With only four days in the gym, you can target all major muscle groups and still have enough recovery time between workouts. This makes it an excellent option for those who want to build muscle and strength but have limited time to spend in the gym.
Yes, exercising 4 days a week can be enough for muscle building, provided you're following an effective program that includes progressive overload (gradually increasing the weight or reps). Be sure to give each muscle group sufficient recovery time.
If you're looking to lose weight, you might shift those numbers up a bit and work out 5+ days or work out longer each session. If you're looking to gain muscle, your workout time will likely depend on your strength level, but you'll want to work out 2-3 times a week.
In summary, lifting four days a week can definitely lead to progress if you are committed to your training plan and support it with good nutrition and recovery practices.
Most beginners will see noticeable muscle growth within eight weeks, while more experienced lifters will see changes in three to four weeks. Most individuals gain one to two pounds of lean muscle per month with the right strength training and nutrition plan.
Downtime between workouts (whether you're lifting, doing cardio or training for a sport) is when our bodies have a chance to actually build muscle. Strenuous workouts cause muscle breakdown, while rest allows our bodies to build it back up.
It's not necessary to lift weights every day, and if you do, you increase your risk for overuse injuries and overtraining syndrome. For most people, strength training two to three times a week is sufficient, but if you prefer to split training different muscle groups, then you can train up to five days a week.
The push/pull/legs split is probably the most efficient workout split there is because all related muscle groups are trained together in the same workout. This means that you get the maximum overlap of movements within the same workout, and the muscle groups being trained get an overall benefit from this overlap.
The Timeline for Building Muscle
Building muscle takes time and consistency, so if you are flexing in front of the mirror daily, wondering what's going on, just be patient. On average, most people expect noticeable muscle growth within four to six months of starting a strength training program.
“You can lift lighter weights, and as long as you lift them with a high degree of effort, they're as good as heavier weights in making you bigger,” he says. Using a home gym machine or even just your own body weight, like with push-ups or lunges, works.
Increase the intensity of your workouts instead of working out for long periods of time. Make sure you're getting enough calories and protein in your diet for muscle growth. Get plenty of sleep and give your muscles time for recovery. Try supplements for more strength, energy, and power, like creatine and HMB.
Choosing a 3-day and 4-day split hinges on individual goals and adaptability. While the 3-day split offers a balanced approach for those building foundational strength and juggling busy schedules, the 4-day split delves deeper, focusing more on each muscle group and catering to those seeking advanced results.
When you struggle to gain muscle, it is often a combination of a lack of training stimulus (not training enough, not training hard enough, or poor technique), not eating enough, and poor consistency. To encourage muscle growth, you must give your muscles a reason to adapt and enough energy (calories) to do so.
Biceps Curl: This is a classic pull exercise recommended by Gallucci. Do it with dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, resistance bands, or a cable machine.
A moderate repetition scheme with moderate loads (from 8 to 12 repetitions per set with 60% to 80% of 1RM) optimizes hypertrophic gains. A high repetition scheme with light loads (15+ repetitions per set with loads below 60% of 1RM) optimizes local muscular endurance improvements.
4-Day Upper/Lower Workout Split
Now, unlike the full-body workout split, which trains each muscle 3 times per week, here, each muscle is hit just twice per week. However, this split does allow for an extra workout day, meaning you can fit in more volume — and that may be a bigger driver of growth.
They help you make fitness progress
Exercise releases stress hormones and, just as working long hours with no days off can negatively impact your health, too much exercise without enough rest can lead to burnout.
But how much sleep do you actually need? The answer varies depending on your needs and lifestyle, but most adults generally need around seven to nine hours of sleep per night. However, you may need closer to nine hours of sleep if you're trying to gain muscle or work out regularly to allow for proper muscle recovery.
Consuming enough protein on your rest days is just as, or perhaps even more, important as consuming it on your training days. Generally speaking, your total protein goals for the day should not change whether its a training day or a recovery day.
As you rest, fibroblasts repair the microscopic tears resulting in stronger muscles and increased muscle mass. Without the right training intensity, the muscles won't be challenged adequately to see results, and without rest, the muscle repair needed to see results is inhibited.