Expert: Joe Hofer - 10/9/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am going to start heavy bag training soon but I am not sure when to do it. I do upper body strength training on mon., wed., and fri. On tues. and thurs. I do lower body training and running. I was thinking of doing training on the bag on leg day, but then I wouldn't have any rest for my upper body until the weekend. Will that effect any of my gains. If I decide to train on the same day as upper body training should I do it before or after my strength training?

thanks alot

ANSWER: Since heavy bag work is primarily upper body work that is the day I would do it on.  Your goals are what dictates if before or after your upper body work.  If you want to maximize your strength with weights then you should do bag work afterwards.

Thanks,

Joe

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the quick answer. I found this one forum where someone said that if you do bag training aftwords than it should be a couple hours after otherwise it will effect your gains. Is this true? if so how long do you suggest I weight?

thanks alot

Answer
The main thing when building muscle and strength is to work that muscle group one day then rest it a day so the muscles have time to recuperate and heal.  There are too many factors here to give a complete answer.  Examples:

Your goals, your current conditioning, how well your recuperative powers are, the extent of your training, your size, what exercises you are doing.  There is too much to consider to give an accurate answer.  Just remember train don't strain.

Joe