The fitness world loves to argue, and one question that always gets people talking is how often you should do strength training. While we know strength training is good for you, figuring out the best schedule can be tricky. Some say it’s fine to do it two days in a row, while others disagree. This article looks at both sides of the argument and helps you figure out what’s best for you.
The Case for Strength Training 2 Days in a Row
There are many reasons why doing strength training sessions back-to-back might be a good idea:
1. Time Efficiency: Getting in double the training in half the time might sound great, especially for folks with busy schedules. Doing two sessions in a row lets you work on more muscle groups or routines in less time.
2. Enhanced Focus: Training on consecutive days lets you concentrate on certain muscle groups or goals, which could lead to more intense focus and better results.
3. Habit Formation: Having regular workouts, even if they’re on consecutive days, helps you stick to a routine and make strength training a habit.
4. Increased Training Volume: For advanced folks aiming to boost muscle growth, planning consecutive training days can let you do more training in a controlled way.
Factors to Consider Before Training 2 Days in a Row
While those arguments might sound good, it’s important to think about a few things before jumping into consecutive strength training:
1. Training Intensity: High-intensity workouts that need a lot of effort need more time to recover. Doing them on consecutive days could slow down progress and make it more likely to overtrain.
2. Experience Level: Beginners are still getting used to strength training and building their foundation. Doing consecutive sessions might be too much and could make it easier to use the wrong form or get hurt.
3. Recovery Capacity:Everyone’s body recovers differently. Things like age, how well you sleep, what you eat, and how stressed you are all matter. Pay attention to how you feel; if you’re tired, it means you haven’t recovered enough.
4. Training Split: The type of training plan you follow (like full body or upper/lower body) affects your choice. Doing consecutive days is easier if you focus on different muscle groups each day.
5. Personal Preference: In the end, how often you train depends on what you like. Try different things to see what keeps you motivated, helps you stick with it, and gets you the results you want.
Finding the Right Approach
1. Prioritize Recovery: No matter how often you train, make sure you give yourself enough time to recover between sessions. Get enough sleep, eat well, and do light exercises and stretching to help your body recover.
2. Listen to Your Body: If you’re feeling tired, not motivated, or still sore, it’s a sign you need to rest. Don’t be afraid to change your plan, even if it means skipping a workout you had planned.
3. Focus on Form over Intensity: When you’re doing consecutive training, focus more on doing exercises correctly than trying to lift heavier weights or do more reps. Using the wrong form can lead to injuries and slow down your progress.
4. Consider Active Recovery: When you’re training on consecutive days, think about swapping one session for something like yoga, swimming, or easy cardio. This helps your body recover, improves blood flow, and boosts your overall fitness.
5. Seek Professional Guidance: If you’re not sure about doing consecutive training days, talk to a certified personal trainer or coach. They can check what’s best for you, make a plan that fits your goals and recovery, and make sure you’re doing things right.
Alternative Approaches
1. Alternate Training Days: This is a popular method, giving you specific rest days between training sessions for the best recovery.
2. Push/Pull/Legs Split: This routine splits workouts into pushing (chest, shoulders, triceps), pulling (back, biceps), and legs. This gives each muscle group enough time to rest before training again.
3. Upper/Lower Body Split: This routine concentrates on either upper or lower body muscles in each session. It lets you train often without straining specific muscle groups too much.
Deciding whether to do strength training two days in a row isn’t just a simple “yes” or “no.” It’s a choice you need to think about based on your own situation and goals. Understand the good and bad sides, focus on recovery, and pick the right way to do it. This helps you make a routine that suits you and gets you closer to your fitness goals. Remember, sticking to it, doing exercises right, and finding what works for you are important for reaching your full strength training potential.
This post was written by Darryl Johnson, Co-Owner of Apex performance. At Apex performance we are a community of highly trained experts looking to provide performance enhancement and a permanent lifestyle change for our clients in a fun and interactive environment. Members can take advantage of one-on-one training, small group classes and specialized courses for a wide variety of athletics, sports training and body goals! Click Here to learn more!
