How much/often do you exercise?
vixtris
Posts: 688 Member
Hey everyone! I just entered maintenance last week. I've lost 90 lbs in the past 13 months, and a total of about 150 lbs from my highest weight. As I was losing weight, I exercised a lot, every day - cardio on the elliptical for 2+ hours, plus 1 lifting session a week. I felt working out for 2 hours every day was too stressful for me, so since starting maintenance I have reduced the cardio time to 1.5 hours/5 days a week, and 1 lifting session per week as well. So far, this has been working great for me, and it gives me 1,900 calories to work with on a daily average (after eating about 1,300-1,400 calories a day, that's a pretty generous amount for me!). But, I wonder if its too much exercise? It obviously is not nearly as much as I was doing before, but I don't want to seem obsessed. However, I feel really good after working out on the elliptical, and I do want to keep my fitness level at least the same, if not improve somehow (and I also want to eat more food!) I also may want to try new activities this spring/summer, like maybe swimming, biking, or hiking.
So, for those who are maintaining, how much/how long/how often do you exercise? What kind of exercise(s) do you do? What is your daily calorie intake for maintenance? Do you exercise solely to eat more food, or do you do it for other reasons as well? At what point do you think it becomes an obsession?
So, for those who are maintaining, how much/how long/how often do you exercise? What kind of exercise(s) do you do? What is your daily calorie intake for maintenance? Do you exercise solely to eat more food, or do you do it for other reasons as well? At what point do you think it becomes an obsession?
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Replies
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I exercise 7-14 times a week (30-120 minutes each day). I run, use the stationary bike, and do resistance training. My daily calorie intake is about 1,800-2,000 calories. I exercise because I love it. Racing is one of my hobbies, I love the activity and culture of running. It's a great stress reducer and I love what it does for my body. Eating more food is truly awesome too though, I won't lie.
I think exercise becomes an obsession when it isn't fun, when it feels compulsive, or when it's hurting you.
Do you *like* working out this much? It's okay to have fitness as a hobby and to make it a priority in your life. The key is -- are you choosing to do it? Is it adding joy?0 -
I do purposeful training 5x a week, and try to walk as much as is reasonable each day as well. I probably run for 2-2.5 hours a week, plus 1.5 hours of resistance training, a bit of cardio on the rower and elliptical, and maybe a half hour swim if I have time. That's not with the intention of just padding out my maintenance calorie intake (although that's a pleasant byproduct) but because I'm training for a half marathon. My maintenance calories at the moment are probably around 2,000-2,100 a day, averaged out over the week.
I would consider exercise an obsession if it regularly gets in the way of other meaningful activities in your life or becomes a source of stress and frustration for you. Liking to be active is a good thing; missing all social engagements and neglecting household chores totally in order to exercise 3 hours a day to hit some kind of self-imposed standard would be worrying.0 -
Everyday; 15 minutes cardio (7mph on the treadmill) + 40-60 minutes heavy lifting (alternating upper and lower body daily) + 20 minutes intense stretching0
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@janejellyroll Thanks for your reply! Well, its more of a love than a hate thing. I admit, some days I feel like "here I am, another day on the elliptical, yawn," but I'm sure everyone feels like that every now and then, right? When I'm working out, I get into it, my mind wonders, I have time to myself, jam to music, think about my day(s), new ideas, and such. I don't feel like I'm making myself do it, and some days I am actually eager to do it, just to feel the uplifted and energized feeling afterwards! But maybe that 'boring' feeling is more of a need for a new activity rather than exercise in general. However, I don't feel the same towards my lifting workout most days. I am just not really 'into' lifting, but I do it for the benefits (especially the squats :P). I don't want to lose muscle mass, so I dedicate at least an hour to doing basic exercises with average/light weights (between 30-50 lbs). So, to answer your question, I would say exercising brings me joy because it makes me feel good in body and mind, and to maintain my figure. I wouldn't say its the most fun thing to do, but it is enjoyable and I have a good time when I really get into it, and a good song is playing.
