# What is a good workout routine?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-workout-routine/68610>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 12, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-workout-routine/68610 "2001-06-12T23:25:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-workout-routine/68610/1 "2001-06-12T23:25:26Z")

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I’m a runner who is trying to build up my muscles (and strengthen my legs). My workout routine is as follows:

_Week One_  
**Monday:** Chest, Triceps, Abdominals, Waist  
**Tuesday:** Legs  
**Wednesday:** Back, Biceps, Abdominals  
**Thursday:** Shoulders  
**Friday:** Abdominals, Waist  
**Saturday:** Chest, Triceps  
**Sunday:** Rest

_Week Two_  
**Monday:** Legs, Abs, Waist  
**Tuesday:** Back, Biceps  
**Wednesday:** Shoulders, Abs  
**Thursday:** Chest, Triceps  
**Friday:** Abs, Waist  
**Saturday:** Legs  
**Sunday:** Rest

And so on. I also run 35-45 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Fascinating, I’m sure. Is this routine any good? And what is yours? **Scylla???** 🙂

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**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-workout-routine/68610/2 "2001-06-13T01:34:54Z")

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**Week One**  
Monday: Rest  
Tuesday: Lift pizza slices, 8 reps  
Wednesday: Rest  
Thursday: Lift Chicken McNuggets, 20 reps  
Friday: Rest  
Saturday: Lift Gummi Bears, 100 reps  
Sunday: Rest

**Week Two**  
Monday through Thursday: Rest  
Friday: Lift cheeseburgers, 4 reps  
Saturday through Sunday: Rest

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-workout-routine/68610/3 "2001-06-13T02:09:51Z")

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The big thing is whether or not it works for you. I personally don’t do any leg exercises other than the running. It builds the wrong kind of muscle.

I also naturally have my grandfather’s big-boned build, not my father’s wiry one.

I try to work out mostly with lots of reps of lighter weight, because I add on bulky mass if I do too much weight. The exception is the beench press, where I blow it out.

I do ab work every day, and I run every day. Instead of taking a day off, like you’re supposed to, I’ll just run a mile or two at low speed to loosen things up.

During the winter, I hit the Versa-climber which is a preetty efficient full body workout.

I used to do a lot of curls, but now I climb a thin rope. It improves your grip like nothing else. It does wonders for the forearms, and gives you lean wiry biceps.

For the most part I’m not interested in building raw strength. I think I have enough. I want lean muscle, instead of bulk, and I want kinesthetic strength and endurance.

My father used to tell me that the bulky guys were all fake. Most of that mass isn’t strength enhancing, it’s muscular scar tissue. It makes you musclebound, and is no good at all for any kind of protracted action.

I’m trying to work for lean and wiry.