How much strength training you should do?

In my previous article, I mentioned about how much cardio you should do? In that article, I have mentioned about 3 components of exercise: –

Cardio

Strength training

Flexibility

So, after writing about cardio exercises and how much one should be doing it, the next logical question which comes to the mind is how much strength training you should do?

When we talk about cardio, it becomes a bit easy to answer the question HOW MUCH? Because we can measure it in time but when we apply this question to strength training it becomes a bit tricky.

When people exercise, not everyone does it in the same way. Some people who exercise for 25 minutes are actually working out more than someone who does it for an hour.

When someone tells me that they exercise for 1.5 hours in the gym, my next question to them is – how can you do that?

So, this 1.5 hours includes 30 minutes of the workout, 15 minutes of phone checking session, 10 minutes of MIRROR SELFIES, 10 minutes of water break and some talks here and there.

This isn’t 1.5 hours of gym.

So, if I answer the question saying you can do strength training for 1 hour that won’t be fair.

When we talk about strength training in sports science,

How much? Means total volume per session.

How is this total volume per session calculated?

Number of sets x Number of repetitions x Weight in pounds

For example: –

Number of sets = 3

Number of repetitions= 10

Weight (60kg) = 132 pounds

Let’s put these values in the formula mentioned above: –

3x10x132 = 3960 pounds (1796 kg)

This means that the answer for how much strength training you should do?

Is 1796 kg for that particular workout?

I know, this was extremely technical for you and I don’t even want you to understand that because except the trainer, nobody actually even thinks about it.

So, my whole point is, do not quantify exercises in the terms HOW MUCH. The answer could be as tricky as the example mentioned above!

You should always focus on the following points when you talk about strength training exercises.

(1) What is your goal?

• Same way as the cardio works, strength training to depends upon your goal. For a person who has to make a record in activities which needs strength will have a different goal as compared to a one who has to run a marathon.

Please note: – Everybody requires all the 3 components of the exercise as mentioned in my previous article and also mentioned in the first paragraph. All the components have to be modified based on the GOAL of the individual.

I don’t want my readers to get bored with these scientific basics so I have tried to put some generic numbers depending upon different goals but it may vary from person to person.

GOAL	How many times a week?	How many exercises?	How many sets?	How many reps?
Endurance athlete in sports season	Once	10-12	1-2	3-5
Endurance athlete not in sports season	Twice	4-10	2-4	5-15
Fat loss	Thrice	3-8	3-7	6-20
Muscle gain	4-5 times	4-8	3-10	3-12
Bone-strengthening	3-4 times	3-7	3-8	5-12
Strength training	3-12 times (2 times a day might also be needed)	2-6	3-10	1-5

 

(2) What is your level?

• You are a beginner if you have never done any strength training exercises.
• You are a beginner if you are resuming your strength training exercises after a gap of 6-7 months.
• You are a beginner if you are doing exercises regularly but yet not reached your desired results (which also means that you are not working out properly)
• You can do advanced strength training exercises only after 6 months of proper form.

(3) What is your intensity?

• Higher intensity, less frequency helps you a lot if you are planning to lose weight.
• Higher intensity strength training exercises less frequently can give you better results than lower intensity strength training exercises every day.

(4) What is your body’s response?

• This is perhaps the most important part when you exercise. It all depends upon your body’s response. It depends on your age, metabolism.
• For someone who is exactly same like you, working out like you will have different results as compared to you.
• All you should do is continue on the right path, trust your body and everything will fall into place.

I always tell,

“Workout for fitness and good health, weight loss will come as a gift to you”

I will soon be out with different strength training exercises for different levels

If you found these insights on strength training valuable and have more questions or thoughts to share, feel free to drop a comment below! For a deeper dive into optimising your fitness journey, explore further articles on Healthy Reads. For personalised guidance on optimizing your health, consider subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

Your path to strength and fitness is unique – let’s make it extraordinary!

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