exercise every day vs every other day

crystalangel
crystalangel Posts: 37 Member
edited September 23 in Fitness and Exercise
Is exercising every other day just as good as exercising every day. I've noticed a lot of people on here exercise every day. I'm wondering is that what keeps you going. Or if it matters which one you do. I try to do every day but some days I just can't do it. So I been at least doing every other day. Doctors say every other day for 30 mins is good. So does it matter? Or is it just personal preference if you want to exercise everyday or every other day. Comments or suggestions anyone?

Replies

  • marianmaj
    marianmaj Posts: 96 Member
    Try to sweat every day! Vary your workouts but try to do something you enjoy every day for a sustained period of time! It will keep you happy and motivated!
  • sarahaha
    sarahaha Posts: 20
    I'm not sure if it matters, but I aim for six days a week with sundays off. But man, is it hard to drag my butt to the gym on fridays. Sometimes my mind and body just get fed up with monotony of the gym, even when i'm mixing up my cardio and lifting time. But every other day probably gives your body nice time to rest, giving you even more energy to work extra hard when you do get back to the gym. I'd say it might be a benefit it you're really pushing yourself the right way.
  • caroline1851
    caroline1851 Posts: 26
    More often, the better. Of course it matters. Is your heart getting healthier if it's worked 3 days a week or 6? If you have time to do more often than every other day, then do it.
  • callmefor911
    callmefor911 Posts: 155 Member
    I have exercises everyday.. but I always on a few days do the wii sports.. like tennis and boxing stuff that is fun but still moving..
  • LisaJayne71
    LisaJayne71 Posts: 197 Member
    I aim for 5 days a week and give myself Friday and Saturday off (I live in the Middle East and our weekend is Fri & Sat)
    There are sometimes where I can only make it 4 days due to things happening at work but I try not to drop down past 4 days a week.. I'm not losing weight like I should be at the moment so I am going to try and step it up to 6 days a week.... I think if you were doing over an hour and weights everyday then that might be too much but if it's under an hour and you do weights every other day to give your muscles time to relax then I would say everyday would be fine if you can fit it in!
  • Ally_Clare
    Ally_Clare Posts: 355 Member
    Good question, i prefer exercising 5-6 times a week as i feel a lot better if i do. Like some days will be vigourous whereas one day a week i may go for a walk or something. I'm not really sure if this is answering your question though. I guess as long as "every other day" doesn't mean exercising once or twice a week you're fine :)
  • mccorml
    mccorml Posts: 622 Member
    its good to vary your exercise everyday or you wont give your body time to recover i dont benchpress everyday because i would litteraly tear the muscles down and give them no time to build just mix it up youl be fine and its not necessary to go everday but every little bit helps
  • gloria581
    gloria581 Posts: 50 Member
    Based on past failed experiences with working out, I can say that I HAVE TO workout everyday cause as soon as I skip a day, it's hard for me to get started back up.
  • grey_stars
    grey_stars Posts: 29
    I do cardio everyday (45min walk/run) and strength training 3 times a week (mon, wed, fri). I read a really interesting book in the library about how important it is to do strength training. While cardio burns calories and increases heart health its affects are mainly short term. If all you do is cardio and then you stop it is quite easy to put the weght back on. Building muscle through strength training increases your BMR in the long term and gives you a lean toned look when you have lost your weight. So basically my mindset is cardio for today and strength for the long term.
  • lotty1987
    lotty1987 Posts: 176 Member
    Ilike to exercise 5 days a week but one of my exercises might be walking around the local shopping centre for 2 hours which is always fun xxx
  • kettlewitch
    kettlewitch Posts: 277 Member
    Every day for me but I mix it up. A combination of gym, pool, pilates and exercise bike in front of the tv
  • chiliflea
    chiliflea Posts: 695 Member
    My ~EA active gets me to workout 2 days then have a rest day, and on that rest day I tend to do either something on the wii like rhythm boxing or yesterday I did a work out DVD... So I do try and exercise everyday - if only so I can have a light supper in the evening!
  • LG61820
    LG61820 Posts: 372 Member
    Based on past failed experiences with working out, I can say that I HAVE TO workout everyday cause as soon as I skip a day, it's hard for me to get started back up.

