The 'best' programs have almost no exercises in them?

[JackShephard]

I just don't get it - I'm reading and re-reading the 'best' programs out there (recommended in the sticky) and they have like, 5 different exercises in them: rows, bench, squats, deadlifts and military presses. Erm, that's it.

Now I'm looking at my 5 day split (), which I build from grabbing one or two of the exercises in bold on exrx for each body part, and I'm counting 28 different exercises. If I remove the ones that are hitting the same muscle groups, I end up with 18.

To get down to 5 exercises, I'd have to remove all direct arm work, all wrist/calves work, remove the leg curls and shrugs and reverse curls and lateral raises and flies and *all* waist exercises (no abs!!!)... well I thought these were actually good exercises, not superfluous ones.... but maybe I was wrong.

So I guess the thing is, I'm scared I'm going to get less results (particularly on core) if I do less exercises (3 exercises at 5 set each is just what, 30 minutes at the gym? 3x a week????)... and the question is : I'm probably wrong, but WHY???

 

[wesrman]

You need less exercises for each body part if you hit it more frequently.

And i recommend you work your core.

 

[andyroid20]

Yeah, whilst they are the main exercises you would generally throw in some assistance exercises like weighted crunches,dips, pull ups etc.
Believe me though, you are likely to notice more results strength and size wise doing those 5 exercises so certainlydon't worry about it doing less.

 

[Karky]

squats
bench press
row

there you got legs and upper body, then you can grab some more exercises if you want, for example:
lunges (more for lower body)
calf raises (to hit the calfs)
planks (For the abs)

that's 6 exercises.. you hit everything.