Dumb question about working out - back to back days ....

[raildogg]

Yesterday I worked on my triceps and chest. Today I want to work on my biceps and back, is this ok or should I take a day off?

Normally, I take a day off.

I have three options for today after working out yesterday:

1. Do pushups
2. Work on biceps and back
3. Take a day off and exercise tomorrow

Which option would be the most beneficial?

I know that I should research and find out more myself since I'm so ignorant about this stuff, but I guess I'm lazy. I have to work on it.

 

[blackdogdeek]

i regularly do this. sometimes i have a 3rd consecutive lift day with shoulders.

 

[Kelemvor]

A general rule is to just not work the same major muscles groups two days in a row. Most people I know do lower body oen day, upper body the next day, and get some sort of rotation like that.

 

[vi edit]

Ideally you want a day of rest between working upper/lower body. Working different parts of the upper body back to back isn't isn't ideal, but it's acceptable.

I wouldn't make a habit out of it. Even though you are focusing muscle groups, there's still some overlap and you could fatigue yourself to the point of injury if you push it too hard.

 

[Descartes]

I would take a day off or just do some pushups. The stress from pushups isn't enough to cause any issue, or at least that's what I've read.

Personally, I wouldn't do chest and triceps on the same day either. If you're hitting your chest with proper intensity, you're likely putting your triceps through a reasonable workout at the same time. That's assuming you're doing some type of press of course.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
A general rule is to just not work the same major muscles groups two days in a row. Most people I know do lower body oen day, upper body the next day, and get some sort of rotation like that.

Yep, this is good advice. Though, I typically do abs everyday. I also tend to find myself doing a rotation of pushups that vary. Some sets are one-handed, others are where you have your hands in the center, instead of spread out, and other things that alternate the the specific part of the tricep for workout.

 

[paulxcook]

There's nothing wrong with working out like that 2 days in a row. I prefer to not work the same muscle twice like that, but rather I do opposing muscle groups. Chest and back one day, biceps/triceps another day... I wouldn't work out more than 2 days in a row, but there are plenty of guys who work out 5 days in a row, take off 2, and repeat. You should be able to tell if soreness is "good" soreness or "bad" soreness, so just be smart about it and if you want to work out again, do it.

 

[edro]

I have been doing a Monday = Chest and Tris, Tuesday = Back and Bis, Thursday = Shoulders and Legs for quite some time now...

It works great for me. I don't get sore until 2 days after the workout.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: Descartes
I would take a day off or just do some pushups. The stress from pushups isn't enough to cause any issue, or at least that's what I've read.

Personally, I wouldn't do chest and triceps on the same day either. If you're hitting your chest with proper intensity, you're likely putting your triceps through a reasonable workout at the same time. That's assuming you're doing some type of press of course.

A year or so after I first began working out, I too switched off of having chest/triceps and back/biceps on the same day for the reason you listed.

At the moment, I currently try to make it to the gym five days a week, and I aim for a different muscle group each day. The only combination I have is "arms," which includes both biceps and triceps, since I only do three or four exercises for each.

As for the OP, back and bi's should be fine after a chest/triceps day.

 

[Special K]

If you are training to near failure, I wouldn't hit each major muscle group directly more than once per week. Triceps are fine to pair with chest, and biceps are fine to pair with back. Some people benefit from having some direct bicep/tricep work, while others get enough from compound movements like rows and bench. Personally I like to throw in a few sets of curls/skull crushers at the end of my back-bi/chest-tri workouts.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: raildogg
Yesterday I worked on my triceps and chest. Today I want to work on my biceps and back, is this ok or should I take a day off? That's OK. I do that too

Normally, I take a day off.

I have three options for today after working out yesterday:

1. Do pushups No, same muscles you used yesterday
2. Work on biceps and back
3. Take a day off and exercise tomorrow

Which option would be the most beneficial?

I know that I should research and find out more myself since I'm so ignorant about this stuff, but I guess I'm lazy. I have to work on it.

 

[teckmaster]

I used to alternate days 5 days a week. First week I would do upperbody on M,W,F and lower body on Tu,Th. Then I would switch the next week. Also would do about 45 minutes of cardio every day.

 

[BDawg]

Is there any point in working out quads and calves if you're running for your cardio?

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: BDawg
Is there any point in working out quads and calves if you're running for your cardio?

It depends on your goals. Working out legs takes forever for me, as I have naturally strong legs and it takes forever for me to left to failure. There are machines the gym that I can't use because my legs are stronger than the weight that is available on them. I wish I could transfer some of it to my upper body .

