Five of the Most Asked Gym Questions

When starting a fitness journey, there can be a lot of questions you ask. We are here to answer some of them today!

Do I need to exercise every day?

No, rest days are vital in your exercise journey. The amount of recommended rest days per week is 1-2. This allows your muscles to get the optimum recovery, helping to develop them much more efficiently. In fact, it is actually recommended to avoid doing a workout every single day; this leads to a much higher risk of muscle strain, fatigue, soreness and overall muscle injury.

How long should I be exercising for?

There is no right or wrong answer. When beginning your venture into the exercise world, start slowly and see what you can manage. It may be 10 minutes and that is completely okay. As you become more confident and your energy levels increase, you may find that you can exercise for longer periods of time. As long as you feel you have accomplished something and have pushed yourself, it was a great workout! 

Do I need to vary my workouts?

Yes, for a number of reasons. One reason being that all of your different muscles need working to fully develop your body; the same workout won’t achieve this. Another reason is that eventually your body will adapt to the exercise making it less effective. Changing your workouts will keep your muscles active and growing. Much like our classes, they vary monthly/weekly to keep everyone engaged and to keep the muscles on their toes!

What is the fastest way to lose weight?

Fast weight loss is often unsafe and unsustainable. Finding a routine that works for you and that you can stick to will be the most efficient and enjoyable way to lose weight! Cardio-based exercises help to lose weight, as well as HIIT workouts due to the nature of their intensity. Pairing these exercises with a good diet will help you lose weight effectively and most importantly, safely. 

What is the fastest way to build muscle?

Much like weight loss, muscle growth takes time. Weight training classes like Bodypump are great for muscle gain due to the focus on lifting weights. Workouts in the gym may be better suited to you for muscle gain as you can decide what you want to do rather than following an instructor and will be more efficient when you progress past the weights used in classes. Diet is also very important as you will need to fuel the muscle. Eating a high protein diet will help grow your muscles when done alongside weight training. Diet and exercise coincide with one another; muscle growth will not happen without both aspects.