Is it enough?

Elizabetnelson

Ok so My work out partner/best frend and I do a 1hr water aerobics class 5 x a week. we also do the recumbant bike and treadmill. We just started so we haven't done this for a full week yet, but our work out schedule looks like this.

Monday: Aqua Fitness 11:15a-12:15p, 12:30-1:30 Treadmill, 1:35-2:35 Recumbant Bike.
Tuesday: Bike or Treadmill 4:45-5:15p, Aqua Aerobics 5:30-6:30p
Wednesday: Aqua Fitness 11:15a-12:15p, 12:30-1:30 Treadmill, 1:35-2:35 Recumbant Bike.
Thursday: Bike or Treadmill 4:45-5:15p, Aqua Aerobics 5:30-6:30p
Friday: Bike or Treadmill 8:50-9:40a, Aqua Aerobics 10a-11a
Sat and Sun: OFF

Keeping in mind we went from a Sedintary lifestyle, to this.
My friend has 5 Kids and a Husband so you can imagine how active that is. I only have one child, and a husband, but I really didn't do much of anything.

So Is it too much? Not Enough? Were doing great so far! I personally love it!

Elizabetnelson

Ok so My work out partner/best frend and I do a 1hr water aerobics class 5 x a week. we also do the recumbant bike and treadmill. We just started so we haven't done this for a full week yet, but our work out schedule looks like this.

Monday: Aqua Fitness 11:15a-12:15p, 12:30-1:30 Treadmill, 1:35-2:35 Recumbant Bike.
Tuesday: Bike or Treadmill 4:45-5:15p, Aqua Aerobics 5:30-6:30p
Wednesday: Aqua Fitness 11:15a-12:15p, 12:30-1:30 Treadmill, 1:35-2:35 Recumbant Bike.
Thursday: Bike or Treadmill 4:45-5:15p, Aqua Aerobics 5:30-6:30p
Friday: Bike or Treadmill 8:50-9:40a, Aqua Aerobics 10a-11a
Sat and Sun: OFF

Keeping in mind we went from a Sedintary lifestyle, to this.
My friend has 5 Kids and a Husband so you can imagine how active that is. I only have one child, and a husband, but I really didn't do much of anything.

So Is it too much? Not Enough? Were doing great so far! I personally love it!

HustleRose

I think you just need to listen to your body and not push yourself, just do as much as you can each day, at the speed you can do.

If you feel good how you`re doing it, keep going, it should definitely be enough to give you all the health benefits, especially if you`re just starting to exercise. If you start to feel tired, cut back, if it gets too easy, change it up!

It`s all about your individual body, so you`ve really gotta just judge for yourself as you`re going. :flowerforyou:

NB_Lady

Wow- that's quite a schedule! You can do anything you put your mind to so go for it. You'll get a ton of support on this site and if you run into any roadblocks along the way, feel free to message me!
:flowerforyou: Anne

OomarianneoO

With a schedule like that and considering how much weight you want/need to lose, it won't surprise me to see that you've lost at least 10 or maybe even 15lbs. by this time next month (some of it beiing water weight, of course)! Especially if you're just starting out.

Personally, I don't think it's too much, but only if YOU think your body can handle it. Don't work yourself too hard and be careful if you've got any health issues. Be sure to check with your doctor, he/she will be able to help guide you to the safest way to lose the weight.

Welcome to MFP! I wish you and your BFF the best, safest, and fun way to taking off the pounds! You've definitely come to the right place for support. :flowerforyou: - Marianne

EvilPIB

Listen to your body it will be your guide but I have to say OMG you will get to your goal. :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :flowerforyou:

Suggestion: Considered adding some recovery stretching or yoga? It will prevent muscle strains and will assist with any soreness you may have.