It makes me feel much better then the opposite - where I was before - sedentary, fat, and miserable. 0 -
@janejellyroll Thanks for your reply! Well, its more of a love than a hate thing. I admit, some days I feel like "here I am, another day on the elliptical, yawn," but I'm sure everyone feels like that every now and then, right? When I'm working out, I get into it, my mind wonders, I have time to myself, jam to music, think about my day(s), new ideas, and such. I don't feel like I'm making myself do it, and some days I am actually eager to do it, just to feel the uplifted and energized feeling afterwards! But maybe that 'boring' feeling is more of a need for a new activity rather than exercise in general. However, I don't feel the same towards my lifting workout most days. I am just not really 'into' lifting, but I do it for the benefits (especially the squats :P). I don't want to lose muscle mass, so I dedicate at least an hour to doing basic exercises with average/light weights (between 30-50 lbs). So, to answer your question, I would say exercising brings me joy because it makes me feel good in body and mind, and to maintain my figure. I wouldn't say its the most fun thing to do, but it is enjoyable and I have a good time when I really get into it, and a good song is playing. It makes me feel much better then the opposite - where I was before - sedentary, fat, and miserable.
I get what you're saying. I don't bound out of bed every morning to work out. I might not want to do it some days but I'm choosing to do it because I know I will feel better afterwards or I know that it's part of my training plan for an upcoming race or whatever. The point is that it's overall something that brings me joy, it isn't part of a compulsion. Not that every minute of every workout is joyful -- there are individual moments that are boring or even awful (hill repeats!).
I actually hate resistance training -- I do it just because I know it is super-beneficial.
Based on what you've written here, it sounds like you're in a good place. 0 -
Exercise nearly every day. Mostly alternate days strength and cardio.
In the winter I seem to average about 3,500 cals a week - that's a handy number.
In the summer when I'm out cycling much more then it's likely 6,000+ cals but can be a lot more.
I'm fortunate that I actively enjoy my exercise so it's a joy not a chore. Even when it's "just training" I enjoy the feeling of accomplishing something that progresses me towards my goals.0 -
Every day- 40-45 minutes of walking
T/Th 25 minutes of Kettlebells
Sat- 35 Minute HIIT plus warmup and cool down
Sun- Run and/or intervals 3-5 miles
Planning on upping the running as soon as the weather is nice enough for it to be more fun0 -
I sometimes feel like kind of a weirdo here. I 'exercised' regularly while I was obese, and kept doing it during the weight loss process, perhaps with a tiny bit more consistency (in order to earn extra calories for special occasions, for example), but no dramatic change.
I put 'exercise' in quotes because (mostly) I don't feeling like I'm "doing exercise"; I'm doing something I consider fun that happens to involve vigorous activity: I'm a rower. Because I'm a rower, I'm more likely to do other activities (especially in the off-season) in order to stay strong for rowing and get better at it. (As an aside, it kinda blows me away when people here say things like "do you do cardio"? What is that? Um, no. I row.)
As a rower (sometimes competitive), I've spent a dozen years or so with a number of pretty serious athletes in my social circle: Rowers, cyclists, triathletes, and more. In that world, a schedule like yours is pretty routine, maybe even lighter than some, and I don't consider them obsessed. They're doing what they do because they find it fun, and it makes them happy, makes them feel good - a positive hobby, if you will.
So, post cranky sermon ;-) , I'll answer your questions: In contrast to more-serious athlete friends, I consider myself a bit desultory in the "exercise" department.
Last week, I logged a little under 6 hours of what MFP considers cardiovascular exercise (rowing machine, 2 spin classes, weight training, core exercises), plus just under 2.5 hours of yoga/stretching (which I don't log as cardio in MFP).
Like you, I'm just entering maintenance (lost 60+ pounds, about 1/3 of my bodyweight). Right now, I'm eating at 1700 net, and suspect I may have more calories to add - something between zero & 200 daily. Last week, my MFP cardiovascular exercise calories amounted to an average of just a bit over 200 more per day. So, I think my average TDEE is somewhere around 1900-2100 (in winter, anyway). I'm 5'5", 122-ish pounds, 60 years old, retired, on the sedentary side outside of the logged activities.
Like others who've commented, I don't consider exercise an obsession unless it interferes with things that arguably ought to be more important, such as adequate attention to family, life-maintenance chores, employment, etc.0 -
Love exercise. I walk and cycle everywhere. No car. No tv.
I cycle to work 2/3 x week 1 hour.
Swim 1/2 x week
Run 2 x week
Yoga 1/2 x week
Weights 2 x 45 mins per week.
