This is a question that many people on a fitness program ask themselves, and it is a very valid question. If you Google this topic, you will likely see a variety of answers for both sides as to which one is better. The truth is that the real answer is … IT DEPENDS !!! Both are very valid strategies and both have their pros and cons. I’ve also had results with clients using both strategies, but deciding what to do can be a difficult proposition. Here is a breakdown that can help you make your decision:

You should do a full body workout if:

You are new to exercising

For those who are new to exercise or are starting over after a very long break, the whole body is best. His muscular endurance is low and needs to be redeveloped. Most people will see a lot of results in the first 2 to 4 weeks with just 1 or 2 exercises per muscle group.

You are inconsistent in following training plans.

The last thing you want to do when doing any type of fitness program is create muscle imbalances due to inconsistent training. If you start with body part splits (Chest / Triceps one day, Legs the next, etc.) and start missing workouts, you run the risk of developing muscle imbalances as not all of your muscle groups are being trained in the same way. . For example, if you train your chest every week but forget to train your back, you are likely to develop postural problems that can lead to stalled progress and even injury.

Looking for a simple and fast way to work your whole body every time you exercise

Most people like the feeling of being efficient with their time when in the gym, as they have busy lives and training times are short. There are many ways to do full body exercises and it offers a lot of variety for most people.

You only have 2-3 days a week to commit to resistance training.

Similar to the above, if you only have 2-3 days a week to commit to resistance training, the whole body is best. While it is possible to divide parts of the body in 3 days, it is more beneficial to work the whole body 3 times over the course of a week rather than just once a week.

You should do body part divisions if:

You want to resistance train 3-5 times a week

If you’re like me, you enjoy lifting weights and you like to do it most days of the week. Body part splits are a great way to divide muscle groups over the course of 3-5 days and really focus on 1 or 2 muscle groups at a time.

You want to focus on only a few muscle groups in each workout

After you’ve been exercising for a while, you may decide that your muscle groups need more attention than just 1 exercise per workout. In body part workouts, you will do 2 to 6 exercises per muscle group depending on the muscle group or groups you are working on.

You have been consistently exercising and sticking to a plan for over 3 months.

If you’ve been consistent enough for 3 months (meaning you’re exercising at least 4-5 days a week every week), you most likely have the discipline to start doing body part workouts. It is extremely important that you have this discipline because if you do not have it, you run a greater risk of developing muscle imbalances from missed workouts.

As you can see, there is nothing right or wrong about these styles, it is a matter of which one suits you best. Some people jump back and forth between full body workouts and body part splits, which can be a great way to really change up your fitness program and boost your results.

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