[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
That One Guy wrote:
“Overtraining”, is thrown around a lot…
Ever hear a farmer complain that he’s overtrained?[/quote]
well honestly hell yes over worked but they still have to and do get out there and do them damn thing 
Phill
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Nikiforos wrote:
Professor X wrote:
There is no way I would ever recommend a beginner (or anyone else for that matter) only workout 3 times a week. It isn’t enough volume and it is doubtful that a beginner or even most intermediates are producing so much stress that they need 4 days off a week.
What advice would you give to someone who can only have access to weights 3 times a week, on a Mon/Wedn/Fri basis.
Not being contentious, genuinely curious.
Honestly, first I would ask why they claim to only be able to train 3 days a week. I have worked three jobs and still made it to the gym, but then it was open 24 hours a day and I really wanted to make progress.
If 3 days a week was actually all they could lift, then yes, I would recommend you find some full body program that fits that schedule. I would also be frank enough to tell them that I don’t expect them to make as much progress as someone who trains more often. That is truly how I feel about it.
[/quote]
Okay, thanks for responding.
We don’t have 24 hour gyms anywhere near here, and I’ve found that indeed, after the first year or so, total body training has gone from “great” results to “average” even when I switch programs.
I’ll experiment with volume/intensity slowly as suggested by Phil and see how that goes with this bulk.
[quote]timmwwaa wrote:
I think 3 days a week is probably optimal for most over the age of 25, who has other priorities in their life, and who is not taking drugs.
[/quote]
It’s do-able, but far from optimal if you want to make reasonably good gains. What is so hard about finding 4-6 hours a week(out of an available 168)to train? It has nothing to do with other priorities. I hope almost everybody has “other priorities” unless they’re a professional athlete.
Lifting is either important to you or it’s not. You’re either committed and making progress or you’re just going through the motions.
Anyway, back to the original point. If you absolutely have to do only 3 days, do 3, but I think most will agree 4 or 5 is better.
^
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Are you actually LOOKING at the people telling you to train that much less? I do believe it is that simple. Things get confusing when you start taking bodybuilding training advice from people who wouldn’t even look like they lift if they wore a sweatshirt. [/quote]
[quote]Blacksnake wrote:
Professor X wrote:
I would also be frank enough to tell them that I don’t expect them to make as much progress as someone who trains more often. That is truly how I feel about it.
What I find mind expanding about this working out more often thing, is that we hear so much talk of “overtraining” these days being “dangerous”, yet you actually advocate more volume…Interesting…
[/quote]
It depends on the routine, and how heavy you are going, relative to your max.
Many people will use the term “overtraining” as an excuse for not doing what is necessary for success.
Does nobody suggest A/B splits?
Day A
Squat
Bench
Bent-over Row
Day B
Deadlift
Shoulder Press
Pull-ups
There’s your meat and potatos. Alternate every other day, and use different set/rep parameters for each day. (Like 8x3 and 5x5.) You can do the upper body work as either straight sets, or alternating sets. You really don’t need anything else.