The question of the millennium in the fitness world–is it good to workout twice a day?
Working out twice a day can make you feel like a real bad ass and sometimes it can make you feel completely run down. Maybe you got in a killer boot camp class in the morning and then your girlfriend invites you to barre class in the evening, or you go on a nice long run and then a yoga class sounds very satisfying or you hit up the weight room with your boy and then you feel fired up to step into kickboxing class in the evening. With any situation, it can be pretty unpredictable until after the ‘damage’ is done. One week you are feeling extra motivated and partake in any and all exercises you get your hands on, while the next week you feel anything but motivated and want to stay on the couch with some Netflix.
In my personal experience, I would say that it is important to listen to your body. I think a lot of people can at least agree with that. Although, no one seems to have a yes or no response. Sporteluxe sat down with some experts. Hopefully, their responses could at least help you in those moments when you question whether you should say yes to another workout or not.
“It depends on the workouts, your goals, and recovery. Often, the reason for training twice a day is out of guilt — from eating a full pack of Tim Tams the day before or not training for a couple of days. Whatever the case may be, you should never feel the need to train to make up for ‘bad’ behavior. Exercise should not be a punishment, it’s a privilege and it should be something you do because you enjoy it!” Victoria Burdon, Personal Trainer at 98 Gym
The bottom line is that workouts should not be a punishment. Working out should be about enjoying yourself during the workout, seeing the results you are looking for, and keeping active for a healthier life. Don’t get caught in the vicious cycle, where you feel anxious and stressed if you don’t get a workout in. A good test to check yourself with on this is if you keep saying no or miss social engagements. Life is all about balance and you want to make sure you are getting your social fill too!
In conclusion, like most things in the fitness world, the answer depends on your situation. It is important to establish what your body needs and with this if you are giving your body enough time to recover. Living a healthy life is definitely all about being active, fueling properly and getting enough sleep–just remember it is all about balance and assessing yourself without comparing yourself to others.
