# Weight lifting schedule? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-lifting-schedule/335652 "2005-12-14T22:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-lifting-schedule/335652/1 "2005-12-14T22:40:03Z")
I got a pair of 20 pound weights about a month ago because I really want to gain some muscle mass in my arms. For the past two weeks I’ve been lifting everyday, but after starting today, I realized I was no longer feeling the same burn that I did in the beginning. Instead my arms were just getting sore as hell. Should I not be lifting everyday? I thought I had heard somewhere that muscles strengthen while they heal from overuse, so should I be pacing myself and give my arms time to rest? What kind of schedule should I use? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-lifting-schedule/335652/2 "2005-12-15T01:17:16Z")
Two or three times a week would be plenty. By lifting less often you can up the intensity once the “delayed onset muscle soreness” improves. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-lifting-schedule/335652/3 "2005-12-15T01:32:02Z")
Cool, thanks.