How working out every day changed my life

When I first started going to the gym I didn't know how often I should be going.

For the first couple of years I would flick between different training splits trying to find the optimal way to build muscle. I tried 5x5, PPL, Upper/Lower, GVT, you name it I tried it. I was 22 at the time so I didn't care about recovery. I just knew I had to put in the hours. I ended up staying with the typical bro split of chest and tris on Monday, back and bi's on Tuesday, legs on Wednesday, shoulders Thursday, and arms on Friday (my favourite day). It served me pretty well. I got into a rhythm with it and the habits started to stick like glue.

I see a lot of people online spout about 3 days a week, even 2 days a week. I don't know what they're on about. I understand people want to shortcut the process and make it easier. But limiting your days of working out to less than half a week makes no sense to me.

The reasoning behind it is sound on the surface. Less days in the week to have to workout should mean it's easier and you'll end up being more consistent. Recovery can be better too.

But there's an underlying problem with it. And it has everything to do with your identity. Your character. Your self-image.

The secret to
being consistent

When I first started training I didn't know how often I should be going.

For the first couple of years I would flick between different training splits trying to find the optimal way to build muscle. I tried 5x5, PPL, Upper/Lower, GVT, you name it I tried it. I was 22 at the time so I didn't care about recovery. I just knew I had to put in the hours. I ended up staying with the typical bro split of chest and tris on Monday, back and bi's on Tuesday, legs on Wednesday, shoulders Thursday, and arms on Friday (my favourite day). It served me pretty well. I got into a rhythm with it and the habits started to stick like glue.

I see a lot of people online spout about 3 days a week, even 2 days a week. I don't know what they're on about. I understand people want to shortcut the process and make it easier. But limiting your days of working out to less than half a week is the wrong way to go about it.

The reasoning behind it is sound on the surface. Less days in the week to have to workout should mean it's easier and you'll end up being more consistent. Recovery can be better too.

But there's an underlying problem with it. And it has everything to do with your identity. Your character. Your self-image.