More exercise isn't necessarily better

ninerbuff

I work out practically every day of the week. One body part a day mixed in with some cardio of some sort. Sounds like a lot, but my sessions are about 35 minutes long and that's it.

I've gotten a lot of PM's from people working out 2-3 hours consecutive on a daily basis. Now if one is training with enough intensity, and isn't working out to compete for an athletic event, most of the time this will be overkill if weight loss is the goal.
Remember that calorie in/out is more important than trying to out exercising the calories you've consumed.

Also the goal should be to adhere to an exercising program that one can do for life and not just for the short term (again not discounting competitions or athletic events).

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

KBjimAZ

I hate to see when people (mostly new to exercising) fall into the trap of "that's what person x does, so that must be what I need to do in order to see results". We are all as different as our fingerprints.

Meggles63

I appreciate you posting this, as I have many, many friends who are always burning hundreds of calories doing hours of exercise, and here I am toddling along at 40-45 mins. daily, lol. I'm basically a lazy person, so if I can get results (and I have been!) doing "less" I'm happy!

NaomiJFoster

I can't imagine exercising for two solid hours. 30-45 minutes is my happy zone, maybe an hour if I spend a long time stretching afterward. I get bored. I get tired. I get hot. I get sweaty. I get just *done*. I admire people who have the attention span to go that long, but I honestly don't have that much focus, nor do I want to. Not my goal. Get in, get out, get finished.

cwolfman13

Agreed...I just kind of shake my head when I see people exercising for hours on a daily basis or posting that they now feel guilty because they are hold up in bed with diarrhea and vomiting and can't get to the gym...

It is just as important to cultivate a healthy relationship with fitness as it is with food. Sometimes I get the distinct impression that people don't understand that the vast majority of their calorie "burn" comes from just being alive...sometimes I think that people think that they need to actually exercise every calorie they consume or they're doing it wrong.

Exercise just like diet has to be sustainable...unsustainable practices are really the primary reason so many people yo-yo with their weight.

Even when I'm training for an event like a Century or something....I really only workout about an hour daily tops with only one day per week being a long ride and having to spend a few hours in the saddle...but for the most part, even when I'm actually training I'm really only training 60 - 90 minutes per day and I have days dispersed throughout the week that are just at a recovery intensity and nothing more. So many people just over-kill.

ldula88

TBH, I have respect for people who can get a workout in every day, since I don't at all :P But I agree many people go overboard because they think they're doing themselves a favor, when really they aren't at all. And anyways, you don't really burn as many calories as you think you do on cardio, ellipticals/treadmills/HRM definitely overestimate calories burned. It's great to get 45 minutes in every day to stay healthy, but people who go for 2-3 hours are nuts. I've been losing weight just fine with no cardio at all. That being said, I do enjoy strength training and I am on my feet 30-40 hours a week at my job. If I had a desk job I'd definitely have to get that cardio in once in a while But I agree that overdoing it on cardio is a bit silly when weight loss is the goal instead of an athletic goal like a marathon, etc.

DavPul

But if I don't do 2 hours on the elliptical each day while eating 1200 calories how will everyone know that I'm serious this time?

Mainebikerchick

But if I don't do 2 hours on the elliptical each day while eating 1200 calories how will everyone know that I'm serious this time?

*snort*

:laugh:

brandonzeciri

I see overweight people at the gym everyday. They're there for 2 hours sometimes, walking, sitting on the lazy man bike that reclines, on the elliptical crawling along.

They see me hop on the treadmill and bust out 2 or 3 miles as fast as I can.
Get about 20 minutes of lifting in and I'm done.

While I'm getting ready to leave I see them rolling their eyes at me all the time, as if I don't know what I'm doing.

If you're not pushing your body to the limit it's not going to get much results... at least that's how my body works.

Mia_RagazzaTosta

But if I don't do 2 hours on the elliptical each day while eating 1200 calories how will everyone know that I'm serious this time?

You can still post it on Facebook. Duh.

Allterrain_Lady

But if I don't do 2 hours on the elliptical each day while eating 1200 calories how will everyone know that I'm serious this time?

