Flexing Fitness with Your Favourite Muscle Groups

We’re hosting a party, and your muscles are the guests of honor! Over 600 of these little champs work together every day to make you a star performer. Navigate their star-studded gala with a great training split, and you’ll watch your strength and muscle growth screwballing into the sky. From Major Muscles to Accessory Muscles, let’s muscle in on the good stuff!

Meet the Muscled Masses

Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., MH fitness director, says to think of your muscles as party guests, divided into two groups: the main muscles and the accessory muscles.

Your main muscles are the heavy-hitters, the quarterbacks on the field while your accessory muscles are the support system making everything run smoothly. Shoulders, Triceps, Biceps, and Core muscles fit in this secondary muscle group! Your minor muscle groups, with the likes of Forearms, Calves, and Traps, are always flexing in strength-building workouts.

It’s important to train these larger major muscle groups because, in doing so, you’re also styling out your secondary and minor muscle groups. It’s like getting your cake and eating it, too!

Working Magic with Muscle Groups

Depending on training intensity and frequency, there are a few rhythms of training that put certain muscle groups together.

Full-Body Training Split

This all-star method works out just about every muscle, focusing mainly on major muscle groups. This routine is like a sprint—it’s quick, intense, and efficient. Just remember to rest and recover for a day or two before the next figurative, or literal, run.

Upper/Lower Training Split

Imagine dividing your body into two halves like the Earth’s equator—now workout each part on alternate days. This way, your upper body rests while the lower body is being worked, and vice-versa. This regimen jives well if you’re up for the gym four times per week. But do mind that you’re working several major muscle groups which could cause a traffic jam of fatigue, especially when those accessory movements come knocking.

Push/Pull/Legs Split

If you’re more nuanced and enjoy the high frequency, say hello to push/pull/legs split that allows you to work every muscle group from all angles. However, jumping onto this bandwagon requires you to hit the gym five to six times a week.

Bro Split

The most controversial of the gym-goers, the “Bro” split has you in the gym five days a week, each day dedicated to a single muscle group. This split, according to Samuel, is more suited for bodybuilders because only the bodybuilding crowd pushes hard enough to need a full week of recovery between sessions.

Finding Your Split Sweet Spot

Picking a split should be as easy as picking your favorite cheat day snack. All these splits are effective, but focus on your ability and commitment to working out every week. If you can hustle the muscle twice a week, a Full-Body split is your jam. If you’re up and at ’em three or more days a week, then most splits can shuffle nicely into your routine.

If you’re eyeing muscle growth, go all cards in for the Push/Pull/Legs or the “Bro” split. However, if you’re a beginner, or just aren’t ready to jump into deep waters, the Upper/Lower or Full-Body splits will still have you training hard, and laughing harder at your progress.

The final message is simple: whatever split you choose, keep your whole body active. The aim? To tap into all those star-studded muscle groups and build unparalleled strength and muscle definition on your terms.

Key Takeaways

• Train larger major muscle groups to effectively target secondary and minor muscle groups.
• Choose from four major workout splits: Full-Body, Upper/Lower, Push/Pull/Legs, or Bro, depending on your frequency and intensity of workouts.
• The Full-Body training split is time-efficient and suitable for those who can work out only once or twice a week.
• Upper/Lower Training Split divides the body into two parts, allowing for recovery of one part while working the other, suitable for four times a week gym-goers.
• Push/Pull/Legs splits allow more comprehensive workouts for every muscle group, suitable for those who can hit the gym five to six times a week.
• Bro Split focuses on one muscle group per day, taking a full week for recovery, and is more suited for bodybuilders.
• Choose your training split based on your routine, commitment to working out, and your muscle growth target.

Source Citation: https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a46612343/muscle-groups-to-workout-together/