AboutJohn Izzo Expertise I can help answer any questions related to muscle development, muscle activation, fat loss, core strength, balance, spinal stability, warm-up, and proper exercise progression and execution. Most answers can be found on my website: www.standAPARTfitness.com
Please do not ask for a specific workout plan. In this field, I need to SEE you and evaluate your current physical capabilities. Answering such questions without assessing your needs and goals through a consultation would be irresponsible of me. Please be clear and concise in your questions. The more info you can give me, the more specific info I can provide.
Experience John is certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Endurance Sports Trainer Association (NESTA), and the American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA). He has helped countless clients lose fat, build muscle, and improve their performance through his exercise programming and potent motivational techniques. Most of all, John continues to further his knowledge by staying abreast on fitness trends and research by attending continuing education seminars and interacting with some of the brightest minds in the business.
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Expert: John Izzo Date: 8/28/2006 Subject: Split Routines vs. Full Body
Question I would like to know your opinion of one of the most debated issues in weight training "which is better, full body routines or split routines, for building muscle? It seems to me like nowadays you turn to any bodybuilding magazine, and you will never, ever, see any mention of full-body routines. Everything is about split routines. It almost makes me think, that if you want to look as big and muscular as you can, like many of the bodybuilders in these magazines, then you have to weight train on a split routine. You even read of powerlifters and sports players being on these split routines. It almost tells me that full-body routines just don't work as good. I know that many people out there say that many of these bodybuilders take steroids nowadays to look really muscular, but what about the ones that don't? Also, it's very confusing as to which split routine is best for building muscle, since there are so many of those routines out there (what's your opinion?). There is only 1 article that I have run across a few months back in Men's Health Magazine that is actually based on science and research that may put an end to people doing split routines, and instead, doing full-body routines if they want to gain the most muscle. This may also change weight training science as a whole. Please read this article (which I included as a link at the end of this message) and then tell me if it may change the way everybody may look at training to gain muscle, and also after reading the article, how your opinion stands on the whole full-body routine vs. split routines? Thanks so much for your expert assistance.
Answer I didn't read the article because I beleive in doing full-body routines too. For the last 4 years, I have been perfoming a full-body workout 3x/week for myself and I have also done the same for my clients. However, there is a place for split routines. Most bodybuilders follow a split routine becasue of the volume of work they do in relation to their goal: hypertrophy. You can still add size with a full-body routine, however, they are used more for people searching for fat loss, athletic conditioning, or functionality. Pure size and power comes with a split routine.
However, you can still add size with a full-body routine...alot of it has to do with changing teh way people think. And you will never get a bodybuilder to do just 1 exercise for chest. They won't ... becasue they need the burn to feel justified. Unfortunatley, this is where "gym science" prevails and adds to ignorance.
Stick to you course...you are doing fine thinking "against the grain". I invite you to join my website and learn more about this: www.standAPARTfitness.com
