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Active: 1397 users

Weightlifting Schedule Help

Blogs > zulu_nation8
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
zulu_nation8
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
China26351 Posts
November 04 2007 08:08 GMT
#1
Can anyone give me some tips as to how to put a basic weightlifting schedule together? I've had a gym membership for half a year now but haven't gone at all the last three weeks because of no motivation. I've realized only recently that working out prevents me from chain smoking. After excercising I can go at least a day not wanting to touch a cigarette. Some tips I got from trainers were not to do back and chest in one day. And that's about it. I know all the basics stuff but I just need a schedule I can stick by and will cover all the major muscle areas. Right now I try to do one major muscle group per day for 4 days a week, Chest, Shoulders, Back, Arms. Three excercises for each area, 3-4 sets each. Then do some abs/legs afterwards. With some cardio beforehand. Any tips?

*
CustomXSpunjah
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States1093 Posts
November 04 2007 08:17 GMT
#2
when i put my schedule together i usually group two muscles that dont compliment eachother together. Eg=chest/bicep on monday-tuesday tricep/back-wednesday delt/legs-thursday cardio/abs-friday rest
thats almost exactly my schedule.
beware, the rise of the Protoss is upon us!
JudgeMathis
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
Cuba1286 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-11-04 12:27:29
November 04 2007 12:26 GMT
#3
What I do is this:
Chest + Back or Arms + Abs + Cardio
Shoulders + Arms + Abs + Cardio
Lower Back + Abs + Cardio

I don't do legs anymore cus I can lift up 320 LBS with just one leg(and their already very very very strong). I'm trying to lose weight as well, that's why I do cardio every day at the gym for at least an hour.

Also, do you want to be cut, or do you want get built like a rock?
Benching 225 is light weight. Soy Cubano y Boricua!
Freyr
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
United States500 Posts
November 04 2007 12:48 GMT
#4
What are your goals? Are they primarily aesthetic, or do you hope to significantly augment your athletic abilities?

Either way, try to construct your program around big compound lifts (deadlift, squat, bench press, weighted pullups, weighted dips etc). Isolation movements tend neither to build strength as functionally (as you rarely mimic them in any real activity), nor as fast, as they do not provide nearly as much stimulus for the body to exact the hormonal changes relevant to building appreciable amounts of muscle.

Forget splits, unless you are much more experienced than you sound - they are only particularly relevant for fairly advanced lifters. I would recommend first learning the important basic lifts, as mentioned above, and maybe working up with them twice a week in a 3x8 scheme, for the first 3 weeks or so.

What I'm saying may be fairly new to you, and you may consequently be inclined to ignore it. Instead, I urge you to simply do your own research. Exercise and the development of good programs is quite complicated, and there is SO much terrible information out there, particularly when you rely on word of mouth. Consequently a nonspecialist forum such as this is not the greatest source of good information.

If you take one thing away from this post, it should be this: Use google + critical reading skills , and form your own informed opinions on the matter.
Jibba
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States22883 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-11-04 12:53:17
November 04 2007 12:52 GMT
#5
"Some tips I got from trainers were not to do back and chest in one day."

I've never heard that. Usually I work pairs of muscle groups (chest/back, bicep/tricep) at the same time.

Mines pretty simple, but I've got enough time to work out for 1 1/2 - 2 hours each day. I just switch off upper body and lower body every other day.

First day: Run, chest, back, deltoids, abs, biceps, triceps
Second day: Run, squat rack, squat machine, leg press, calves, hamstring curl

3 sets on each starting at 15 reps increasing weight until I can just do 8. Multiple exercises for the big groups using different machines (chest/back/abs) and I spread the running out in between so I get a little break. A lot of that stuff is just personal though and doesn't really matter. I'd say just make sure you give the muscles a day off after each workout, so you're not working arms 2x in a row or something (you'll have a really lousy performance anyways.) Abs is probably the exception. Also, get some good cardio in each day so you don't look like some of those meatheads (there's a lot who just come in to do upper body but can barely stretch or run) and use proper mechanics. Don't lunge or twist to finish a rep, just take it slow (and painful.)
ModeratorNow I'm distant, dark in this anthrobeat
Jibba
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States22883 Posts
November 04 2007 12:59 GMT
#6
On November 04 2007 21:48 Freyr wrote:

Either way, try to construct your program around big compound lifts (deadlift, squat, bench press, weighted pullups, weighted dips etc). Isolation movements tend neither to build strength as functionally (as you rarely mimic them in any real activity), nor as fast, as they do not provide nearly as much stimulus for the body to exact the hormonal changes relevant to building appreciable amounts of muscle.
Also free weights of any sort are generally more useful than the machine counter part (squat vs. leg press, etc.) since you're using other muscles to stabilize. They're still good for extra work and variety, however. Sometimes just changing up my routine is what I need to spur on a gain.
ModeratorNow I'm distant, dark in this anthrobeat
fanatacist
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
10319 Posts
November 04 2007 13:59 GMT
#7
Are there any coaches at the gym? Most of the time they should be able to give you a free 5 minute talk on a basic work-out, it's not like they'll charge you for it.

