YAWT - Maintaining muscle size?

[SagaLore]

So I've been drinking half a serving of Nitro-Tech every morning, which is about 10g of protein. I also take 2 Natural Sterol tablets (Universal) - which I guess is only .66g of aminos. With meals I try to eat as much meat as possible.

I don't work out consistently, I maybe get 1 workout in per week.

I'm trying to maintain what muscle I do have, and keep my amino levels elevated so when I do workout, it has a much as an effect as possible. Am I getting enough? Is working out only once a week a waste of time? I've been using heavy weights with fewer reps - where as 6 months ago I was using less weight with more reps as more of a tone workout, and more often.

 

[PunDogg]

well working out once a week is def not enough, two times a week would be what you would want to go for, but i assume u can;t go more than once a week, so i say that you are doing what u should do to preserve muscle, but see if u can up your work out days

Dogg

 

[PunDogg]

awesome double post

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: PunDogg
well working out once a week is def not enough, two times a week would be what you would want to go for, but i assume u can;t go more than once a week, so i say that you are doing what u should do to preserve muscle, but see if u can up your work out days

Dogg

I have some free weights and a bench at home I use. With all the hours I put in at work, travel time, and chores I have to catch up with, it's hard for me to schedule in time to use them. And plus for maxing out I need my wife to spot me, who is also very busy.

Hopefully soon I can increase my routine. Just will have to wake up an hour early!

 

[Red Dawn]

I've read some articles where it was said that lifting once a week was better than lifting multiple times week if you lifted heavy. I don't subscribe to it but there might be something to it.

 

[Sluggo]

Some of the biggest guys at my gym are on a 5 day routine.

As an example:
day1 chest
day2 back
day3 arms
day4 leg
day5 abs
day6 cardio
day7 rest

Now some muscle groups will get a secondary workout while doing something else (arms get a little workout while doing chest) These guys certainly dont seem to be getting any smaller just doing a body area once a week. So it would seem that you could maintain your muscle mass by working out once a week.

Of course I could be wrong.

 

[TubStain]

http://www.wannabebigforums.com/

Tons of useful info there.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I've read some articles where it was said that lifting once a week was better than lifting multiple times week if you lifted heavy. I don't subscribe to it but there might be something to it.

That sounds familiar. Has something to do with the time it takes for muscle fibers to rebuild completley.

Actually thanks for reminding me - I forgot to ask in my original post - Are there any real scientific studies that show how long it takes for muscle to rebuild? All I ever read is speculation and hearsay. "Yea you need at least 200g of protein per day for optimal growth, rest at least 48 hours, blah blah" but I want some hard facts.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I've read some articles where it was said that lifting once a week was better than lifting multiple times week if you lifted heavy. I don't subscribe to it but there might be something to it.

That's once a week per muscle group. And if you do that, you need to lift heavy with maximum intensity... which would require a split routine... which would reqire multiple days like this:

Mon: Chest, shoulders and tris
Wed: Back and bis
Fri: Legs and calves

There is no way in hell one can do a full body split and work with maximum intensity for all exercises. That's just too many sets.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I've read some articles where it was said that lifting once a week was better than lifting multiple times week if you lifted heavy. I don't subscribe to it but there might be something to it.

That's once a week per muscle group. And if you do that, you need to lift heavy with maximum intensity... which would require a split routine... which would reqire multiple days like this:

Mon: Chest, shoulders and tris
Wed: Back and bis
Fri: Legs and calves

There is no way in hell one can do a full body split and work with maximum intensity for all exercises. That's just too many sets.

No they were talking about just lifting once a week. Like I said I don't subscribe to it for the reason you mentioned.

 

[TubStain]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I've read some articles where it was said that lifting once a week was better than lifting multiple times week if you lifted heavy. I don't subscribe to it but there might be something to it.

That sounds familiar. Has something to do with the time it takes for muscle fibers to rebuild completley.

Actually thanks for reminding me - I forgot to ask in my original post - Are there any real scientific studies that show how long it takes for muscle to rebuild? All I ever read is speculation and hearsay. "Yea you need at least 200g of protein per day for optimal growth, rest at least 48 hours, blah blah" but I want some hard facts.

I'm sure it varies from person to person. Depending on metabolism, vitamins taken etc. For me, if I'm sore from a workout, it's usually because I have really overdone it, so my muscles need time to recuperate and rebuild. Working out with sore muscles is bad.

for my frequently trained muscles where I no longer get sore, I usually leave about a day or 2 max to rebuild. During that time I make sure I'm taking my vitamins, fish oil and never letting myself get hungry.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I've read some articles where it was said that lifting once a week was better than lifting multiple times week if you lifted heavy. I don't subscribe to it but there might be something to it.

That's once a week per muscle group. And if you do that, you need to lift heavy with maximum intensity... which would require a split routine... which would reqire multiple days like this:

Mon: Chest, shoulders and tris
Wed: Back and bis
Fri: Legs and calves

There is no way in hell one can do a full body split and work with maximum intensity for all exercises. That's just too many sets.

No they were talking about just lifting once a week. Like I said I don't subscribe to it for the reason you mentioned.

Ah! In that case, I agree.