How Often to Strength Train as You Get Older

When it comes to building strength, more exercise isn’t always better

If you’re trying to get stronger, you might assume you need to pick up your weights every day, but you don’t.

At Living Stronger, we encourage women to aim for two weight sessions each week as a good, manageable goal. The most important thing is finding a routine you can actually stick to.

Three sessions a week is best, but two consistent sessions every week are much more valuable than an unrealistic routine that only lasts a few weeks. And one workout a week is still 52 workouts a year more than non!

Don’t forget about recovery

Rest is an important part of your routine too.

Giving your body time between weight sessions allows you to recover before training again. That doesn’t mean you have to sit still on the other days!

Go for a walk, get outside, swim or enjoy another form of movement. Your week doesn’t have to revolve around weights for you to stay active.

Make your workouts fit around your life

The best routine is the one that works for you.

Look at the week ahead and decide when you can realistically fit your weight sessions in. Put them in your diary and treat that time as an appointment with yourself.

Some weeks you’ll manage more and others you won’t. Life happens! Instead of giving up when things don’t go to plan, simply get back to your routine when you can.

Consistency is the goal

Knowing how often to strength train is useful, but consistency is what really matters.

You don’t need a complicated schedule. Start with something manageable, keep showing up, and gradually make strength training part of your normal week.

At Living Stronger, there are live and on-demand workouts to help you fit your training around your life.