I don't know much personally about routines, but I just want to remind you of the basics:

1. Do reps.
2. Take short breaks.
3. Drink water!
4. Work weight gradually up!

Good luck and have fun getting fitter n_n
Peace~
LonelyMargarita
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
1845 Posts
November 04 2007 14:09 GMT
#8
http://www.exrx.net/Lists/WorkoutMenu.html
I <3 서지훈
lugggy
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
450 Posts
November 04 2007 14:36 GMT
#9
Are you looking to make your muscles just bigger, stronger+bigger, or mainly more tone (endurance more than size)? That is what determines how many sets you should be doing, and reps, and the rest between them.

AFAIK, you can do every muscle group, with 1-2 days rest between, except legs and abs, which you can do every day.
A little effort please, this isnt a forum for just posting every link on the internet.
zulu_nation8
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
China26351 Posts
November 04 2007 15:25 GMT
#10
my goal is to look better I guess, I don't have time for any sports anymore. So that would be toned right? So more reps less weight?
Freyr
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
United States500 Posts
November 04 2007 15:55 GMT
#11
No - most people DO use tone to mean definition, but luggy apparently was not.

The term tone doesn't actually mean anything - it's a corruption of the term "tonus" which refers to the tension in a muscle in its non-contracted state.

Relevantly: Muscle definition is simply a product of muscle size and bodyfat percentage, that is ALL. If you have a fairly low bodyfat percentage and you wish for more definition, the solution is simply to gain muscle, which can be accomplished by weightlifting (see my above post). Most likely you will want to both lose fat AND build muscle. (incidentally the optimal rep range for standard hypertrophy (size gain) is generally viewed to be 8-12, with 3-4 sets)

I don't know what your athletic experience is, but if it is fairly extensive, forms of anaerobic conditioning such as HIIT are generally viewed to be extremely effective in the realm of fat loss (things like crossfit style barbell circuits, complexes and so forth are also excellent)

Start slowly, again, with compound lifts - focus on form.

Once more, there are WAY too many factors involved to hope to design a good program off of a TL thread - I URGE you to simply use this thread as a starting point for your own research, and investigate the claims involved.
zulu_nation8
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
China26351 Posts
November 04 2007 16:00 GMT
#12
what's HIIT, and thanks
Mango
Profile Joined July 2006
Belgium522 Posts
November 04 2007 16:23 GMT
#13
I thought it was High Intensity Interval Training, something like for example Sprint, rest, sprint, rest,...

Anyway, for some good advice I would advice you to read a few starters articles on www.t-nation.com, really helped me to learn the basics. And from that knowledge you should be able to compose your own schedule.
Freyr
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
United States500 Posts
November 04 2007 16:30 GMT
#14
Mango is correct, that is what I meant - note though that HIIT should not be performed by anyone without appreciable athletic experience.

A good diet in conjunction with your weightlifting, and occasional aerobic sessions will be fine to begin with.

Glad to be of help
Jathin
Profile Blog Joined February 2005
United States3505 Posts
November 04 2007 17:55 GMT
#15
--- Nuked ---
Freyr
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
United States500 Posts
November 04 2007 19:21 GMT
#16
Another thing to note - make sure you learn the form for squats and deadlifts PROPERLY.

If you do not, you will almost inevitably develop back problems as time passes.

Jathin - you should cross-check your form with some good references. Regardless of weight, if proper form is maintained your lower back should remain healthy. If you can't maintain the form with the weight you'd like to use, drop back down and supplement the areas that are causing the breakdown in form.

I know most people allow form to loosen a bit while striving for maximal effort, and for some people it doesn't seem to pose a problem, but it seems obvious that you need to focus on keeping your form tight. Unless you've developed a serious back condition there's no reason to let deads and squats slide entirely.

I would also argue that isolation work is not helpful at all for beginners (in fact I would argue that at least for athletic purposes they have almost no place at all (almost), but I don't know much about bodybuilding) - similarly I don't think there's any need for that kind of split for a beginner.
JensOfSweden
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Cameroon1767 Posts
November 04 2007 21:01 GMT
#17
On November 05 2007 02:55 Jathin wrote:
Start with a 3-day split (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).

Monday: Chest/Shoulders/Triceps
Wednesday: Legs
Friday: Back/Biceps

Be sure to do the 'big 3' -- chest press, squats, and dead lifts. I'm being a hypocrite because I don't do squats or dead lifts myself (the weight I use now tends to cause injuries in my lower back) but I definitely started with those exercises and it got me bigger pretty quickly.


