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Recently I started working out with weights again after many years. Just using dumbbells — not trying to get all muscly, just looking for better strength, to get more limber, and to burn calories.
I’m doing fine and working out daily. But I keep reading that you need to take “recovery time” — at least 48 hours and preferably 72 hours, between workout sessions.
wtf is that all about? Is that just a “building huge muscles” thing? Or are you really just supposed to work out every three days?
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | July 8, 2025 10:52 PM |
Weightlifting damages your muscles - the recovery time is the time they need to build back stronger. You can still work out every day if you alternate muscle groups - for example, chest and biceps one day, legs the next day, triceps and upper back the next day, whatever. 48 hours should be enough for recovery unless you're really pushing it every day.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | July 8, 2025 5:31 AM |
R1, what happens if you don’t allow recovery time?
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 8, 2025 3:17 PM |
Your limbs start to separate from your body and, eventually, they fall off.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 8, 2025 3:20 PM |
What R1 said. Also, make sure you're taking in adequate protein for muscle recovery/ regeneration. 💦
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 8, 2025 3:51 PM |
Recovery time varies from person to person. Some people need a lot, and others can bounce back quickly. There isn't really a hard fast rule about recovering.
You have to listen to your body. If you're barely moving, take a day or two off. If you feel mostly fine, you can exercise the next day.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 8, 2025 4:09 PM |
A lot depends on whether you are training to absolute failure, straining and pushing your muscles to the very limit... or just lifting some weights at a medium challenging level to get a little stronger, no big deal, and walking back to your car just fine afterwards. You definitely need 2-3 days' recovery time if you are training to absolute failure.
If you press a thumb into the worked-out muscles the next day and you feel no soreness, you probably don't need recovery time because you didn't push your muscles extremely hard. (And you will make some slow gradual progress in this way, over a year, with much less risk for injury... but much less progress than somebody who wants to Get Huge ASAP)
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 8, 2025 4:15 PM |
r6 is right - depends on how much and to failure.
If you're using light weights with high reps to tone up - I'd say 48 hours is often fine, if not a little less - if you're consistent.
Your body will tell you - if you haven't rested enough - you will feel it. Harder to do exercises plus extreme soreness.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 8, 2025 4:55 PM |
I do the same workout every day. For decades. And it works for me.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | July 8, 2025 5:14 PM |
OP, what is your age?
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | July 8, 2025 10:52 PM |
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