This is a question that many people in a fitness program ask themselves and it is a very valid question. If you google this topic, you will 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 seen 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 exercise or just starting over after a very long break, the best is the whole body. Your 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 kind of fitness program is create muscle imbalances due to inconsistent training. If you start with body part splits (chest/triceps one day, legs the next, 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 issues that can lead to stalled progress and even injury.

Looking for a simple and quick way to work your entire 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’s possible to do body part splits in 3 days, it’s more beneficial to work your 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 train resistance 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 down muscle groups over the course of 3-5 days and really target 1-2 muscle groups at a time.

You want to focus on just 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 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 split body part exercises. It is extremely important that you possess this discipline because if you don’t, you are at a higher risk of developing muscle imbalances due to missed workouts.

As you can see, there is nothing right or wrong with these styles, it’s 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 change up your exercise program and boost your results.