Yea this is a decent split, although I would put shoulders with legs, because Monday gets pretty clogged otherwise.
<3 Nada [On and off TL.net since 2002
Yogurt
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States4258 Posts
November 04 2007 21:52 GMT
#18
On November 05 2007 06:01 JensOfSweden wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 05 2007 02:55 Jathin wrote:
Start with a 3-day split (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).

Monday: Chest/Shoulders/Triceps
Wednesday: Legs
Friday: Back/Biceps

Be sure to do the 'big 3' -- chest press, squats, and dead lifts. I'm being a hypocrite because I don't do squats or dead lifts myself (the weight I use now tends to cause injuries in my lower back) but I definitely started with those exercises and it got me bigger pretty quickly.


Yea this is a decent split, although I would put shoulders with legs, because Monday gets pretty clogged otherwise.


i do shoulders and back instead of with chest

heres some helpful links
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=998224
http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

also look for the newbie guides on t-nation
ok dont not so good something is something ok ok ok gogogo
nortorius
Profile Joined April 2003
Canada1210 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-11-04 23:11:58
November 04 2007 23:10 GMT
#19
Heres a routine I used last year (from sept to april) that brought me from about 175lbs to 185lbs (I'm about 196 lbs currently) which you might find useful:

MONDAY: Chest/Triceps

- 3x Flat BB/DB bench press
- 3x Incline BB/DB bench press
- 3x Incline DB flyes
- 3x close-grip flat BB bench press
- 3x straight bar pull-down
- 3x weighted dips

TUESDAY: Back/Biceps

- 3x pull-ups
- 3x pull-downs
- 3x seated-cable rows
- 3x DB curls
- 3x DB hammer curls
- 3x cable curls

THURSDAY: Legs

- 3x BB squat
- 3x leg press
- 3x hack squat
- 3x power squat
- 3x seated calve raises
- 3x standing calve raises

FRIDAY: Chest/Triceps

- 3x Decline BB/DB bench press
- 3x Decline DB flyes
- 3x pectoral flyes
- 3x straight bar pull-down
- 3x reverse straight bar pull-down
- 3x skull crushers

SATURDAY: Back/Biceps

- 3x t-bar rows
- 3x deadlift
- 3x weighted hyper-extensions
- 3x chin-ups
- 3x BB curls
- 3x curl/hammer curl alternation

Chest & triceps are together because a lot of chest exercises also stimulate the triceps, and the same thing for back & biceps. Nowadays I still have the same set-up for days (ie. monday is chest/tricep day), but I just do as many sets as I feel like until my muscles are fatigued while ALWAYS trying to keep workouts under an hour. I also ditched DB flye exercises and replaced them with cable flye exercises because I feel they work better.

It's important to remember that diet is a huge factor in gaining muscle, and without adequate supplementation and rest you'll find that gains come really slow. A diet I used for a long time can be found in the spoilers. Sometimes meals got switched around but it was usually always the same food everyday.

+ Show Spoiler +
MEAL#1

1 scoop 100% whey protein + glutamine shake
2 cups of 1% milk
Handful of almonds (14g)
1 multivitamin

Cals - 541
F - 14g
C - 29g
P - 44g

MEAL#2

1 multigrain turkey breast sandwich (2 pcs of turkey breast)
1 multigrain pb sandwich (1 tbsp of natural pb)
1 tbsp of natural pb
1 vitamin B-complex tablet
2 fish oil capsules

Cals - 580
F - 20g
C - 75g
P - 30g

** LIFTING / CARDIO SESSION **

MEAL#3

2 scoops 100% whey protein + glutamine shake
2 cups of 1% milk
1 large banana

Cals - 570
F - 10g
C - 56g
P - 65g

MEAL#4

1 can of tuna
1 multigrain pb sandwich (1 tbsp of natural pb)
2 fish oil capsules

Cals - 420
F - 11g
C - 37g
P - 43g

MEAL#5

8oz boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tbsp of natural pb

Cals - 324
F - 11g
C - 3g
P - 50g

MEAL#6

6 whole eggs (scrambled)
2 cups of 1% milk
1 vitamin B-complex tablet
2 fish oil capsules

Cals - 640
F - 35g
C - 24g
P - 54g

MEAL#7 (before bed)

1 cup of 1% cottage cheese
2 tbsp of natural pb

Cals - 370
F - 16g
C - 20g
P - 36g

TOTAL:
Cals - 3325
Fat - 117g
Carbohydrates - 244g
Protein - 322g

17/36/47 ratio


This is me btw: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/rperin/

pics are old tho

SolaR-
Profile Blog Joined February 2004
United States2685 Posts
November 04 2007 23:53 GMT
#20
monday: back and biceps
wednesday: chest, shoulders, triceps
friday: legs and abs

work out each muscle once a week, no more.
i'll add some more advice later
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