[ Jo: [ [ > I focus exclusively on multi-joint movements like the squat or [ > deadlifts once a week, maximum three workouts during a two week [ > period. That's my recovery capacity and Arnold won't be able to tell [ > me otherwise. [ > [ > My workouts, which consist of three core movements, last about thirty [ > minutes; I'm very sore the next few days. Jean Louis commented: [ I am not Arnold and don't practice bodybuilding, but this seems to [ illustrate the dilemma: [ -with too short resting periods, your body doesn't recover, [ -with too long resting periods, your muscles don't adapt and you are [ sore for 3 or 4 days. Jo clarifies: There's only one way to know whether my muscles are adapting to my workouts and that is to keep track of progress during a training cycle and over time through several cycles. Long ago, I'd rest only one day between total body workouts and that was my first mistake -- disregarding my recovery capacity to follow formula body building schedules. And as I "progressed" into intermediate and advanced routines, I continued to ignore slightly sore muscles because I knew the next day or later in the afternoon I would be working on a different body part. In hindsight, I know I could have gained faster with longer intervals of rest; that I never should have entered the gym unless I was totally recovered from the previous workout. And I got carried away with piddly finishing movements. My sessions nowadays are very short, intense total body routines and so I'm not too surprised that I need the extra 2 or 3 days for the soreness to dissipate COMPLETELY. That is, my biceps will recover far faster from a session of isolated concentration curls than the entire lower trunk will after a set of breathing squats. Obviously the squat affects a larger number of muscles of greater total mass. Now, if, through a change in diet, my recovery capacity increases, and I find my muscles begging for more stimuli after four days, then I'll make adjustments to my training schedule. Right now, I find that a week is the right waiting period.