Suggestion: Consider swapping one of your cardio workouts, down the road, for strength training. That is also important to your weight balance, more balanced.

carajo

Good for you!!!!!!!:flowerforyou: Way to make such a huge jump!!! I agree listen to your body, and DON'T let yourself get burned out!!!! Maybe one day take a break from the treadmill or bike and try yoga or pilates...i think being mentally strong is very important to contuined success...and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

songbyrdsweet

It is GREAT that you are so ambitious about this! It's wonderful that you really want to apply yourself and work hard. However, honestly, that is too much. The more frequently you exercise, the greater your risk of overuse injuries--little things, like shin sprints, muscle soreness that lasts for a week instead of just a day or two, sprains/strains, even stress fractures.

I have been training consistently for over 2 years and my schedule still doesn't look like that. For one, it's not necessary to exercise that much. Your caloric deficit should come from DIET first, and then exercise can help to increase your basal calories so you aren't stuck eating 1000 calories a day if your BMR is only 1500. Working out for 3 hours a day is excessive unless you're training for an Olympic event and eating 5,000 calories a day.

As a beginner, you should be working out 3 times per week for your first few months. It doesn't seem like that much, but understand that your body will be making HUGE changes. Hormone levels will change, your body will be under stress from the caloric deficit, and changes in your nervous system will occur to improve your body's reaction to exercise. It's like an emergency to your body--so you don't want that to last 10-15 hrs per week. Soon your immune system function will be impeded and/or you won't be able to recover from your workouts, and your frequency and time will decrease on its own. Your body WILL force you to reduce your exercise to match your current fitness level. It's best to take action before that occurs so you can keep yourself healthy and consistently active.

I'm not trying to slow your progress or be pessimistic. I am just realistic and give the same advice here that I would give to my own client. :flowerforyou:

JustJody

Your schedule sounds great...............but do not do so much that you get tired of it and then give it up. It is always easier in the beginning and your body will let go of the pounds easier............then it slows. Give yourself a kick start and then fall into a easier pattern . Good Luck

Fitness_Chick

Ok so My work out partner/best frend and I do a 1hr water aerobics class 5 x a week. we also do the recumbant bike and treadmill. We just started so we haven't done this for a full week yet, but our work out schedule looks like this.

Monday: Aqua Fitness 11:15a-12:15p, 12:30-1:30 Treadmill, 1:35-2:35 Recumbant Bike.
Tuesday: Bike or Treadmill 4:45-5:15p, Aqua Aerobics 5:30-6:30p
Wednesday: Aqua Fitness 11:15a-12:15p, 12:30-1:30 Treadmill, 1:35-2:35 Recumbant Bike.
Thursday: Bike or Treadmill 4:45-5:15p, Aqua Aerobics 5:30-6:30p
Friday: Bike or Treadmill 8:50-9:40a, Aqua Aerobics 10a-11a
Sat and Sun: OFF

Keeping in mind we went from a Sedintary lifestyle, to this.
My friend has 5 Kids and a Husband so you can imagine how active that is. I only have one child, and a husband, but I really didn't do much of anything.

So Is it too much? Not Enough? Were doing great so far! I personally love it!

First off none of us know how how intense your workouts are...some in my water classes barely move, while others of us workout much differently. I think in time you'll know.....trust me, you'll know if this is to much... perhaps consider less classes but raise the intensity as you get used to a class?

Perhaps after you've done it for a number of days in a row you'll be able to answer the question yourself as to whether it's to much. I think it's VERY important when starting out to keep in mind is this something you can keep with for long term? If a person pushes to hard at the beginning they may not last a week at the gym...those of us who belong to gyms have seen many members come and go for that very reason....just as you change your food and make it a total lifestyle change.....excercise should be the same.

Your enthusiasm is great but your health is very important too...if you strain a muscle, or have any type of injury, you'd be out for a bit and that can really blow that workout! You don't want to burnout before your first week...if you're really giving it your all, full intensity...I can't imagine doing so much. I sometimes do 1 or 2 water classes in a row and my muscles are screaming...but I work with the high intensity instructors....and I take rest days.....one on the weekend and one during the week.

Someone mentioned strength training....that's very important to add...but to add in would mean you need to drop a fair bit of what you're doing.....2-3 days of strength training will have your metabolism boosted, your energy level high....

