Lift 2 days a week or three?

[Atom Smasher]

OK, you health and fitness guys, I hardly ever post in here, but I'd like your opinion.

I've observed that I get faster gains by lifting weights twice a week than by lifting three times a week.

Is this possible in your view, or am I kidding myself? There's no way I'm going to be able to lift 5 or 6 days a week, so I've always done a moderate "every three days" schedule. However, I notice that if I do a twice a week schedule, I feel stronger and seem to maintain my gains.

Could it be that the work/rest cycle just happens to be a bit longer for my body? Is there a downside too waiting that long between workouts? Typically it will be a Monday and then a Thursday or Friday. Also, I'm 59 years old but look like I'm in my 30s, if that has any bearing (in other words I'm not old and worn out like so many men in their 50s). I walk 2 miles on my treadmill almost every day. I started running a couple months ago but started developing plantar fasciitis so backed off the running for now.

An additional factor is that all my life, even as a child, my joints and connective tissues have been far more prone to injury than my muscles. If I lay off the weights for a few weeks and get back in, I have to be careful not to strain my joints. They will strain well before my muscles will.

Thanks for any input.

tldr: Is it possible that for some men, a two-workout week gets better results than a three-workout week?

 

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

I would say that 3 is definitely better but you said with 2 days a week you feel better so this just goes back to how everyone is different. Maybe your job or sleeping or eating/drinking habits are affecting your recovery time. Or maybe you just do better lifting twice a week. You also have to consider what muscles you work when you lift and how hard you work them. So yes, it is possible to get better results from 2 days a week than 3 depending on how you split your workouts apart. If your joints and ligaments are bothering you, you could take certain supplements to help that. I'm 18 and I have to. Fish oil is good no matter what, the downside is that the capsules are friggin huge. Another thing is glucosamine and chondroitin which can be sold together which are REALLY good for your joints.

 

[Atom Smasher]

Good advice. I'll look into those supplements. I've already heard good things about them. I'm going to stick with 2-a-weeks because it does seem like the sweet spot for me. Thanks for the insight.

 

[AttackFormation]

I work out twice a week and I'm in my freaking 20s

One lower body day, one upper body day, and I only do one drop-set per exercise. On lower body day, I also do a row and rotating dip set at the end with lower weight, and upper body day I do leg press at the end again with lower weight. The more experienced I've become with working out and the more mature I've become mentally, the more I've realized and accepted not only that you don't need to bust your @ss 5 days a week in the gym doing multiple exercises and sets for every muscle, but that doing so is actually a waste of effort and time and increases the risk factor for your joints.