I would like to know which is better for women — more effective and will bring about faster results: training one part of your body once a week (until the muscles feel very tired) or training every part of the body three to four times a week, but not quite so hard?
That's a good question! There is a lot of debate about this among fitness professionals. Some experts recommend training the complete body in one session, and others say training a maximum of one or two muscle groups each session is the best way to get results.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both training strategies, so it comes down to how much training time you have available each week. If you have loads of time and will be training six or seven days a week, then I recommend going with training one or two muscle groups each training session. But, as this is an advanced way to train, you should consult a personal trainer to establish a good program to follow which fits in with the muscle groups you would like to focus on.
If you have a busy schedule and will only be training three to four times a week then I recommend going with total body workouts. This way you can get the maximum result with the least time spent training.
Ideally, if you are just starting out you should start with complete body workouts to condition your muscles, joints and cardio system. After four to six weeks progress to more focused muscle-group workouts.
Speak with a personal trainer to learn more about these training options. Even mixing both training strategies is good for variety if you are easily bored in the gym.
Answer published 11/08/08
Dean Piazza — your online personal trainer
www.getfit.com.au