I think slow and steady beginning a workout scedule makes more sense. I know when I joined the gym last year I wanted to take everything.....and I grabbed onto a very heavy workout scedule...not having worked out before...it didn't feel tough at the time but I also didn't know better, as time went on, I began to have to cut back some classes because I was getting burnt out physically & mentally

....I hadn't realized I hadn't used some of my muscles in some time. I finally got smart/wise and cut back my time at the gym by several hours and chose to do more instense workouts for several hours rather than spend 1/ 2 my day there.:laugh: :laugh:

DO make sure you check with your doctor before doing much more of any type of workout, unless you've already ok'd it all with him, this is a HEAVY duty scedule for someone that is so new to fitness and just starting out to maintain, if you're working in your Heart Rate.

Elizabetnelson

Thank you everyone for your wonderful responces. We are currently in begginers classes for the water stuff, and on the bike and treadmill we aren't power housing. Slow and steady wins the race, and keeps our ankles from snapping!
We aren't currently doing and weight training because of some medical stuff. Once the medical waivers are in, were going to start weights and cut back on the walking and biking.

ohthatbambi

Just be careful of burnout. Sometimes when you go full force all the time....days come when you just can't make yourself do it.

PhotographerOfNature

I'm very concerned about especially the Monday & Wednesday workouts. I am afraid you will burn out too quickly. I totally support you in working out, just be careful. We want you to keep working out for the rest of your life which is why I don't want you to burn out now.

:drinker:

Phoenix_Rising

Man, I LOVED water aerobics the one and only time I did it (at a campground pool while on vacay at the beach). I'd do it 5x a week if I could too!

As far as the other days, I'd choose the treadmill or bike or elliptical (if you have access to one), but not mulitples in one day. I think you'll get burned out and really, really tired. I noticed Monday and Wednesday you have multiple machines down. I don't know that I'd bother with that... one machine would be good, I'd think. If you feel like you still have tons of energy after water aerobics and one machine, maybe you can bump up your intensity on those activities?

When I first started working out, it was 3x a week. I slowly and unintentionally added a 4th day, and now I work out Monday - Friday with the weekend "off". My first workouts were yoga. I did it 2x a week and the elliptical 1x a week. I added another day of elliptical, and now I have added a pilates/body sculpt class. (I started working out a year and a half ago.)

I think the key is to listen to your body. If you start to get burned out, switch up the routine. Don't feel obligated to do everything all at once. The water aerobics alone is a GREAT start! You can build intensity with that. Always listen to your body, if you start feeling tired, give it a rest and do a light workout (like simply walking on the treadmill for 20 or 30 minutes).

You sound like you are off to a great start, and with a workout partner, you will be much more motivated. I have a workout buddy myself.

LovelyLady1977

It's also good to keep in mind what you'll do when/if you happen to reach a plateau. Sometimes your body will get used to your usual routine and you'll need to shake things up a little, often by adding more exercise. Will you be willing to ramp it up even more to get things moving along again?

Keep in mind that when starting out as heavy as you and I, it doesn't take a whole lot of exercise to see results. Find something that you'll be willing to stick with for the long haul. Starting slow and gradually increasing is a good way to go. Often times the "too much, too soon" approach can lead to burnout as some of the others have said. Good luck!

dothompson

Congratulations on finding your inner jock!

Certainly this is enough, but I agree that you need to learn to listen to your body and if you are having signs of fatgue, give yourself a break.

I think the fact that you are doing this with a partner is wonderful. It will make it more fun and give you some accountability.

Taking off two days in a row after being so active is not ideal. I think you're going to find that you get antsy on the second day and it's harder to start back on Monday. It would be better to split your days off up. Or maybe do some walking on the off days.

arewethereyet

Just be careful of burnout. Sometimes when you go full force all the time....days come when you just can't make yourself do it.

that is what i was thinking. The fact you are MOVING is awesome. Keep up the good work!

I commend you on your efforts. We will be there for you all the way!!