More cycling in summer!
I also have a time turner like Hermione in Harry Potter!0 -
Lift 2-3 times per week :P sometimes zero ^^. I also walk 240 minutes per week I really don't care about the extra calories since it's not much..I maintain 1750-2200 minimum... I don't exercise to eat more food.. : 00
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6 times a week here... I'd say 75 minutes in average... burn probably 425-450 a session in average, but I'm going to have to cut the intensity some because my legs are just not recovering properly and are sore all the time. I usually alternate between incline walking (11%+), stationary bike, rowing, and weights (either free weights or machines).0
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Exercise nearly every day. Mostly alternate days strength and cardio.
In the winter I seem to average about 3,500 cals a week - that's a handy number.
In the summer when I'm out cycling much more then it's likely 6,000+ cals but can be a lot more.
I'm fortunate that I actively enjoy my exercise so it's a joy not a chore. Even when it's "just training" I enjoy the feeling of accomplishing something that progresses me towards my goals.
Same here.
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I do at least an hour of cardio 5x a week, alternating stair climbing, the bike and elliptical. Most of those times, I will do intervals. 2 of the 5x a week, I also work with a trainer on weights. Because I have ulcerative colitis, I typically carry some overall body inflammation so I have to have someone prodding me along and also ensuring that I use proper form. Otherwise, I wouldn't do it at all or I could hurt myself.
That leaves me with two "rest" days which is a relative term. I still make sure I get my 10,000 steps in and stay moving!0 -
3x, sometimes 4x a week.0
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I've lost 110 pounds, and continue to exercise, maybe even more than I used to, because it's easier to do without the extra "padding". I spend at least 60 minutes a day, 6 days a week. Walking/running 6 days a week, resistance training 2 days, and HIIT once a week.0
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Looking at my fitbit I average about 90 Active minutes per day. Some is deliberate exercise the rest is just being up and moving around.0
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I don't have time to exercise. I watch my caloric intake by logging the food I consume. I have been losing weight since I started this experiment. Keep your calories in check and you can lose/maintain your weight.0
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rhtexasgal wrote: »I do at least an hour of cardio 5x a week, alternating stair climbing, the bike and elliptical. Most of those times, I will do intervals. 2 of the 5x a week, I also work with a trainer on weights. Because I have ulcerative colitis, I typically carry some overall body inflammation so I have to have someone prodding me along and also ensuring that I use proper form. Otherwise, I wouldn't do it at all or I could hurt myself.
That leaves me with two "rest" days which is a relative term. I still make sure I get my 10,000 steps in and stay moving!
I have Crohn's and lift heavy 3x a week. No cardio allowed as I have no appetite and the exhaustion is really bad.0 -
I exercise 4-5 times most weeks, and 6-7 times during school holidays (I'm a teacher). I try to vary what I do so I don't get bored of it. I do a lot of circuits classes, and they're different each day. Yesterday for example I did a core class followed by HIIT and both were using kettlebells, but that won't be the case every week. Today it was a core class with no equipment except mats. Sunday classes are endurance, Fri is boxercise etc. I'm also a gym member (I can't do circuits every week as I have 3 kids and my husband works shifts) so I do PT sessions there, spinning sometimes, and just use the gym machines other times. I also go for a run sometimes.
I usually get 10,000 steps a day anyway as I'm on my feet all day for my job, and I run round after my kids (ages 6, 4 and 21 months).
I really enjoy exercise and I'd do it every day if I could, but I don't think I could if I were doing the same old stuff every single time.0 -
I exercise every day but Sunday; Sunday is always my day of rest. I mainly do cardio at the gym but I have the Body Gym to use at home and I LOVE that thing! It's all resistance and my body has completely transformed. Good Luck!0
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I try to walk on my treadmill 20-30 minutes 2 times a week. I lift for an hour 1-2 times a week. I wish I could go to the gym everyday. I watch my diet and my waist. But, I just moved back to the Philly area and the cheesesteaks are killing me!0
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Wow. All of you guys are so active.
My current program has me doing weights 3xper week, cardio (approx 30min) twice per week, and one circuit style class. And I thought that was going at it pretty good.
I am lazy in comparison to most of you!0 -
Nearly every day, unless I am very ill or injured.
