Muscle Grouping

Single body part split? Upper - lower body? Pushing - pulling muscle? Full body? ……You could ask 10 different people and you’ll probably receive 10 different explanations on how muscles should be grouped.
I am not one of those trainers who swear by one method of doing things. The only thing I am concerned about is what works. I’ve had success getting my clients results with each theory mentioned above so I do not feel the need to discriminate against any.

Each muscle grouping serves a specific purpose. For instance, a single body part split e.g chest Monday, back Tuesday etc., is an advanced routine geared mostly towards a body-builder/figure type competitor who is looking to create absolute symmetry.

There’s no right or wrong way to organize your workout routine as long as you are giving your muscles and body sufficient rest periods between training sessions. To determine what type of grouping is best for you, ask yourself the following questions;
• What are my goals? e.g getting healthy, getting on a three day per week routine
• How many days can I realistically NOT ideally, workout? three days v.s un-realistic seven
• What days can I workout? e.g monday, tuesday, friday - if your workout availability falls on certain days, you must make sure you have the right plan so that you can afford your muscles proper rest
• How long do you have each workout session to train? - if you only have 30 minutes per session, it may be tough squeezing in a full body workout

Take out a pen, a piece of paper and answer these questions. Keep in mind that just because a workout is published in Men’s Fitness or Shape, does not mean its the right program for you. Programs that work best are programs that are designed for the individual.

If you are looking to get great results and unsure what direction to go in, email me at joe@carabasetraining.com