JP Mullowney
JP Mullowney

Whether you are just beginning on your journey to better health and fitness or you are already well on your way, at some point you have likely wondered, “How many workouts per week do I need?”. A quick Google search will tell you that you need 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. This however will likely lead to more questions than actual clarity. Thankfully, by the end of this article you will be well equipped and able to determine how many workouts per week you need.

The Facts

  1. The number of workouts you need per week is based on your goals and your training experience.
  2. Research suggests that the minimum number of workouts per week which you should do to see results is two.
  3. With that in mind though, exercise and results share a dose response relationship! To see continued results, you must continually challenge yourself! This involves increasing the frequency (and intensity) of your training at certain training milestones (see point 1 below).

The Science

  1. In the most recent version of ”Essentials of Strength Training and Condition”, the NSCA recommends that to see continual results, beginner trainees (<2 Months) should train 1-2 times per week, intermediate trainees (2-6 months) should train 2-3 times per week while advanced trainees (>1 year) should train 3-4 times per week.
  2. In a study conducted by McLester et al. (2000), the authors found that 3 training sessions per week produced significantly greater increases in lean body mass (muscle) and strength than 1 training session per week.
  3. Another study by Kraemar and Ratamess (2004) suggests that 2-3 days per week are necessary to see improvement while 1-2 sessions per week are necessary to simply maintain existing training adaptations. The authors note though that when the object of training is continual improvement, 4 days is better than 3 which is superior to 2 which produces more improvement than 1.

The Take Home Message

Training frequency can be a confusing topic. There are many differing opinions and many different training programs which have proven successful.The single most important factor is that the training frequency fits you. Specifically, your training experience, goals, needs, and availability. If you are not sure if you training the appropriate number of times per week, or you feel that your results have begun to stagnate, please ask Jon, Danica, or myself for tips and suggestions on how you can continue to see improvement from your training routine.

If we have not had the pleasure of training you at JKC and you feel like you could use that extra push to be your best self, please see our Services Page for more information about joining the JKC Family.

Prepared for the JKC blog by Coach Thomas.

Photo credit: JP Mullowney

sumo deadlift

I had always wanted to start lifting weights and get stronger, but didn’t know where to start. I was looking not just for a gym, but for training on proper technique to prevent injury and a program designed for my specific goals. I also wanted a fun and supportive atmosphere to keep me coming back. JKC delivered on all of this and more.

Jon and Thomas have a wealth of knowledge that help their clients get the most out of their time in the gym. Programs are continuously modified to keep the workouts challenging. Even through everyone’s program is unique, you always have the coaches and other clients cheering you on and pushing you to achieve new bests.

I heard really good things about it from my sister, and I could see the positive results she was getting.  I needed to do something.  I was overweight, depressed, and recovering from a back injury.  I had reached a point where simply getting up out of a chair was becoming difficult.  I knew that if I didn’t do something about it my senior years would be very burdensome to the people close to me.  I’m so glad I did!  After just a few weeks my day-to-day pain was drastically reduced, and my mobility increased. I had the confidence to try sea kayaking, and I now play ice hockey twice a week!

The key difference is the expertise.  The trainers know the gym equipment and the exercises, but they also have degrees in kinesiology, and can apply what they know to your workout.  As someone who was in poor physical condition starting out, I was worried about hurting myself.  Previously I tried an outdoor weekly bootcamp and injured my knee by pushing too hard.  The trainers at JKC constructed a program that started at the right level for me, evolving it as I grew stronger and more fit.  I feel well looked after.

I am turning 67 next month and I started my journey with JKC in 2018. Seven years ago I experienced significant foot pain which had a negative impact on my day to day activities. I learned that issues in other parts of the body need to be addressed to achieve a positive result. My doctor (Dr. Jessica Wade) suggested, along with some other therapies, that I could  benefit from the conditioning JKC had to offer. I previously had not trained in any gym. I observed how many gyms operated and had a sense that JKC would be more my style: training in a small group setting, having such personal attention, and a program meeting my specific needs is fantastic! I love the atmosphere at the gym. Everyone is accepted and you feel supported and comfortable.

I’m 43 and started at JKC just over a year ago. I started at JKC because of multiple recommendations from existing clients. There are 2 main elements that distinguish JKC for me. Firstly the sense of community. I’ve been to multiple gyms in multiple cities/countries, you just  can not manufacture the sense of community and support you get from other gym goers and the team. It’s very motivating and happy to say I’ve made some friends at JKC.

The other major distinguishing factor for JKC is the expertise and passion of the team. Jon, Thomas and Craig craft highly personalized programs based on my fitness goals and know how to push me best without being pushy. They pay close attention to ensuring my form is solid before encouraging me to take on more weight for the exercise. Plain and simple they love what they do and it shows.

I had been struggling with work-life balance resulting in not exercising or playing hockey as much as I had been doing in the past. In addition to being out of shape, I was starting to experience some back/shoulder issues and realized I needed to make some changes. Around this time, a friend (who was also a client) recommended JKC and that’s when I started!

You really feel part of a community where everyone is welcoming and supportive. You get a program that is designed specifically to achieve your goals, with the ongoing coaching, progress tracking and support required to achieve them. The JKC team are very knowledgeable about fitness and conditioning, and very engaging with everyone to answer questions or discuss anything and everything training related. I also like the flexible scheduling and gym times that work for my schedule (I like early mornings and evenings).

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