the gym, feel I get plenty of rest between respective workouts, my gym-time is from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes and I hit very hard and heavy.


hey, if you make progress and recover who cares what people think. I'd probably die after the eight day. ;D  Are you a natty? Not a flame, a seriou question.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Tryharder68 on November 01, 2007, 07:18:19 PM
4x  a week
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Tryharder68 on November 01, 2007, 07:19:51 PM

hey, if you make progress and recover who cares what people think. I'd probably die after the eight day. ;D  Are you a natty? Not a flame, a seriou question.

DAMN!!!!   I guess as long as you are making progress, than thats all that counts. Though, I cant help but ponder the long term effects on your CNS, joints, etc
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: mass 04 on November 01, 2007, 08:05:30 PM
DAMN!!!!   I guess as long as you are making progress, than thats all that counts. Though, I cant help but ponder the long term effects on your CNS, joints, etc

no kidding 12 days straight for a natty is a lot, I'm not an expert but i would think the body would say "enough" eventually. I'm in my early twenties and only trai 4 days a week.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: untamedsense on November 02, 2007, 06:15:56 PM
Completely natural!  43, 44 in March 2008...5'10" 230#
I keep track of training days on a calendar...2005 - 271  2006 - 282  2007 (so far) - 245  So I have missed a few extra days as needed or forced. 
Everything seems intact, except the knee I had surgery on in 2002, but it was totally unrelated to lifting. 
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Emmortal on November 03, 2007, 04:22:54 PM
I just moved to a 5 day week from a 3 day week and am tuning my workouts.  I think whatever works for you is the best.  Currently I'm doing Monday/Tuesday on, Wednesday off, Thursday/Friday on, Saturday/Sunday off.  It's working out pretty good so far, I'm still adjusting to it so we'll see in a few months how I'm still holding up.

Some guys respond well to just 3 days a week, I was hitting a plateau so I moved my days and intensity up a notch. 
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: jude2 on November 03, 2007, 07:05:48 PM
I just moved to a 5 day week from a 3 day week and am tuning my workouts.  I think whatever works for you is the best.  Currently I'm doing Monday/Tuesday on, Wednesday off, Thursday/Friday on, Saturday/Sunday off.  It's working out pretty good so far, I'm still adjusting to it so we'll see in a few months how I'm still holding up.

Some guys respond well to just 3 days a week, I was hitting a plateau so I moved my days and intensity up a notch. 
That is how I train right now, but I call it 4 days a week.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: JasonH on November 04, 2007, 01:25:23 AM
Four days a week is fine regardless of whether your a natural or not - my split:

Mon - Legs
Tue - Chest and Bis
Wed - Off
Thu - Delts and Tris
Fri - Back and Abs
Sat - Off
Sun - Off

I've had this split for the last five years at least and have no plans to change it.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: mesmorph78 on November 04, 2007, 06:17:49 AM
5 days a week..straight
monday back (used to be chest but everybody works chest on monday so its a nightmare on barbell chest day)
tues-chest
wed -shoulders
thursday-legs
fri -arms
.. why? because the way i pound each bodypart i can only do one perday..
in the new yr im thinkin of putting arms with shoulders on fri and have a day of on wed
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: NoCalBbEr on November 04, 2007, 10:24:16 PM
I train 5 days a week
monday-chest/abs (I'm not like everyone that does chest on monday, but my chest is a weak point)
tuesday- back/traps
wednsday- shoulders/calves
thursday- off/ sometimes cadio at home
friday- bis/tris
saturday- Legs
sunday- off / sometimes cardio at home

this is the split I use b/c my lower body  grows like weed. so, I'm tring to build the upper body. I would rather, take wedsday and sunday off the thursday and sunday off. Its really do to work and personally life
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on November 05, 2007, 05:18:04 AM
I train 5 days a week
monday-chest/abs (I'm not like everyone that does chest on monday, but my chest is a weak point)
tuesday- back/traps
wednsday- shoulders/calves
thursday- off/ sometimes cadio at home
friday- bis/tris
saturday- Legs
sunday- off / sometimes cardio at home

