This is a question that is commonly asked and oftentimes brings about confusing answers. Answers that can leave you in the dark as to how to structure your fitness routine so that it is most beneficial to your health and wellness.
In an attempt to put your question to rest, let’s address it by looking at the two prongs of most fitness routines: strength training and cardio. As you’ll see, the answer is different for each of them.
Strength Training
If you’re lifting weights, using resistance bands, or otherwise building your physical strength through strength training, you should never work the same muscle group two days in a row. Your muscles need time to repair themselves and heal or you could injure yourself, which totally defeats the purpose.
Some people prefer to do full body weight lifting sessions every 2-3 days, whereas others simply alternate body parts but work out every day (such as upper body on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and lower body on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). Either schedule is fine as long as you give your muscles the rest they need in between the workouts.
Cardiovascular Workouts
When you’re engaging in cardiovascular workouts, it is generally okay to do them every day. In fact, most health experts recommend getting 30-60 minutes of cardio daily.
The one exception to this is if you’re training your body really hard, then you may want to lighten up your cardiovascular routine the following day. If you don’t, you risk overtraining which could cause you to hurt your muscles, tendons, and bones and leave you unable to do any exercise at all.
There Is No Clear Cut Answer
As you can see, the answer depends on your fitness routine and the types and amounts of exercise you do. If you are still uncertain, you may want to talk to a personal trainer. That way, you can get an answer that is just right for you, which is the only answer that matters.