LMFAO!!

saschka7

But if I don't do 2 hours on the elliptical each day while eating 1200 calories how will everyone know that I'm serious this time?

*snort*

:laugh:

:drinker: I can only do 2 hours on the elliptical if I'm standing still. And I have better things to do with 2 hours. :laugh:

Mr_Knight

But if I don't do 2 hours on the elliptical each day while eating 1200 calories how will everyone know that I'm serious this time?

And that's 1200 carb-less calories, donchaknow?

vjohn04

Agree, and great post! Most of my workouts while I was recomping were limited to 30 minutes per day 5 days per week.

Topsking2010

Amen!!!

happysherri

Most of the people i know that exercise for hours are trying to burn 1000 or more calories so they can eat Mc Donalds.

stillnot2late

THANK YOU - - A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer


At my age I still try to do 90 minutes a day - I will do 45 lite cardio and 45 of a DVD with light weights. Thats too much. Howz about I just do an hour of something a day, or whatever day I do something, that sounds better cause my butt has gotten old.

shutyourpieholeandsquat

But if I don't do 2 hours on the elliptical each day while eating 1200 calories how will everyone know that I'm serious this time?

*snort*

:laugh:

hehe you snorted

shutyourpieholeandsquat

I work out practically every day of the week. One body part a day mixed in with some cardio of some sort. Sounds like a lot, but my sessions are about 35 minutes long and that's it.

I've gotten a lot of PM's from people working out 2-3 hours consecutive on a daily basis. Now if one is training with enough intensity, and isn't working out to compete for an athletic event, most of the time this will be overkill if weight loss is the goal.
Remember that calorie in/out is more important than trying to out exercising the calories you've consumed.

Also the goal should be to adhere to an exercising program that one can do for life and not just for the short term (again not discounting competitions or athletic events).

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Thank you!

Lleldiranne

I aim for two hours.




A week, that is.

About two hours total over the week. I'd like to get it a bit higher (my gym sessions tend to be 45-60 minutes, and I want to get there 3-4 times a week instead of 2-3). But 2 hours a day, every day, can burn one out.

Although I do agree about the training part being an exception. When I was getting ready for a 10k (years ago, lol) I'd run for about an hour a day. But that was my whole workout on those days.

AmyRhubarb

What?? Another post full of sense? :drinker:

bobf279

I work out most days for no more than 1 hour 20 mins which includes my warm up, cool down and stretching except on my weekly long run day when I sometimes do more. That's more than enough for me and I have maintained my effort for most of 2013.

jennifer_417

I see overweight people at the gym everyday. They're there for 2 hours sometimes, walking, sitting on the lazy man bike that reclines, on the elliptical crawling along.

They see me hop on the treadmill and bust out 2 or 3 miles as fast as I can.
Get about 20 minutes of lifting in and I'm done.

While I'm getting ready to leave I see them rolling their eyes at me all the time, as if I don't know what I'm doing.

If you're not pushing your body to the limit it's not going to get much results... at least that's how my body works.

As long as they are moving, they're burning calories. Not everybody is physically capable of an all-out sprint for 2-3 miles, at least not when they first start.

Meggles63

I aim for two hours.




A week, that is.

About two hours total over the week. I'd like to get it a bit higher (my gym sessions tend to be 45-60 minutes, and I want to get there 3-4 times a week instead of 2-3). But 2 hours a day, every day, can burn one out.

Although I do agree about the training part being an exception. When I was getting ready for a 10k (years ago, lol) I'd run for about an hour a day. But that was my whole workout on those days.

Annie_01

What about those that can't workout with high intensity...for whatever reason? It takes those people twice as long to even coming close to receiving the same benefit.

I am one of those people. Due to joint issues and another health factor I can't do high impact aerobics and even some of the low impact moves. I can't do heavy weights and have to be careful with doing ab workouts.

So I plod along with what I can do...sometimes that takes a lot of my time...so far...it has paid off.

I wish I could do it all in 30 minutes...

