Working same body parts 2x per week -- too much?

[shanksworthy]

I've been doing BFL for about 4 weeks, and I feel like I've stopped making strength gains. In fact, I've started to regress. On week 4, I'm barely able to lift as much as I was able to lift on the last workout for that muscle.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe doing 2 workouts for the same muscles in the same week, is too much for me -- i.e. it doesn't give my muscles enough time to repair. I realize that maybe after 4 weeks I'm due to switch to different exercises. But I'm just wondering if anyone else has this issue...? And do you think that it would be okay to only do one upper/lower body workout per week, instead of the 3 upper/lower body workouts every 2 weeks recommended in the program?

[Chris]

This is completely normal... and the reason I advise to change your workout every 4 weeks. This shouldn't be too much for your body, but it could be. I suggest changing it up for a couple weeks and see how you do.

[bodybuilder]

Originally Posted by shanksworthy

I've been doing BFL for about 4 weeks, and I feel like I've stopped making strength gains. In fact, I've started to regress. On week 4, I'm barely able to lift as much as I was able to lift on the last workout for that muscle.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe doing 2 workouts for the same muscles in the same week, is too much for me -- i.e. it doesn't give my muscles enough time to repair. I realize that maybe after 4 weeks I'm due to switch to different exercises. But I'm just wondering if anyone else has this issue...? And do you think that it would be okay to only do one upper/lower body workout per week, instead of the 3 upper/lower body workouts every 2 weeks recommended in the program?

i had that problem with the strengh gains. i dont know wether doing the same muscle group twice a week was the culprit or if something else was responsible though

a lot of people do say that once you work a muscle you should rest it for at least 5-7 days but i think we should all remind ourselves who wrote the body for life book - bill phillips

if bill says it's ok to do upper body on both monday and friday then i take his word for it .

ive always said that body for life is only for begginers though. maybe beginners muscles recover at a faster rate therefore they can get away wih doing the same muscle twice per week ? i dont know, thats just a guess

its up to you if you only want to do the same muscle group once per week but i wouldnt only do 2 sessions a week. i.d break the upper body into 2 and do 3 workouts per week e.g

mon - legs and abbs

wed - chest , shoulders , triceps

fri - back , biceps (and cos uve got more time you can also do some work on traps and forearms )

the only other explanation i can think of for lack of strengh gains is not training to failure. if you train to failure then you tear the muscle and if you feed it and rest it correctly then next time you workout you will definately be stronger

if you are not stronger maybe you are not training intensely enough and hitting those level 10 intensitys

another thing could be your pre workout meal:

*training on an emoty stomach can make you weaker
*not waiting long enough after youve eaten , before you start the workout , can make you weaker
*having solid foods instead of liquid can make you weaker cos it could take about 3 hours to fully break down and digest a soild meal