Take a day off in between every session?

[GodsGiftToFatBirds]

Ok, this is something i don't quite understand about weight training.

Everyone seems to reccomend that you shouldn't train more than every second day, to 'give your muscles time to recover in between sessions'. My question is: is this necessary if you're training completely differnt muscle groups?
For example, if you're doing a chest session on one day, would it then hurt to do say a leg session the next day? Surely your leg muscles couldn't be tired from the previous day's chest session?

Is there any reason for taking a day off in this kind of situation?

 

[semag]

You'll be fine.

 

[AgonyUncle]

I have been training on a 5 day split for the last year.

I have had mates that have done it for years.

It depends what your aims are. If you are looking for mass, then sometimes a four day split is better.

If you are looking for serious fat loss, a 6 day split is best. You cannot be active enough if you are looking toshed fat.

If you are looking to improve fitness, maintain your existing physique, exercise for general health and moderate gains, then a 3 day split is ideal. Its not time consuming, gives adequate time for rest.

Your day split affects your entire life. 3 days a week requires less discipline. 6 days a week is toughest. When you exercising that much, you need to ensure you are sleeping well, eating right, not skipping meals, supplementing well. A 3 day split allows more room for error.

Like I say, it depends on your goals, your current fitness levels and the time you have availible to exercise. There is great fear that people are going to overtrain. The only way to overtrain is to not get enough quality rest and eat poorly.

 

[EFFORT]

Yeah, agony is right. It depends a lot on your goals and don't forget your body.

If your trying to make gains remeber for the most of us less is better. I'm only working out 2 days a week now monday and thursday and i'm feeling a lot better than when i was doing 3,4,5 day a week workouts.