there have been several studies done on splitting up training... all have pointed to pretty much the same thing, and that is when everything else is equal (total sets, reps, weight done during the day) splitting training up seems to improve results just a little bit. the data seem to point to this maybe being more of a neurological thing than actuall muscle growth, though.
i might point out, however, that this splitting things up probably wouldnt have ANY advantages, and might even have negatives, if you are not pretty advanced. thekind of guys who do this, who need to do this, are for instance world class weightlifters, guys lifting 2.5 to 3 times their bodyweight over their head... clean and jerking more than most people can deadlift. these guys often train 2-3 times per day, 6 days a week, and work the back and legs in every single workout. for your average gym rat, doing bi's and tri's, and such, theres just no reason to do it.
overall id say, it probably wont make much difference. do what is convienient, what seems to work for you. either way probably wont mean a lot. there are lots of other factors that will make a ton more difference to your program and how fast you gain.
edit: just re-read your post again, and got a better idea of what you are doing... id say go for it. if your doing 8-12 exercises a day, id probably not agree at all with the type of program you are on, but if thats what your going to do, then thats that. if youve got the time, and its convienient, it wont hurt you, and might help a little. good luck.
fairluvwar said:
I usually work out for about an hour to 90 minutes. I do anywhere from 8 to 12 different exercises. Recently what I have been doing is splitting up my routine in between doing cardio. I am not working at the moment and our kids come home for lunch so what I do is go in the morning for a bit, the afternoon and at night and what I will do is go down, do an exercise or 2, then do some cardio, then another exercise, then more cardio, then another exercise, then I come back a few hours later and do the same thing. So I am never doing more then 2 exercises at one time and I am fully rested for everything I do and my muscles aren't getting fatigued. I sort of like this because it's allowed me to increase the amount of reps I'm doing for some things as well as more weight then I would otherwise do with fatigued muscles. What I am wondering though is will I get the same benefit from working out like this that I would from just working out straight for 90 minutes, letting my muscles get fatigued and lifting while they are? Is there somehow an extra benefit from lifting with fatiged muscles? I like my new routine but I don't want to continue lifting this way if for some reason I won't get the same benefit.
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