With so many different ways to exercise, anyone starting out can get lost in all the jargon and lingo about health and fitness. Simply put, a spit routine is where you divide the muscle groups into sections, or body parts, like upper body and lower body, or even movements, like push and pull. This type of routine is typically done four to six days a week. A full body routine is every muscle group worked in a single workout with one day of rest between each workout.
Split Routine
Many bodybuilders choose to use split routines because it allows them to work different muscle groups on consecutive days. This way they can focus on enlarging a single muscle group at a time. Of course with six major muscle groups -- legs, abdomen, hips, chest, back and arms -- this would take a considerable amount of time to work each muscle group each week. Not to mention each muscle group would be worked only once or twice a week.
Full Body Routines
For those who have less time to exercise more than three days a week, and just starting out, you can still get great results from a full body routine. By hitting every major muscle group in each workout, three days a week, you stimulate the responses for muscle growth more than a split routine. When using the two basic movements of push and pull, you can give every muscle in your body a workout from your legs to your shoulders. This can be done with structural exercises, which means you use two joints to perform the movement, like a pushup, instead of just one, like a bicep curl.
Benefits
Depending on your goals either routine can get you a leaner, stronger and bigger physique. When you are looking for a functional strength based program, the full body routine is the way to go, especially if you are a beginner to resistance training. More advanced lifters can benefit from a split routine by focusing on a particular muscle group and working it to fatigue.
Considerations
Resistance training causes microscopic tears in muscle tissue and makes you feel sore. Due to the soreness that develops allow 48 hours to rest before exercising again. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends using a combination of free weights and machines when starting a resistance program. Always consult a physician or medical professional prior to starting any exercise program.
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