This is a question that many people in a fitness program ask, and it is a very valid question. If you google this topic, you’ll likely see a variety of answers for both sides as to which is better. The truth is that the real answer is… IT DEPENDS!!! Both are very valid strategies and both have their pros and cons. I’ve also had results with clients using both strategies, but deciding which to do can be a difficult proposition. Here’s a breakdown that can help guide you to your decision:

You should do a full body workout if:

You are new to exercising

For those who are new to exercising or starting over after a very long break, a full body workout is best. His muscular endurance is low and needs to be rebuilt. Most people will see a lot of results in the first 2-4 weeks with just 1-2 exercises per muscle group.

You are inconsistent in following training plans.

The last thing you want to do when doing any type of fitness program is create muscle imbalances through inconsistent training. If you start with body part splits (chest/triceps one day, legs later, etc.) and start missing workouts, you risk developing muscle imbalances since not all of your muscle groups are being trained the same way. . For example, if you train your chest every week but forget to train your back, you are likely to develop posture problems that can lead to stagnant progress and even injury.

Looking for a simple and fast way to work the whole body every time you train

Most people like the feeling of being efficient with their time when they are in the gym, as they have busy lives and training times are scarce. There are many ways to do full-body exercises and it offers a lot of variety for most people.

Only have 2-3 days a week to commit to resistance training

Similar to the above, if you only have 2-3 days per week to commit to resistance training, then total body is best. While it is possible to do body part splits in 3 days, it is more beneficial to work the entire body 3 times over the course of a week rather than just once a week.

You should do body part splits if:

You want to resistance train 3-5 times a week

If you’re like me, you like to lift weights and you like to do it most days of the week. Body part splits are a great way to break up muscle groups over the course of 3-5 days and really focus on 1-2 muscle groups at a time.

You want to focus on only a few muscle groups each workout

Once you’ve been exercising for a while, you may decide that your muscle groups need more attention than just 1 exercise per workout. In split body part workouts, you’ll do 2-6 exercises per muscle group, depending on the muscle group(s) you’re working on.

You have been exercising consistently and have been sticking to a plan for more than 3 months

If you’ve been consistent enough for 3 months (ie consistently working out at least 4-5 days a week every week), then you most likely have the discipline to start doing exercises divided by body parts. It is extremely important that you possess this discipline because if you don’t, you are at a higher risk of developing muscular imbalances due to missed workouts.

As you can see, there is no right or wrong with these styles, it is a matter of which one suits you best. Some people go back and forth between full-body workouts and body part splits, which can be a great way to really switch up your exercise program and boost your results.