You know you need to start making lifestyle changes, you know you should go to the gym, and you know it’s good for you. One of the first questions you may ask yourself is, “how many days do I need to train?” No matter the goal, the starting point for most people will be similar if not the same.

For anyone looking to start training, commit yourself to two, one hour long sessions each week. Your first goal should be to stay consistent with this frequency for a month. You may wonder, “is this enough to see changes?” Of course it is. Going from little activity to training two days a week is a big shift for your mind and body. You will notice strength and movement quality improvements within a month. After a few more months, you can begin to notice some physical changes in the mirror.

Your curious mind might then wonder, “why only two days and not straight to four? Won’t I see more progress with more time training?” 

While it is true you can see faster progress training more days a week, you haven’t built up your body to tolerate that much effort. Going from a sedentary lifestyle to four training days is a huge difference on the body and mind. It’s not impossible and you shouldn’t not consider it, but you want to set yourself up for success with a slow introduction of a training program to your schedule. Small changes make a big impact long term. Once the habit is set for twice weekly, you can increase it to thrice, then four times. The more “set in stone” the habit is, the harder it will be to break it. You know yourself best. If you know jumping straight into the deep end is your style, go for it, just have a plan.

Any health journey should start with actionable, attainable, and sustainable steps to keep you on the right path. Remember the key to success is consistency. Strive for a new goal each month directed at improving your life, bringing you closer to your goals. 

This isn’t an exact guideline on how to approach your health. Only you can be the judge of what you can and should do. Make sure to stick to the plan and always seek new knowledge. You deserve to have control of your life and be healthy doing it.