I am currently doing a 4 day per week push pull workout. Ideally I like to push on Monday, Pull Tuesday, rest Wednesday, Push Thursday, Pull Friday, then take the weekend off. However, my life has been a mess for the past 5 months due to health issues and other important things. Sometimes my workouts are structured just the way I like.
Other weeks I push and then don’t get another push workout in until 5 days later. Is this too long of a wait to make ideal gains? I am getting stronger, and slowly but surely I am getting bigger regardless of some health issues that make this damn near impossible. Just wanted to hear some peoples advice on whether I can make serious gains with this long of rest between training sessions. Thanks for the input
Many bodybuilding splits only work a muscle group 1 day out of every 7. I think missing 5 days between two push workouts is acceptable. For you, it may be less than ideal (because you might be able to get gains by exercising more frequently), but it’s acceptable and you should continue to see gains. Again, this is based on the idea that people see gains with bodybuilding splits where they only exercise the muscle group once a week.
Yeah I understand what you mean. Ideally I would like to increase the frequency of my workouts cause I care alot about my training. There are just other things in my life right now that I must give priority too, whether I like it or not. Sometimes when I know I will have a long recovery I up the volume or intensity, sometimes I even use drop sets for a certain lift as well. Any other input would be welcome
It sucks when life gets in the way but at times it does. When this happens I think the best you can do is maintenance. Gains will be tough. There are options though. Jim Wendler talks about how he went to 2 x per week training and says it actually helped him. He was doing lots of conditioning stuff in between but he actually believes it helped him. That may be an extreme example but there are plenty of 3 day per week programs you could try.
Maybe try a full body approach.
Lots of good things come from Madcow and Texas Method.
Thanks for the help angus. I know this might sound dumb but I just can’t let myself settle for maintenance level results. Atleast not long term. I am nowhere close to where I want to be in terms of strength or size and have a long way to go.
If somebody is only lifting hard 2-3x per week and making progress, it is very certain that they are doing other things during the week that require speed/explosiveness and overall physical prowess.
[quote]Field wrote:
If somebody is only lifting hard 2-3x per week and making progress, it is very certain that they are doing other things during the week that require speed/explosiveness and overall physical prowess.
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Not Always
I was doing a chest back/legs/arms and shoulders rest two times a week split but because of a sickness with my mother (I’m 17) and school and my step dad traveling I had to bump it down to once during the week and two work out days DRING the weekend for two months
I progressed fine each session and PR on everything. Even got my 5 rep deads over 400 in that time. It’s not optimal but it was all I could do and I still progressed
Thanks man I’m deads 5 rep is a tad over 500lbs now trying to strive for the 550
But yeah man it’s fine just do your push pull and you’ll progress fine even if it’s 7days Inbetween
Some weeks you’ll only get three sessions in others you’ll get more. Just flow with it and once your life gets less crazy buckle down and do more sessions.