Should you go to the gym every day?
When you start hitting the gym, you get that addictive rush of endorphins. Soon you find yourself itching to exercise even on your rest days.
While we love seeing you at our gyms, respecting your body and doing what you can to keep it strong and healthy, we do want you to stay safe and not overdo it.
Is it bad to work out every day?
As with all things in life, it’s essential to find the right balance; over-exercising can lead to holding onto your weight and not seeing the increase in performance you were hoping for. You won’t get stronger if you aren’t giving your muscles the chance to repair and regrow, which can only be done during rest periods.
What is the best gym schedule?
That will depend entirely on your current ability and what you are hoping to achieve. For example, you’ll have a different exercise regime if you are bodybuilding compared to trying to lose weight.
Here’s an example of how your gym schedule might look, depending on your fitness goals:
Someone hoping to lose body fat
This person might go to the gym five or six days each week, spending two or three days focusing on resistance training and the rest on aerobic exercise.
Someone looking to improve their general fitness
This person might schedule a gym session four or five times a week, consisting of three days working on cardio and two working on strength. Two days of the week are then dedicated to recovery, where you’re still active, but much less so to give yourself time to replenish. If you’ve opted for four sessions at the gym a week, you can add in an extra rest day, too.
Someone wanting to build muscle
Three or four days of your fitness routine may be split into focusing on two muscle groups per session. However, you shouldn’t focus on the same group of muscles two days in a row.
If you want to focus on one muscle group per gym visit, you’ll be better exercising five or six days each week. Your remaining days should be recovery and rest periods.
But this all depends on your current state of fitness and what you’re hoping to achieve. That’s why it’s always a good idea to enlist the help of a personal trainer, if only to get a fitness plan drawn up that will tell you how and when to hit the gym hard and when to rest and recover.
Is it bad to work out when sore?
Soreness indicates that your muscles are repairing themselves, and putting them through another vigorous workout will hinder your progress and could even lead to an injury. So, while you can still enjoy an exercise session, focus on a different group of muscles so as not to cause any damage.
When deciding whether you should hit the gym or take a rest day, the most important thing is to listen to your body and let it be your guide.
