Less is Better at the Gym
By Gary Matthews

Researchers have found that fitness enthusiasts can reduce the time they spend working out by two-thirds and still achieve the same results. A study involving male weightlifters has suggested it is counter-productive to spend hours exercising.

Those who exercised less saw significant decrease in body fat. The study focused on 16 students aged 19 to 23, who already worked out regularly. They were split into two groups. Both carried out upper-body training three times a week for eight weeks. One group did one set of eight repetition: the other did three sets of the same exercise.

At the end of the study both groups had improved "significantly" in terms of muscular strength, said researchers from the health and exercise science unit at the University of Glamorgan in Pontypridd, Wales. Report author Dr Julien Baker said

"This study indicates that it is counter-productive to spend hours at the gym, and that a shorter work-out can achieve exactly the same results."

Our research focused on upper-body strength training, but these results may also be true for other types of exercise. Lower-volume training might also help lean tissue growth because it limits muscle damage.

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