full body or splits?

[Semidevil]

my profile:
male, 29yrs old
weight: 133lbs, small frame, fairly weak.
deadlift with good form: 185lbs
dumbbell press: 35lbs per side
squat at perpendicular: 110.

I would still consider myself a very beginner lifter. My goal is gain strength, increase the stats on all of those, get bigger, and look stronger too (wider chest, bigger and toned shoulders, arms, waist, etc).

I usually go to the gym 3x per week, Mon, Wed, Fri. Is it better to do a full body where I work out all the muscles 3x per week, or is it better to focus on a split (i.e, push/pull/leg).

I can see advantages to both but want to see what you guys thought.

 

[repoman0]

Go with a beginner program like starting strength or stronglifts 5x5. SL might be better since IMO it's pointless to try to learn power cleans with any sort of decent form without a good foundation in the rest of your lifts. I started with SL 1.5 years ago at the suggestion of people in this forum ( link ) at the same build as you with great results.

Main point: squats every workout day, alternate between bench press and overhead press, alternate between deadlift and row or clean. Add weight every workout day.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2189876&highlight=

 

[mple]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=148036063

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=147447933

 

[Saint Nick]

I'd start with a strength oriented program before moving on to a split. But that's just me. I never saw results with a split, but definitely saw them with a full body routine.

 

[KeypoX]

SS or SL 5x5 or HST Look at the research not what people tell you at the gym, including the trainers.

 

[Whisper]

I'd start with a strength oriented program before moving on to a split. But that's just me. I never saw results with a split, but definitely saw them with a full body routine.

This is close to what I did (i.e., started out with compound days, and eventually moved on to splits) and it worked well for me. Unlike Saint Nick, I've actually seen good results with a five-day split, but that's just me...it fits well with my work habits, I guess.

 

[Saint Nick]

This is close to what I did (i.e., started out with compound days, and eventually moved on to splits) and it worked well for me. Unlike Saint Nick, I've actually seen good results with a five-day split, but that's just me...it fits well with my work habits, I guess.

I started out on a split, and of course in my newbie ways, nothing was happening fast enough so I probably didn't give it a chance

 

[Cstefan]

5x5 program still has me making gains no problem at heavy weights. Two workouts, absolutely effective.

including the trainers

Quite often, ESPECIALLY ignore the trainers.