There has been a lot of debate about this topic. Each trainer and fitness expert has different views on this and they have hardly reached a conclusion. However, you are the best judge to decide your best approach to your workout schedule. There are many who work out around 4-5 times per week only to accomplish an average result while others who hit the gyms only once or twice a week and are totally ripped. Is there a formula for this or is there any magic number?
The magic is in you, how you treat yourself. Workouts are about improving your overall health and not just bodybuilding. Thus, you must get plenty of rest, give the required recovery time to your body and eat well. However, if you still looking for gym schedule to achieve your goals, the thumb rule is to exercise as frequently as your professional, social and family life permits. But don’t forget to get the rest as it is important for your body to have the recovery time. For example, if you have a lot of time to dedicate for your workouts, opt for 4 times workouts in a week and 5 times the next. Switch your workout schedule this way every other week for optimal result. While for those with demanding career and tight family and social responsibilities, plan your work out 2-3 times per week to put on muscle mass.
However, to get optimal result you need to focus beyond the number of workouts. You need to address some additional issues like smoking and drinking, sleep and food habits. Amongst these, smoking and drinking can wreck all your bodybuilding goals. It limits the ability of your muscles to grow and develop by putting carbon monoxide in your system. Besides, alcohol turns to fat rapidly, damaging your muscles especially the abs.
To our relief, most of the people are aware of the importance of following a good diet. However, which diet is good for you often depends on your body structure and medical history. And this is something you need to consult with your doctor or a dietitian. But the generic rule is to eat more whole foods, vegetables and fruits. At the same time avoid fatty and processed foods.
Finally, make sour your body get adequate rest at night. Though there is no magic number of hours one should sleep, your body requires at least 7 hours of sleep to recover for optimum health.