this is the split I use b/c my lower body  grows like weed. so, I'm tring to build the upper body. I would rather, take wedsday and sunday off the thursday and sunday off. Its really do to work and personally life
maybe your upper body will catch up if you dont split it and dont work it 4 days a week?
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: vonraider on November 05, 2007, 08:24:55 AM
One body part a day, five to seven days a week. If your only training one part a day you can smash it and not overtrain. Training three days a week is useless if you want to get big. All thats going to do is maintain what you have unless you are a beginner. Four days a week is the minimum you should train. Overtraining is over rated!
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on November 05, 2007, 09:24:10 AM
One body part a day, five to seven days a week. If your only training one part a day you can smash it and not overtrain. Training three days a week is useless if you want to get big. All thats going to do is maintain what you have unless you are a beginner. Four days a week is the minimum you should train. Overtraining is over rated!


bullshit, as CNS fatigue is not only connected to isolated muscle groups.

the main thing is not overtraining.splitting the body too much is inefficient training.

instead; dont go to failure and hit the bodyparts more often.

i made gains on 4-5 splits for sure..but its not the best way to train.

bottom line: train 3-4 days a week. exactly how you do it doesnt matter as long as you have fun and do the basic exercises and try to get stronger.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Bluto on November 05, 2007, 09:55:52 AM
im at the gym 7 days a week.

reasons are two:

#1 - the more frequent, the better the results
#2 - i like to be at the gym.

hope this helps.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on November 05, 2007, 09:59:42 AM
im at the gym 7 days a week.

reasons are two:

#1 - the more frequent, the better the results
#2 - i like to be at the gym.

hope this helps.


no you lie like all gypsies. you wanna sabotage for other people. you spread fake advice like arnie and nasser. besides its not giving you results.



 ;D
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: Bluto on November 05, 2007, 10:31:17 AM
no you lie like all gypsies. you wanna sabotage for other people. you spread fake advice like arnie and nasser. besides its not giving you results.



 ;D

im telling like it is. always has, always will.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on November 05, 2007, 10:32:37 AM
im telling like it is. always has, always will.


always have.


Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: NoCalBbEr on November 05, 2007, 10:51:07 AM
maybe your upper body will catch up if you dont split it and dont work it 4 days a week?
[/quote

it has worked for me. I also, changed to doing inclines first and  my upper body got thicker. when I mean cardio., I'm just doing 10-15 minutes. I do it mainly for heart health but I'm going to cut it out. I can't eat enough to keep the muscle mass on when doing cardio. I tend to lose bodyweight quickly.
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: SirTraps on November 05, 2007, 05:04:59 PM
3 days a week is best for a natural if you lift heavy imo.  Thats what im doing right now and im making very good gains.   I have seen some naturals get pretty damn big on 3 days a week.   

       Chest/triceps--legs--back biceps every 7 days.

          If i had the time i would add cardio and abs one extra day but i dont, and im making good progress. I drink 40-50 grams of whey protein 7 days a week, eat clean and take glutaimine/bcaa powder/zma and tribex along with Carlsons liquid fish oil.   my best is a 315 incline a few years ago, im steadily getting back there now. 
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on November 05, 2007, 05:07:56 PM
3 days a week is best for a natural if you lift heavy imo.  Thats what im doing right now and im making very good gains.   I have seen some naturals get pretty damn big on 3 days a week.   

       Chest/triceps--legs--back biceps every 7 days.

          If i had the time i would add cardio and abs one extra day but i dont, and im making good progress. I drink 40-50 grams of whey protein 7 days a week, eat clean and take glutaimine/bcaa powder/zma and tribex along with Carlsons liquid fish oil.   my best is a 315 incline a few years ago, im steadily getting back there now. 

good job. drop the glutamine tho, its useless for a bodybuilder.

when do you do shoulders?
Title: Re: Train - how many days per week, and why?
Post by: SirTraps on November 05, 2007, 05:34:52 PM
with heavy inclines and heavy shrugs(on back day) i really dont need to do shoulders-i used to military but i dont need the rotator cuff problems.  back shoulders are easy gainers for me.