Venture back to the “Silver Era” of bodybuilding (the halcyon days between 1940 and 1959, just before steroids emerged onto the scene), and you will discover monstrous full body workouts were a staple.
We are talking ten, twelve, fifteen, or more exercises – far in excess of what is typically prescribed nowadays.
This approach is undeniably effective, crafting the powerful, and balanced physiques such as those possessed by Steve Reeves and John Grimek.
“But Phil, they’re champion bodybuilders with supreme genetics!”
Arises the inevitable objection.
True.
Yet five minutes googling pictures of gyms of that period reveals scores of “ordinary” people who looked a darn sight healthier (and more aesthetically pleasing) than your average gym rat these days.
“OK then, but I don’t have the time or energy for workouts like that!”
Another fair point.
I concede certain “Silver Era” training styles are probably too much for most serious people with a job, family, and other commitments that make it so their lives cannot revolve around the pursuit of fitness.
For example, the Reg Park routine I followed back in 2009/10 had me hitting the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for roughly three hours. Easy to do as a 19 year old whose only responsibility was turning up to agency shifts I booked at my convenience, not so as a father of three kids with a business to run.
So obviously trying that would be a non-starter today.
However.
There is more than one way to skin a cat, or structure a shockingly effective full body routine in this case. Such as the way I teach on “Silver Era Secrets” (here you are looking at lifting just twice weekly for under an hour, moving to thrice weekly if you wish).
Behold the details:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/programme
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman