Question for Everyone

[sdmedic]

Might have asked this before so forgive me. Its been a few years since I was in the gym. I thought I would start with a upper/lower body routine M,T,Th, F for a month, if thats OK. Here is the real question. After the first month, is it OK to go with a 4 or 5 day split (one body part a week) for a average guy who wants to get into shape and put some mass on. All the magazines I read, the bodybuilders are on a 4 or 5 day split. I am confused, do you do some other routine to put mass on then go to a split routine 4 or 5 day split. I am not interested in bodybuilding so after getting used to being in the gym for a month or so and my goal is to get back into shape (cant walk up a hill without getting winded) but mainly putting some mass on, is it OK to start with a split routine. Sorry this is a long question.     
   Might have another question sometime down the road.   Paul

[p.s.]

I honesty feel that you could just start with the 5 day split. This routine works very well for both packing on the mass or leaning out so give it a go. Iwould set it up like this though:

Chest-Monday
Legs-Tuesday
Shoulders-Wednesday
Back-Thursday
Arms-Friday

Off Saturday/Sunday

[coneytt]

Five day splits for me, when I was in better shape, was excellent. It allowed me to pack on mass while still maintaining the physic i had. It kept me on track as far as dieting too. People tend to eat better on the days that they train. I am currently on a 4 day schedule, but that's only because my schedule won't allow me to hit it 5 days in a row.

So it boils down to what works for you. Some may become burned out by a so frequent training week. Others loves the intensity. What do you prefer?

[NumberCruncher]

I currently have a 4 day split to allow for a "flex day" in my work week, when inevitably I won't make it to the gym.  My split goes like this:
Mon- Chest / Shoulders
Tues- Legs (quads, hams, calves)
Wed- Off
Thurs- Back
Fri- Arms (biceps, triceps, forearms)

I need to find more time to do cardio.....

Rather than "getting back into the swing of it" and waiting to start a 5 or 4 day split, I would recommend starting right off with a split routine.  This helps you first, focus on specific muscle groups, which helps you gain faster, PLUS, for me, it helps prevent you from skipping workouts.  If you know you only work one muscle group each week, if you skip it, that group will suffer.  To get a whole body workout in, you have to go every day.

A split workout helps me stay focused, see results, and keeps me going day to day.

The biggest step in training is showing up!!  Sounds cliche, but it's true.  Once you're there, hey, you might as well workout!!