Training frequency for a muscle?

[nightowlman]

The muscle I'm questioning in particular here is forearms. Should they be worked daily? That's what I've been doing the past two weeks and it just doesn't feel right - it's like they keep fatiguing faster and need more of a rest. Would every other day be better?

Also, my routine works muscles once a week, but they usually recover in 3-4 days now that I'm taking more supplements. The recovered muscles feel way too anxious just to sit and rest until next workout. Should I start working them twice a week?

[KingMeso]

Forearms get a lot of work on Back & Bi day also. I personally would not work my forearms daily. If I'm on a each muscle twice a week, forearms would be twice a week. Each muscle once a week, forearms would be once a week.

As far as your routine, maybe it's time to switch it up. How long have you been on your current training split? Your body will build up tolerance and become "comfortable" after a while of the same thing.

No one routine is king. Try something new out. That's the only way you will know if it will work for you.

[nightowlman]

I've only been on this routine for a month(just got back into the game), so I'll see if it works and for how long and then switch it up if needed. Thanks for the input bro!

[SteelEntity]

Why should forearms be worked daily? I find it funny why people think that working a lacking body part more frequently will cause it grow faster. Yet they don't work there chest more then once weekly. Just work them once a week. As already mentioned they get worked indirectly a ton.

[beebab]

your forearms are a muscle group like all others. training them every day will not spur growth it will only overtrain your muscle. treat it like you would any other body part, like others here have said

[nightowlman]

Yeah good input guys, definitely not doing daily, it's bad.

[TripDog]

from what i learned you can train ab's,calves,forearms every day.

[nightowlman]

from what i learned you can train ab's,calves,forearms every day.

Is that what you do Trip? Seems to be workin'! I definitely think abs can be done that often, but I've gotta spread out the forearms a bit.

[TripDog]

Is that what you do Trip? Seems to be workin'! I definitely think abs can be done that often, but I've gotta spread out the forearms a bit.

i over train everything actually.........shoulders def!!

[SteelEntity]

from what i learned you can train ab's,calves,forearms every day.

If you lift to the intensity required to cause overload there is no need to work them everyday or even 3 times a week. Now if you're hitting the muscle with moderate intensity, barely stimulating the fibers then working them everyday may work just fine.

With abs especially many people work them after each workout. They may do 2 quick sets putting little effort into it. If a person worked abs once a week doing 6 sets putting maximum effort into it then those 6 sets will probably induce more overload rather then doing 2 sets 4x a week. Additionally, doing them once a week allows full recovery time, not risking stressing the muscle more when it is still healing.

[TripDog]

If you lift to the intensity required to cause overload there is no need to work them everyday or even 3 times a week. Now if you're hitting the muscle with moderate intensity, barely stimulating the fibers then working them everyday may work just fine.

With abs especially many people work them after each workout. They may do 2 quick sets putting little effort into it. If a person worked abs once a week doing 6 sets putting maximum effort into it then those 6 sets will probably induce more overload rather then doing 2 sets 4x a week. Additionally, doing them once a week allows full recovery time, not risking stressing the muscle more when it is still healing.

thats what i said.....

[SteelEntity]

suuurrreeee

[TripDog]

suuurrreeee

[CROWLER]

I am REALLY starting to question so many things most of us think are facts.

Such as allowing so many days in between working a muscle. The number of reps which will or will not produce larger muscles. How much protein we need to build muscle.

My results lately REALLY go contrary to what so many of us believe is the truth. It has NOTHING to do with supplements so this isn't a lead into a advertisement lol


CROWLER

[BigCasino]

I am REALLY starting to question so many things most of us think are facts.

Such as allowing so many days in between working a muscle. The number of reps which will or will not produce larger muscles. How much protein we need to build muscle.

My results lately REALLY go contrary to what so many of us believe is the truth. It has NOTHING to do with supplements so this isn't a lead into a advertisement lol


CROWLER

Interesting!

Would you be so kind as to share what you have been up to my friend ?

[CROWLER]

Not sure it is really helpful. They are things I have found by accident. I have been really concentrating on getting ready for some triathlons next year. While doing this I have really let my lifting get put on the back burner. Starting Last Dec I cut my workouts back to 1 time per week. Round about April they fell all the way back to once a month and then in July down to no lifting at all.

During this time the amount of carbs I was eating continued going up just so I could recover from my swimming, biking and running. This caused the amount of protein I was eating to drop down below 200 grams a day. Then as of May it was down to some days just 100grams or even less with NO protein powder intake.

Ok jump ahead to where things are at now.

Eat basically everything in sight, trying to keep it almost all nice and healthy BUT I do take in a ton of simple carbs while biking . 85% or higher Carbs the rest fat and protein. Barely getting in 50 grams of protein. Zero lifting and doing 350 miles a week biking. And yet weight is STILL over 200lbs, fat levels are down and leg measurements are up.

Normal body weight at 35 years old was 160lbs. I am now 45.

Cliff Notes
No weight lifting
VERY high carbs including TONS of simple carbs.
Bike ride every day minimum 30 miles, every other day is 90 miles totalling 350 - 400 miles a week.
VERY LOW protein 50 grams or less a day
High rep cardio
Weight the same
Arms and chest only slightly smaller than 6 months ago.
Body Fat lower
Leg size increased.

Take it for what it is. To me it certainly does not follow the low reps, HIGH protein, work a muscle 1 or MAX 2 times per week.

I started thinking about wheel chair athletes and how big their arms are. They EASILY do 6000 reps in a workout with VERY little resistance.

Maybe there is more than one way to skin a cat and we have been fed a lot of hype about HIGH protein(re: supplement companies) is the way to go.


CROWLER

[datBtrue]

Interesting stuff CROWLER. I'm about your age as well and have seen an awful lot over the years. One thing I picked up along the way is that if you increase your consumption of good fats you need suprisingly little protein to build muscle...this is assuming one important factor...and that is that you aren't relying on the fat for energy.

You said you are taking in a lot of carbs. That is your energy source. This leaves the fat and small amount of protetin free to maintain/build muscle.

As far as training frequency think about Conan the Barbarian. He was a skinny runt shackled to the water wheel. He had to constantly push that thing around at first w/ the help of others and then eventually by himself. His muscles worked nonstop...and he became HUGE! Then for the rest of the movie I never saw him put on another pound of muscle.

Makes you think huh?

[TripDog]

As far as training frequency think about Conan the Barbarian. He was a skinny runt shackled to the water wheel. He had to constantly push that thing around at first w/ the help of others and then eventually by himself. His muscles worked nonstop...and he became HUGE! Then for the rest of the movie I never saw him put on another pound of muscle.

Makes you think huh?

......ahhhhh i love that movie!!!

[kwyckemynd00]

I am REALLY starting to question so many things most of us think are facts.

Such as allowing so many days in between working a muscle. The number of reps which will or will not produce larger muscles. How much protein we need to build muscle.

My results lately REALLY go contrary to what so many of us believe is the truth. It has NOTHING to do with supplements so this isn't a lead into a advertisement lol


CROWLER

x2

I've been working out bodyparts pretty frequently w/ a diet that rarely gets over 150-200g protein daily (@230lbs) and I'm seeing gains. I do notice the difference when I get up to around 250-300g/day protein, but above that is "meh".

[MisterEZE]

think about Conan the Barbarian. He was a skinny runt shackled to the water wheel. He had to constantly push that thing around at first w/ the help of others and then eventually by himself. His muscles worked nonstop...and he became HUGE! Then for the rest of the movie I never saw him put on another pound of muscle.

Makes you think huh?

wow! amazing reference and I love it!!