Full Body vs. Isolation Routines.

jtsmt's picture
Posted May 4th, 2008 by jtsmt

I've always been curious about the best way to get results with strength training. I've been doing my resistance training as muscle-isolation training days. Basically here's how it breaks down:

Monday: Shoulders/Biceps
Tuesday: Legs
Wednesday: Abs/Back
Thursday: Triceps/Chest
Cardio: Monday-Friday (varying intensity - generally 60 minutes/day)
Weekends resting

I'm curious if doing it like that is any better or worse than doing 3 full-body workouts per week. I've read arguments for both but have never really bothered to have a discussion about it with knowledgeable people, like yourselves.

Any light you folks could shed on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

‹ Lower Pec Stomach/ abs ›

HST - Hypertrophy Specific Training

Dan's picture
On May 6th, 2008 Dan says:

Probably most bodybuilders use some sort of split routine type workout, but there is a training method called HST that I (as well as some other myfittribe members) have tried with great success. You can read about Jarahs review of an HST program he tried here: http://www.myfittribe.com/blogs/jarah/20071008/aussie-jarahs-blog-9th-oc...

And sithvixen did a blog on it here: http://www.myfittribe.com/blogs/sithvixen/20070801/hypertrophic-specific...

HST is a type of full body training that progressively adjusts reps to accomodate progressive overload. And in all of the cases reported here caused muscles to grow and strength to increase. Even though some people have reported that they didn't like the "enjoyment" factor, I personally liked it a lot for a number of reasons: I actually never felt run down or overtrained, yet I kept growing in size and strength each week.

Best of luck to you in your research.

and ... to add my $0.02

will_i_am's picture
On May 15th, 2008 will_i_am says:

Its very important to keep a variety in your workouts, both for motivation and more importantly, you need new stimuli to create a necessary need for adapation in your muscles... or so that you create new muscle fiber recruitments so that your body can be prepared to lift that weight when it needs to next time... this is how we get stronger and bigger, along with proper nutrition of course :D

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Priming your body before a workout [Warmup]: http://www.myfittribe.com/forums/best-ways-prevent-treat-post-work-out-s...