Working out in bursts

[Ticks]

Hi, I am getting back in shape and this is a topic I have always been curious about. I have been into body building since highschool and have military background. During the highschool bodybuilding years and my time in the military, I was always taught strength and conditioning, heavy weight training, crossfit, long endurance sessions, basically all workouts lasting at least an hour. As ive gotten older and gained more insight and perspective I have found that the most efficient way for me to change my body composition and put on lean muscle is light weights(or bodyweight exercises), exertion and going to failure with a strong mind - muscle connection. I like HIIT and this is how I approach my weight training these days. (Supersetting, high reps, strong pump)
Lately since im working from home I find small windows throughout the day to work out in my home gym. I might do 15-20 mins of chest / tris in the morning, going until my muscles are very pumped and exerted, then later in the day I have more time I might add more sets in, switch muscle groups, exercises, etc. I am personally finding this to work really well but I am curious what this group thinks about this, when you tear down a muscle in one of these short windows, does it affect the efficacy of the tear down / rebuild process? I figure if its not broke dont fix it but I know theres a lot of smart people here that might have more scientific insights to add.

 

[yrrdead]

The only (very minor) disadvantage would be how you structure certain workouts so that you take advantage of fatigue such that you can target certain muscles later in a workout. Realistically though I don't think its going to have any real impact on hypertrophy.

As far as scientific insight goes, good luck, most hypertrophy research is pretty poor purely from a design standpoint (not enough subjects, age, training, all of these) let alone actual results.

Other than that as I get older and busier, anything I can fit in is better than not getting a workout in.

 

[pilsnermagnus]

I rarely had the time for a 45min to an hour and a half for a long workout especially with young kids. As I work from home a few days a week I started with resistance bands, then a cheap used weight bench, then built dip bars, and repurposed lifting slings for pullups. Did all that for a while as time permitted. Replaced the weight bench/rack with a better setup (free even) and added more weights, and ultimately bought a 40lb weight vest with removable weights. I am more structured now but still fairly informal about it all.

I workout in spurts as short or as long as I can or want to. When working from home I will stand most of the time and wear my 40lb vest (basically my lost body fat).

The key is doing something every day for me, even if its just stretching or 5-10 pullups. Today I am taking is easy since I am getting blood drawn for some hormone tests. Tomorrow after the draw will be back to game on probably doing some leg workout of some sort. I try and switch things up constantly to address soreness or perceived points of needed improvement. I am not a body builder looking for an aesthetic just some dude in his 40s that wants to be able to move with power and control.