Is 8 exercises too much for the upper body?

Author: Euna Ritchie  |  Last update: Tuesday, January 6, 2026

For the top end of fitness buffs—and taking into account sufficient recovery between workouts—cap the number of exercises to eight, and add in the ancillaries, time-permitting. Ensure unhurried cardio to warm up before the first lift and focus on mobility exercises following to build range of motion.

Is 8 exercises per workout too much?

Attempting more than four exercises in one workout may make the session drag, depleting focus and energy levels. However, depending on what you're doing and your energy for the day, five or more could be totally fine for you.

How many exercises should I do for the upper body?

You should do at least two exercises for the upper body per workout. However, more exercises will provide greater benefit. To get the most out of your workout, do four to six exercises for the upper body. This will help you build strength and muscle mass.

Is 10 exercises too much for upper body day?

To keep workouts from getting too long, or too overly fatiguing, you could do 1-2 exercises per major muscle group (quads, hamstrings, chest, back, shoulders) per workout (2-10 different exercises per muscle group per program).

Is 7 exercises too much for the upper body?

4-day upper/lower split: The upper-body workout should have at least one pressing and pulling exercise and a couple of isolation exercises, giving you 3–6 exercises per workout. 5–6 day splits: You've got enough training days that you don't need very many exercises per workout. Doing 3–5 exercises is plenty.

How Many Sets Do You Really Need to Build Muscle?

Is 7 exercises enough for chest?

On average, you would need to perform 3 – 4 chest exercises per workout if your goal is growing your chest through muscle hypertrophy and 2 – 3 exercises if you're aiming to build strength. The exact amount of chest exercises you should do per workout ultimately depends on your fitness level, goals, and preferences.

Is 7 glute exercises too much?

Within a training session, we recommend including between 1 and 2 different glute exercises, but no more than that in most cases, as doing more than 2 glute movements in one session is likely just a needless burning of potential exercise variations you can save for later mesocycles.

Is it OK to workout upper body everyday?

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.

How long does it take to see results from working out 5 days a week?

As a rough guide, you'll probably notice some initial changes in the first four to six weeks, but longer-term changes (what you're working toward) will often take around eight to 12 weeks. The good news is that you're likely to start feeling better quickly.

What exercise works the most muscles?

Below, we've listed a compound workout that is the most effective in building muscle across all of your major muscle groups.
  • 1 - Squats.
  • 2 - Barbell hip raises.
  • 3 - Deadlifts.
  • 4 - Incline bench press.
  • 5 - Clean and press.
  • 6 - Parallel dips.
  • 7 - Pull ups.

What is the number one upper body exercise?

Most Effective Upper Body Strength Training Exercises
  • Overhead Press. Stand with a straight back. ...
  • Wide-Grip Chest Press. With your back flat on a mat (or bench), hold dumbbells at your shoulders, with hands above your elbows. ...
  • Skull Crusher. ...
  • Wide Grip Bent-Over Row. ...
  • Biceps Curl. ...
  • Dumbbell Hammer Curl. ...
  • Single-Arm Dumbbell Row.

Which muscles should not be trained together?

One of the biggest mistakes made by gym goers is training two big muscle groups in the same training session. Combining leg and back exercises, for example, requires a lot of energy and puts pressure on the nervous system.

Is 9 exercises too much for a full-body workout?

You need about three minimum, but can do more; if you are doing more than 5–6 different movements, you're probably doing too many different things and not spending enough time on the ones that produce the best results (a big, compound multi-joint exercise for leg and hip extension, upper body pushing, and upper body ...

How long should 8 exercises take?

A typical full-body workout of 3 sets x 10 reps of 8-10 exercises with 45-60 seconds rest between sets, if performed correctly, should take approximately 45-60 minutes. This leaves very little time to waste.

What happens if you do too many exercises per workout?

“Then focus on programming to get all movement patterns: squat, lunge, hinge, rotate, push, pull, and locomotion.” It's not that the number of exercises in your workout doesn't matter. “Doing too many moves can lead to injury or overstraining muscles, and too little can fail to yield results,” explains Krupa.

How do you tell you're getting fitter?

Your clothes may also fit differently as your body composition changes, even if the scale does not change.
  1. You Can Think Clearly. Physical activity supports brain health and might prevent neurological diseases. ...
  2. You Feel More Rested. ...
  3. You Feel Stronger. ...
  4. Your Clothes Fit Differently. ...
  5. Your Mood Improves.

Can I lose noticeable weight in 2 weeks?

You should reduce your intake of processed, carb-heavy foods like cookies, chips and soda. Is is possible to lose between five to ten pounds in two weeks, although this weight loss will vary depending on each person's metabolism. Food intake should be carefully monitored and combined with regular physical activity.

Why is my body fat increasing with exercise?

Working out can cause short-term weight gain as your muscle mass increases. Post-workout inflammation may cause temporary weight fluctuations. Workout plateaus, supplement use, and dietary changes can also stall your weight-loss efforts. Try not to obsess over the number on the scale.

How do you know if you're overtraining?

When you're trying to tell if you're dealing with overtraining, consider these common symptoms:
  • Your Performance Declines. The hallmark sign of overtraining, Dr. ...
  • Fatigue and Soreness Ramp Up. ...
  • You Get Sick or Injured More Easily. ...
  • Sleeping Gets Harder. ...
  • Your Mood Changes. ...
  • Other Physical Symptoms Pop Up.

Is it better to do cardio or weights in the morning?

Morning Exercise

The morning often suits running, walking, and cardio exercise, rather than heavy weight lifting. Make sure you warm up before doing anything strenuous, especially in the morning. Take it easy on your back for a few hours after rising. Don't hop out of bed and try for a deadlift personal best.

Do you need to lift heavy to build muscle?

“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.

Are your glutes growing if they are sore?

If Your Glutes Are Sore Are They Really Growing? The short answer in most scenarios is yes. If you are directly exercising your glutes and eating enough to fuel your training, then sore glutes are the price you pay for future growth.

How often should I train my arms?

The best arm workout will target each of the heads of the biceps and triceps while activating the forearm in each of its major functions. Studies suggest that the best training frequency for arms is three times per week with about two days of rest in between is best to get bigger arms and build stronger muscle.

How to target the top of glutes?

The 5 Best Upper Glute Exercises
  1. Lateral Band Walks. Get your resistance band ready–these lateral band walks (AKA crab walks) will have your upper glutes on 🔥. ...
  2. Side Plank With Hip Abduction. ...
  3. Cable Hip Abduction. ...
  4. Dumbbell Walking Lunge. ...
  5. Single-Leg Romanian Deadlifts.

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