    This has been my experience too. I
  • donnafo
    donnafo Posts: 2 Member
    I workout Monday through Friday and "break" during the weekend. I have found this keeps my motivation up. I also like having a routine, it makes life simpler.
  • heather62803
    heather62803 Posts: 266 Member
    I try to work out everyday, something to get the heart rate up. On my light days, when I struggle to get moving, I will usually only do 20 minutes, other than than I like to hit 45 min to an hour. I do it because I feel better when I get my heart rate up and get moving, plus it allows me to eat more. If I had to stick to my 1200 calories I would be starving :)! I don't eat all of my exercise calories, usually only half, but I just like having that option! I use my stationary bike, punching bag, the Wii Fit, Just Dance, DVD's and when its nice I LOVE to walk/jog outside! I don't like getting stuck in a rut!
  • treekins
    treekins Posts: 73 Member
    I exercise every day because I just feel better when I do! I seem to just naturally eat better, drink more water, and sleep better when I get my exercise in. I also have more energy and feel happier!
    The thing that keeps me going is variety. I do the gym as often as I can, but if I'm at home I love switching it up between pilates, yoga and Dance Dance Revolution on the Wii. If I don't have fun, I won't do it; I know that about myself haha!
    This is what works for me - I take 30-50 minutes a day to do it.
    :)
  • Juttalein
    Juttalein Posts: 6
    I use polar hr. monitor for exercise and it lets me know cal. burnd !:smile:
  • travellady
    travellady Posts: 3
    I try to go everyday during the week (Mon-Fri) so that I don't have to on weekends. For me, I don't think every other day would be enough to reach my goals as quickly. Plus, it's much easier to get to the gym on my lunch breaks, then once I get home and have two little kids to look after.
  • Anastarone
    Anastarone Posts: 1 Member
    I walk every other day because I want to give my legs a rest . I feel every day is to much, for me at least anyway.
  • jenniferwilcox
    jenniferwilcox Posts: 18
    Based on past failed experiences with working out, I can say that I HAVE TO workout everyday cause as soon as I skip a day, it's hard for me to get started back up.

    Me too!
  • danduk66
    danduk66 Posts: 1
    http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/8819.html

    Check out this brief article, my P.E. teacher would also tell me this at college.

    Every other day gives your body the necessary time to recover, adapt and improve. If your goal is to improve ability/strength/speed/stamina then standard procedure is to go hard on whichever muscles (heart, legs, whatever), then rest/recover those muscles.

    Not sure whether every other or everyday serves weight loss better. I know the above would end up increasing your metabolism over time, meaning more weight loss. If it feels good, and your losing weight, and thats your only goal, awesome. If you also want to improve ability/strength etc then every other got to be the way.
  • nathalier71
    nathalier71 Posts: 570 Member
    I try to exercise everyday - if I miss a day, I know I'll miss a second after that, and a third...
  • rainbow198
    rainbow198 Posts: 2,245 Member
    I'm active just about everyday. Walking, lifting, sports...nothing strenuous but I love to sweat! My body does tell me when I need to take a break. It's not hard for me to get back started, but I do find I'm kind of "lost" on rest days.

    (As a former couch potato that was so weird for me to read.)
  • stig3824
    stig3824 Posts: 1
    You may want to read this article by the Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23377831
  • kmm0034
    kmm0034 Posts: 46 Member
    Not going to lie, the ability to have a sweet if I want it keeps me motivated to exercise daily.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    I do it everyday so I can eat more.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    exercise every day vs every other day

    Vs. setting some independent fitness goals and letting those goals help determine what you should be doing....
  • Tanya949
    Tanya949 Posts: 604 Member
    I typically work out every Tues, Thurs. Fri. Monday is too busy because of work, and I'm an hour away on weekends, so those are when I go. Problem is, I get DOMS, bad. (Delayed onset muscle soreness). So I'm fine for Tuesday, but start to get sore Wed evening and into Thursday. Then I'm still sore on Friday, and not recovered until Monday. I do lower body, core, light cardio on tues, upper body, light cardio on Thursday and heavy cardio on Friday. I just can't do anything wed, sat or sun due to DOMS, or should I be doing something anyway? I thought sore muscles needed to be rested.
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