While you will probably lose weight if you go to a gym every day, an absolute answer to this question is difficult. You may not lose weight if you go to a gym every day mainly to socialize. You must work out diligently to burn significant numbers of calories. If you go to the gym every day but eat more than usual, you may not lose weight, as body weight is a balance between the calories you ingest and those you expend. As you grow older, you will expend fewer calories even if your activity level remains the same.
Expert Insight
Your appetite may remain constant as you age. However, because your metabolism slows down, you will probably gain weight unless you increase your activity level. Just to maintain your weight, the USDA website recommends engaging in at least moderate activity for an hour a day most days of the week. The American College of Sports Medicine website defines moderate physical activity as that which will cause you to perspire without limiting your ability to hold a conversation. Unless you modify your diet, going to the gym every day may be your only alternative to gaining weight.
Types
People think that because aerobic exercise burns more calories than weight training, you should spend all of your gym time on stationary bikes and treadmills if you want to lose weight. However, weight training builds more muscle than cardiovascular workouts, and having just a few extra pounds of muscle on your body can help you lose weight. The Weight Loss Resources website observes that a single extra pound of muscle on your frame can burn 50 extra calories a day, even on a day when you do nothing but sit on a couch and watch television.
Considerations
You can go to the gym every day for a cardiovascular workout, such as using an elliptical machine or treadmill for 30 minutes. You don't need to do weight training as often. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends resistance or weight training three times a week for 30 minutes. Rest is important between training sessions because your muscles need time to rebuild. Keep in mind that if you include weight training in your workouts, you may gain a certain amount of weight in muscle while losing weight in fat.
Time Frame
Going to the gym every day can take a lot of time away from activities you normally enjoy. However, as the website Science Daily reports, high-intensity interval training can shorten a long moderate-intensity workout to 20 minutes without sacrificing the aerobic and hence weight-loss benefits. Rather than riding a stationary bike for 60 or 90 minutes, you simply pedal fast for a minute and then slow down for a minute. You repeat this pattern ten times for a total workout. You can perform a HIIT workout three times a week, leaving four days for other facets of your regimen. Consult a health professional before beginning HIIT.
Warning
If you are an older adult or have a chronic health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, consult your health-care provider before beginning an exercise program. Even healthy, younger persons accustomed to sedentary lifestyles should not engage in rigorous exercise on their first visit to a gym.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
- American College of Sports Medicine: Physical Activity and Public Health Guidelines
- Weight Loss Resources: How to Make Your Body Burn More Calories
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: Prevention Exercise for Healthy Bones
- Science Daily: High-Intensity Interval Training Is Time-Efficient and Effective, Study Suggests
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