Meggles63

What about those that can't workout with high intensity...for whatever reason? It takes those people twice as long to even coming close to receiving the same benefit.

I am one of those people. Due to joint issues and another health factor I can't do high impact aerobics and even some of the low impact moves. I can't do heavy weights and have to be careful with doing ab workouts.

So I plod along with what I can do...sometimes that takes a lot of my time...so far...it has paid off.

I wish I could do it all in 30 minutes...

I don't think the post was directed at you, at all, so please don't feel offended.

_Zardoz_

I work out practically every day of the week. One body part a day mixed in with some cardio of some sort. Sounds like a lot, but my sessions are about 35 minutes long and that's it.

I've gotten a lot of PM's from people working out 2-3 hours consecutive on a daily basis. Now if one is training with enough intensity, and isn't working out to compete for an athletic event, most of the time this will be overkill if weight loss is the goal.
Remember that calorie in/out is more important than trying to out exercising the calories you've consumed.

Also the goal should be to adhere to an exercising program that one can do for life and not just for the short term (again not discounting competitions or athletic events).

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

your post is actually a bit simplistic and making a lot of assumptions. For starters not all exercises are the same 15 minutes of weights is different to 15 minutes of running which is different to 15 minutes of cycling. All burn calories at different rates and at different intensities and work muscles in a student way. Also there is the point that not everyone can work out at high intensities. Some can only do something like walking so it will take longer to have any results. Also to add not everyone exercises for weight loss or competition. I run because well I like to run. Other people do other activities because they just like it. Making these bold statements always backfires and makes the poster look a little silly I'm afraid because they/you forget one basic fact. We're not all the same

Annie_01

What about those that can't workout with high intensity...for whatever reason? It takes those people twice as long to even coming close to receiving the same benefit.

I am one of those people. Due to joint issues and another health factor I can't do high impact aerobics and even some of the low impact moves. I can't do heavy weights and have to be careful with doing ab workouts.

So I plod along with what I can do...sometimes that takes a lot of my time...so far...it has paid off.

I wish I could do it all in 30 minutes...

I don't think the post was directed at you, at all, so please don't feel offended.

I am not really offended...I more just wanted to point out that not all of us can be high intensity people. I am sure that what that poster accomplishes in 30 minutes I don't even come close to in 2 hours.

When I started my workouts about 5 months ago I had to learn to do what my body allows and not worry that I couldn't do what others do. It has taken a while to see results but I have made a lot of progress. As I have improved I keep adding to my workouts even if that takes me longer than what I would like. I still have a long way to go to being "fit".

broox80

Thank you so much for this! !! I often wonder if 30 minutes is enough or am I just wasting my time? 30-40 min most days is about all I can find time for. I can tell thoughl if I dont exercise at all because I start to feel like crap.

cafeaulait7

I've never trained for a marathon or similar in my life, but if I go hiking it'll be for a few hours lots of times I really wish I could hike several times a week, because it's just so fun. If you enjoy what you are doing and your body cooperates, I think it's fine. If you are just trying to eat more, get real, lol.

But the TDEE does matter and sustainability got me, yeah! I started to love the gym so much that when the time was no longer there, that's a huge part of why I gained my weight back. I was still eating like I went to the gym for hours. No good

DavPul

What about those that can't workout with high intensity...for whatever reason? It takes those people twice as long to even coming close to receiving the same benefit.

I am one of those people. Due to joint issues and another health factor I can't do high impact aerobics and even some of the low impact moves. I can't do heavy weights and have to be careful with doing ab workouts.

So I plod along with what I can do...sometimes that takes a lot of my time...so far...it has paid off.

I wish I could do it all in 30 minutes...

actually, he specifically addressed your concerns in his OP.

Now if one is training with enough intensity, and isn't working out to compete for an athletic event, most of the time this will be overkill if weight loss is the goal.

now, i don't know if you wanted him to call you by name or address your specific malady or exercise protocols, but right therein his 2nd paragraph he addresses the intensity issue. so if your intensity is on the low side it doesn't apply to you.