60-120 minutes per day is normal for me, but half of that is usually walking. I also lift weights, hike, swim laps, do heavy gardening and participate in social dancing.0 -
About 400 to 450 minutes a week. Mix of cardio and weights. Averaging over 11,000 steps a day.
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Wow. All of you guys are so active.
My current program has me doing weights 3xper week, cardio (approx 30min) twice per week, and one circuit style class. And I thought that was going at it pretty good.
I am lazy in comparison to most of you!
Who's most likely to comment on threads like this one? I'm thinking it's people who exercise more, relatively speaking. So, this is far from a random or representative sample. You're doing just great - way more than the "average person".
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7 days a week! Cardio workouts. Treadmill @ incline 15, elliptical, biking.. Lifting. Boot camp is my favorite. I do that between 1-3 times a week. I'm new to all this but decided I needed a lifestyle change! It's addictive!0
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Wow. All of you guys are so active.
My current program has me doing weights 3xper week, cardio (approx 30min) twice per week, and one circuit style class. And I thought that was going at it pretty good.
I am lazy in comparison to most of you!
Nah, we're not all active. I love and respect all the active MFP peeps. I'm just not one of them. 30-40 min bodyweight training, 3x week for me. My cardio is walking instead of driving kids to and from bus stops/school, grocery shopping, and nearby errands (SAHM here).
It's enough for me; I see results, I get to eat a respectable (to me) amount, and I don't feel overwhelmed when I get a rest day every other day.0 -
Usually 6 days a week. 3 of those are just cardio (running, stairclimber, circuits, stationary bike, elliptical, arc trainer) for about 90 minutes and the other days are about 30 minutes of full body strength training with 30 minutes or more of cardio at the end. I average 350 minutes of fairly high intensity exercise per week. I've lost almost 60 pounds and I'm aiming to lose 100. I'm also a certified personal trainer.0
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I'm more in the losing weight category, so my regimen is a bit skewed, but I do 15 minutes to an hour of cardio on days that I do weightlifting, and I have a cardio/abs day that keeps me dedicated to almost an hour and a half of cardio followed by a day of rest. So, out of a week I'd say I'm in the gym for 6 of 7 days. If I were just maintaining I think I'd still be there 6 days, I enjoy the challenge and even today doing squats I found it very rewarding to put up 295, something about those primary lifts is fun. In the maintaining stage there's always room for improvement, you know?0
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Hey everyone! I just entered maintenance last week. I've lost 90 lbs in the past 13 months, and a total of about 150 lbs from my highest weight. As I was losing weight, I exercised a lot, every day - cardio on the elliptical for 2+ hours, plus 1 lifting session a week. I felt working out for 2 hours every day was too stressful for me, so since starting maintenance I have reduced the cardio time to 1.5 hours/5 days a week, and 1 lifting session per week as well. So far, this has been working great for me, and it gives me 1,900 calories to work with on a daily average (after eating about 1,300-1,400 calories a day, that's a pretty generous amount for me!). But, I wonder if its too much exercise? It obviously is not nearly as much as I was doing before, but I don't want to seem obsessed. However, I feel really good after working out on the elliptical, and I do want to keep my fitness level at least the same, if not improve somehow (and I also want to eat more food!) I also may want to try new activities this spring/summer, like maybe swimming, biking, or hiking.
So, for those who are maintaining, how much/how long/how often do you exercise? What kind of exercise(s) do you do? What is your daily calorie intake for maintenance? Do you exercise solely to eat more food, or do you do it for other reasons as well? At what point do you think it becomes an obsession?
I would imagine with the amount of cardio you are doing you will continue losing weight. You may want to consider upping your calorie intake of you're working out 5 days a week for 1.5 hours. You will need to give your body adequate time to rest to rebuild the tiny muscle tears which repair themselves to be leaner muscle mass.
Tou could probably eat up to 1800 and still maintain at the rate you are going. Try and set a new goal of watching your macros and managing your sodium and fat intake to ensure you continue to build muscle instead of dwindling down to stick and bones. Great work ethic though! Im in the gym for about two hours 2 to 3 times a week (usually 30 to 40 mins of cardio and the rest is resistence and weight training). I consume on average 1600 to 2100 calories a day and have been able to maintain my weight eaisly (even after weekend cheat meals).
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