What is better, working out consistently or two days on, two days off?

Question

Hi,

I have been working out every day for the last 7 months and have gained some weight and muscle but yesterday someone told me that it is better to work out two days in a row and then take two days off. Is this true? and if it is, then does that mean that you will gain more muscle and weight if you follow this program than working out consistently every day? What positives and negatives are there to this change. Is it still true if your workout is only 15 minutes?

Some people do pushups every day. Is it good to do pushups and situps every day but save lifting weights for this 'two day on off' program, or is it better to do everything according to this program?

Also, what effect does protein have? When and how often should you take it? Are there any negatives?

Thanks,

Ryan

PS. My workout consists of pushups, situps, bicep curls, forearm lifting, tricep and shoulder lifting.

Answer 1

If it works for you, keep doing what you do!!! But one thing i would suggest id doing something other than weight lifting. You should do jogging or something aerobics too.

Answer 2

Does your workout then consist of these exercises? What about your back? What about your lower body? Are these exercises that you do every day?
Consider this: When you work a set of muscles today, don't work them tomorrow, they need a day off for recovery. You could split them in half and do one set today, another set tomorrow and so on, but you also need some cardio as well.
You can work out every day, just not the same muscle groups. You can do cardio every day.
Consider this: Give yourself one day off a week to do nothing, your body needs it. Hope some of this helps........

Answer 3

You need protein to build lean muscle. Think about it, meat is protein, muscle tissue is basically...meat. You shouldn't work the same area of the body 2 days in a row. Do upper body one day, lower body the next, your muscle tissue needs time to repair.

Answer 4

Every other day, that way you give your muscels one day to repair and get bigger. If you never take a break you could seriosly injur yourself.