How many days a week should I work out?

First, let’s consider what “working out” means to you. A walk? Run? Strength training? Zumba class? Hot yoga? Peloton?

It is my professional opinion that you should rest one or two days a week. In an ideal world, you would be moving or “working out” most days of the week. That’s not to say that you should be lifting heavy all of those days. Ideally, one should resistance train three days a week. This gives you enough time to ensure you’re training all of the appropriate muscle groups and movement patterns. Could you strength train twice a week and still reap great benefits? Certainly. Any frequency of strength training will do you a world of good.

I like to say that strength training should be the main course, while cardio is the side dish. Cardio most definitely plays an important role in your overall fitness, but strength training is where you’re going to set yourself up for a lifetime of success. One of my favorite clients is in her 80s, and her husband is in his 90s. Both strength train twice a week and their work ethic is unparalleled. I love them both dearly, and to me, they exemplify the meaning of longevity.