Can the Growing Stronger Exercise Program be done more or less often?

New guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine suggest strength training two or three times a week. Be sure to give your muscles at least one day of rest between workouts. Two sessions is what is prescribed because it will confer benefits and is also quite manageable from a time perspective. However, if you have the time to do the program three times per week, you will gain the following benefits:

• More stimuli to the bones
• Extra physical activity—important for overall good health
• Strengthening muscles a bit more quickly

If you do decide to do the program three times per week, just make sure they are on non-consecutive days, such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you can only do the program one day per week when your schedule gets hectic that is certainly better than nothing. But we recommend you try to get in two days per week whenever possible.