Q: I have a pretty fast-paced workout schedule and in four workouts per week, I work my whole body twice. Typically, I’ll combine two body parts per workout and do about 4 sets per about 3-4 exercises per body part. But my problem is, I am having a difficult time fitting abs and calves into the mix without going well over the hour mark. I just think it makes me worthless once I get to abs or calves and they suffer for it. Any ideas about how to fit them in?
A: Well, I don’t know how busy your gym is, or where the breakdown in time occurs (socializing?) but you should have plenty of time if you’re only training two body parts per workout and then getting to either abs or calves at the end. You may try to do abs on a separate day, or cardio day, and try to fit them into quick 10-12 minute super or giant set circuits after you’ve finished your workouts on other days. Abs and calves are quickly reoxygenating muscles that require constant stress to grow and change. That means, less rest and less overall down time. You can move from exercise to exercise until you fail and probably should for sharpness and overall development. You may also want to prioritize your abs at the beginning of two of your workout days, and then move into your regular “two body part” schedule just after. Some of the wasted time, or excess time, you may have fallen prey to during your major body part workouts can usually be found as excess time between sets. Just when you think you’re only taking a couple of minutes in between sets, you may be taking 5 minutes or so. Try timing yourself to see what you are squandering time between sets.