When it comes to weight loss you may have wondered how often to exercise. Ir is a must to work out every single day, or could you allow a day or two of rest in between? And does it differ when you’re doing cardio workouts or weight training workouts?
Most experts, trainers, bodybuilders say that weight training should not be done every day because resistance exercises that stress your muscles actually create strains and sometimes tears in the muscle fibers, and the muscles then need 24-48 hours to heal and repair themselves.
On the other hand, it’s normally safe to do cardio workouts every day – especially if they don’t stress your muscles too much. Energetic walking, low-impact aerobics, using an elliptical machine or moderate paced bicycle riding shouldn’t strain your muscles too much and they can help you burn more calories and aid in weight loss.
Depending on your personal fitness goals, the frequency of your exercise will vary but basically a good routine would be to do a 30 to 60 minute cardio workout like those described above 4 to 5 times a week, and you should include 2 to 3 moderate to high intensity resistance training sessions.
It is a very good idea to give yourself at least one full day off from any kind exercise routines because having a day off from working out like you usually do is a great way to not only allow some well-deserved rest for your body, but also to help you relax mentally and emotionally.
Even though working out is mostly a physical activity, your emotions are involved too, and pushing yourself too hard can have some risky effects in the form of feeling stressed, frustrated, overwhelmed or “burned out”.
On your day off, you can still engage in physical activities, but try to keep them “unofficial” – activities like window shopping, playing with the kids in the backyard or taking a relaxing walk on the beach are great ways to relax, recharge and restore your physical and mental energy.
Only you and a consult to your doctor can determine how often to exercise for your own well-being, but for the majority of people the general guidelines we’ve shared today should be more than acceptable for overall health and fitness.