So, long story short, I do squats because I like them, occasionally I load up the sled for leg press just for fun, and that's about it. I don't want gigantic bulky legs, I already have leg strength and stamina, and I'm not a body builder, so I don't have a focused "leg day".

There are only two reasons to lift: get big and get strong. If you're satisfied with your strength and/or your bigness, then no, no need to qork (or work, even) quads and calves. It's a preference thing.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Don't do pushups...don't workout your back/bi....either take the day off, or better yet, go workout your legs.

I think doing back and chest on consecutive days is going to cause you to work your shoulders too much (because...unless your a pussy, you're doing compound exercises)....

Remember...overtraining can be as bad as undertraining.

 

[jiggahertz]

Legs

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: BDawg
Is there any point in working out quads and calves if you're running for your cardio?

Ummmmmm.... yes

 

[slimrhcp]

Def don't do push-ups te day after you do chest and triceps.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: BDawg
Is there any point in working out quads and calves if you're running for your cardio?

What are your goals?


Short answer is YES... as squats are probably the most important exercise one can do...and those who don't are bitches...(unless they have a valid reason).

 

[cKGunslinger]

I use this rotation:

M: squats, back, biceps, shoulders, back of legs
T: squats, chest, triceps, front of legs
W: squats, abs, lower back, light aerobics
T: squats, back, biceps, shoulders, back of legs
F: squats, chest, triceps, front of legs
S: OFF
S: OFF

Which gives me a minimum of 2 days of rest between each major muscle group.

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: BDawg
Is there any point in working out quads and calves if you're running for your cardio?

It depends on your goals. Working out legs takes forever for me, as I have naturally strong legs and it takes forever for me to left to failure. There are machines the gym that I can't use because my legs are stronger than the weight that is available on them. I wish I could transfer some of it to my upper body .

So, long story short, I do squats because I like them, occasionally I load up the sled for leg press just for fun, and that's about it. I don't want gigantic bulky legs, I already have leg strength and stamina, and I'm not a body builder, so I don't have a focused "leg day".

There are only two reasons to lift: get big and get strong. If you're satisfied with your strength and/or your bigness, then no, no need to qork (or work, even) quads and calves. It's a preference thing.

This is pretty horrible advice. First of all your body grows as a whole. Second of all, squats, the king of exercises promotes overall muscle growth. Your body grows together. You'll be doing yourself a huge disservice by not working it completely.

 

[Muse]

It's all individual. I used to work out 7 days a week on a two day split:

1. Back, arms, abs, legs, stretch, swim 2 miles.

2. Chest, triceps, shoulders, abs, stretch, swim 2 miles.


Nowadays I have one workout every other day. I tore my labrum in left shoulder doing all that swimming and had to quit swimming. After surgery, my shoulder is better but still not 100%.

 

[purbeast0]

if you did triceps/chest yesterday, why the fvck would you do pushups?

that's using the same exact muscles you used yesterday in your workout. you are supposed to rest your muscles for atleast 72 hours before working them out again.

and your back/biceps will be fine to use now because they are different muscles. go do your back/biceps today.

 

[purbeast0]

wow the loads of misinformation in this thread make baby jesus cry

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: BDawg
Is there any point in working out quads and calves if you're running for your cardio?

It depends on your goals. Working out legs takes forever for me, as I have naturally strong legs and it takes forever for me to left to failure. There are machines the gym that I can't use because my legs are stronger than the weight that is available on them. I wish I could transfer some of it to my upper body .

So, long story short, I do squats because I like them, occasionally I load up the sled for leg press just for fun, and that's about it. I don't want gigantic bulky legs, I already have leg strength and stamina, and I'm not a body builder, so I don't have a focused "leg day".

There are only two reasons to lift: get big and get strong. If you're satisfied with your strength and/or your bigness, then no, no need to qork (or work, even) quads and calves. It's a preference thing.

Your not squating enough if you can't get to failure...

Video yourself doing 100Kg backsquat for 20reps all past parallel and I gurantee your legs will be fried by 12-14reps; then you have 8-6more to do

You should ALWAYS work your legs. Your legs can never be strong enough. If you want to build a body = do legs. Running alone is not enough unless your a genetic freak, even then you'll get better development if you direct leg work. Running uses a very limited range of movement. This is why runner who don't stretch can't squat properly worth sh!t. Their hamstrings are FAR TOO TIGHT!

Koing