How much is too much?

scollins1982

I've been getting quite a bit of push back from people around me about doing too much exercise. I'm a Zumba instructor and teach between 8-12 classes a week. It's a lot of cardio but... well... I don't feel like I'm doing enough. Even with some of those classes being Zumba Toning I feel like I need more variety.

So I'm pondering doing workouts every morning - switching out sections of P90X, Insanity, TurboJam or pilates and New York City Ballet workouts. I want to switch it up, try new things and see if I can't build some more muscle mass in the process. That would put me at 30 minutes to 1 hour in the morning and 1-3 hours most nights of the week.

I've been told this is bordering on an eating disorder by a number of people but I don't think so... I just want to push my body and see if I can see the changes I've been fighting for since 2006!

Thoughts?

meshashesha2012

i'd go by how your body feels.

most people are lazy and think 30 minutes a day 3 days a week where they barely break a sweat is all they need. i've found that people who arent used to exercise are quick to give overtraining warnings.

if you're noticing elevated heartbeat when you're resting, difficulty in sleeping, pain in your joints, etc then definitely back off for a bit. otherwise, good for you!

jacksonpt

Your body is capable of more than most people will ever ask of it. The bigger question is are you feeding it enough, and are you getting enough sleep? If yes, then have at it and the hell with people who can't be bothered to get their heads out of the refrigerator.

As far as mixing it up and adding some muscle, why not try some actual lifting? All those programs are still ultimately cardio activities.

scollins1982

Thanks for the feedback. That's basically what I thought, anyway.

And jacksonpt - I do some lifting here at home currently mostly to learn correct form so I can teach moves correctly to my students in the Toning classes but I only have some small free weights here at home (3,5,8 and 15 pounders) so that's what I'm using.

What I'm looking at doing is using segments of P90X like the Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X and Chest & Shoulders & Triceps as stand alone workouts to focus on some of those muscles groups, learn more ways to use those muscles and to build up strength and endurance.

I am also looking at the New Rules of Lifting for Women and doing research on various muscle training philosophies and am hoping to get on with a personal trainer after this summer. The one awesome female trainer at the local gym is so booked for the summer that I can't make it work for the time being. But that is on the horizon!

girlie100

I definately recomend new rules of lifting for women, I am on stage 1 at the moment and have never lifted before. The book explains everything you need to do in good detail so good for a beginner. Although if you are going to do it from home you will need much heavier weights.

Stronglifts 5x5 is also another program I looked at and I'm considering moving onto this after new rules.

Insanity and turbofire are cardio workouts so I would keep away from them, I havent tried P90X so cant comment, but I would reccomend just following a lifting programme in the mornings and then do your zumba in the evenings.

New rules is 2-3 times a week so this can definately fit in with what you are doing good luck

scollins1982

I picked up the NROLFW today and am going to go shopping for some heavier weights or at least try to find some better time to work out at the gym. Maybe I can squeeze in an hour of weights before my Sunday Zumba class at the Y and after my Thursday class at the other gym where I teach.

Probably just indluge and buy weights for at home though. That way I can do it on my own schedule.

Thanks!

JudyL5305

Listen to your body is number one. And most important if you are enjoying it and not doing anything to hurt yourself then ignore them all. Most people think anyone who goes to the gym 3 times a week is crazy and it's because they are jealous or just don't understand. If you liked sewing and did that the same amount of time you work out would anyone say anything to you? Probably not. I get the same thing and I could care less what they say. So continue living and loving your life. :-)

mandylooo

I've been getting quite a bit of push back from people around me about doing too much exercise. I'm a Zumba instructor and teach between 8-12 classes a week. It's a lot of cardio but... well... I don't feel like I'm doing enough. Even with some of those classes being Zumba Toning I feel like I need more variety.

So I'm pondering doing workouts every morning - switching out sections of P90X, Insanity, TurboJam or pilates and New York City Ballet workouts. I want to switch it up, try new things and see if I can't build some more muscle mass in the process. That would put me at 30 minutes to 1 hour in the morning and 1-3 hours most nights of the week.

I've been told this is bordering on an eating disorder by a number of people but I don't think so... I just want to push my body and see if I can see the changes I've been fighting for since 2006!

Thoughts?

I think it's impossible for us to really tell whether what you're doing is ED by exercising or not, but your profile suggests otherwise.

You do need to work out what is important to you though and not sacrifice your relationships completely.

jacksonpt

And jacksonpt - I do some lifting here at home currently mostly to learn correct form so I can teach moves correctly to my students in the Toning classes but I only have some small free weights here at home (3,5,8 and 15 pounders) so that's what I'm using.

That's not what I mean by lifting. I don't know you, so maybe those weights are good enough for things like bicepts and shoulders, but you need heavier weights for the bigger muscles - legs, chest, back.

If you really want to change it up, then really challenge your body with high weight and low reps.