changing routine a lot

[waldowade]

Is it bad to have a different routine just about every day, basically no "routine" at all? I generally complete 2 full body workouts and 1 more isolated workout every week. But I usually change up my reps, rest time, and exercises in each workout based on what I feel like doing that day.

I still maintain the same target muscle groups and frequency of my workouts, with the occassion missed isolation workout session. I also make sure to continue with the main compound exercises.

 

[thebadguy54]

Routine is the enemy IMO.

 

[GUARDIAN]

what works for me is to find what works and then when it doesnt work anymore or not as effective then find something that does.

 

[waldowade]

ok, to clarify my goals a bit...I'm not mega-harcore or anything. I work out in my garage and this is just my chosen method of exercise for fitness in life. I'm not shooting for a 6 pack or 1000 pound bench press. Though one day I will seek a partner and a gym membership to elevate things.

 

[IrishHandGrenade]

ok, to clarify my goals a bit...I'm not mega-harcore or anything. I work out in my garage and this is just my chosen method of exercise for fitness in life. I'm not shooting for a 6 pack or 1000 pound bench press. Though one day I will seek a partner and a gym membership to elevate things.

IMO, if your just lifting for general fitness then I'd just do whatever you feel like doing. That will make it easier to stick with. On the other hand though, if you were doing a set routine you would probably see better gains which would also motivate you to stick with it. As long as your happy with the results your getting then I wouldn't change anything. Good luck.

 

[ceo]

IMO, if your just lifting for general fitness then I'd just do whatever you feel like doing. That will make it easier to stick with. On the other hand though, if you were doing a set routine you would probably see better gains which would also motivate you to stick with it. As long as your happy with the results your getting then I wouldn't change anything. Good luck.

And there you have it. If you're just kickin around to stay in shape then cool. Do what you want.

If you are trying to see changes/gains, well...it's hard to monitor progression without having a routine and tracking that routine (keeping a logbook).

 

[deathdroprob]

I do the same thing nearly, except Im in the gym and Im going for size.

I have my usuall stuff like say for Chest I do Flat BB BP First then Incline DB Presses but after those Ill change the excersises. Even with those 1st 2 excerises I still change the rep and sets around.
Same with back.
I always do deads but change the reps around a bit.

Do this Or stick to the one Program?

 

[ceo]

I do the same thing nearly, except Im in the gym and Im going for size.

I have my usuall stuff like say for Chest I do Flat BB BP First then Incline DB Presses but after those Ill change the excersises. Even with those 1st 2 excerises I still change the rep and sets around.
Same with back.
I always do deads but change the reps around a bit.

Do this Or stick to the one Program?

If you are seeing consistent gains and are somehow tracking progression of your weights (ie. keeping a logbook), then what you're doing is working, I'd say. If you can't keep track of your progress, or you are not progressing, and you are not seeing gains, then it's not working.

Lets say you do bench press for 5 sets and you do 135x12, 185x10, 225x8, 275x6, and 315x4. Then next time you do bench press you change the sets and reps? What do you do? If you do something like 135x10, 185x8, 225x6, 275x5, 320x5...then I'd say that is progression and that is good.

If yo do 135x12, 185x10, 225x8, 225x8, 275x5...I'd say that's not so good. Where's the progression?

Personally, I've always seen better results when I used a specific routine and was able to progress with that routine, and I knew that I was progressing (lifting more weight than last time) because I kept a logbook.

 

[bigdofba]

My routine changes every week but I keep the core principles the same.

 

[deathdroprob]

No am I dont use a log book.
What I eman by changing reps and stes is say one week Ill go 3x5 on Flat bench, the next I might go 3x12,10,8 or 4x12 if you get the jist of that.

And with Deads I might go 3x5, 5x5 or 3x12, 3x12,10,8 so on

 

[Sculelos]

Without a routine I always overwork or underwork myself. So I find it's better to just have one and stick with it, that way I can make steady gains and know when to make adjustments.

But if something works for you and you like doing it then by all means keep doing it.

 

[waldowade]

I definitely keep a logbook, and I write down my workout ahead of time...just with the first weight to use and I up it from there depending on how I feel. When I get to my last set I see what weight I used and how many reps. Then I make sure to either use a heavier weight or go for more reps. If I can't do that then I do another set.

I don't know how you can lift without a logbook.

This has worked for me very well over the last 8 months since I've started training.

 

[chaos13]

keep a log book aswell. i dont' have a great memory so i find they help alot. usally change a routine around the 4-5 week jsut because i find it gets alittle boring and gains don't seem to be very good after 4-5 weeks