Officially close to breaking point

PrincessNikkiBoo

…and I don’t want to be. :sad:

I’m physically exhausted, and consequently I’m emotionally exhausted too. My relationships are becoming strained, I have no time for myself and I’m walking around with giant bags under my eyes because of my routine.

Every Monday – Friday I work from about 8am to 5:30pm. I walk to work every morning, and do some form of exercise every evening whether that’s swimming for an hour and a half or a work out DVD or even walking the 40 minutes home again.
Saturday to Sunday – I get up silly early and do my work out video before my other half gets up, or try make him do some form of exercise during the day with me that he doesn’t really want to do.

I am basing my life around my exercise, burning around 400-600 (more on swimming days) from work outs every day. It feels like I have no life, I can never have a sleep in, between work too I never have any time to see my friends.
I’m at breaking point, which is why I’m proposing a new routine that I think will help and I’d be interested in your opinions on it.

Monday:
- Walk 40 minutes to work
- Swimming after work

Tuesday:
- 5am work out (I can see friends after work/other half)
- Walk to work

Wednesday:
- 5am work out (I can see friends after work/other half)
- Walk to work

Thursday:
- Possible 5am work out (I can see friends after work/other half)
- Walk to work
- Possible swimming after work

Friday:
- 5am work out
- Walk to work
- See my other half after work

Saturday:
- Light exercise (e.g. walking around town) / rest day

Sunday:
- Rest day

I thought this way; I’m still doing a considerable amount of exercise but I am also managing to fit in seeing friends / family during the week. Weekends I can focus on recharging my batteries for the next full on week. I thought it might also be more manageable when I decide to switch to maintenance mode, since I have around 9lbs left to reach my first huge goal. If I really am feeling the need for an extra work out I could fit in a 5am work out one morning before swimming.

If everyone thinks it is a good idea, I’m going to try my best to stick to it. I know my body really does need the break.
Interested in your opinions. I feel really guilty at the minute, that I’m letting myself down for even thinking abouy not doing work outs 7 days a week.

Martucha123

I workout 4 times a week
it's plenty
nobody NEEDS to workout 7 time a week
take a brake

If I were you, I would walk everyday like you do, but cut othere activities to every other day

you can swim 2 a week, have dvd workout 2 a week, it will be enough.

lisa28115

I agree with Martucha

mockchoc

You are overdoing it. I think it's a very good idea to cut back so you don't make yourself sick.

BelindaDuvessa

You're getting burnt out because you aren't giving yourself any time to rest. I'm glad to see that you are making at least 1 day a week a "rest" day with this new plan, though. Everyone needs a break, even from exercise.

This looks like a solid plan. It also looks like alot less during the week than you were doing, so don't be surprised if you have a minor weight fluctuation as your body is adjusting to it.

p0kers0ph

Why are you making your life miserable by what you are doing.
Just work out 3-4 times a week and be done with it.

lisa28115

i walk at work for 40mins 5 days a week

i do water aerobics 2 to 3 times a week
i lift weights 2 to 3 times a week

sunday is my rest day

myofibril

I workout 4 times a week
it's plenty
nobody NEEDS to workout 7 time a week
take a brake

If I were you, I would walk everyday like you do, but cut othere activities to every other day

you can swim 2 a week, have dvd workout 2 a week, it will be enough.

If fat loss is your goal then this is spot on. Keep your diet tight though.

If your goals are athletic and you are working towards a competition the advice would be different (and of course would factor in a lot of eating to support that goal...)

em435

I agree with the others. Exercising to the extent you have no time to socialise is just not sustainable, especially if it's taking significant time away from your partner.

Try looking into short and intensive workouts that you can do instead of walking or swimming for hours and also see if there are any activities that you can do with friends/family.

PrincessNikkiBoo

I workout 4 times a week
it's plenty
nobody NEEDS to workout 7 time a week
take a brake

If I were you, I would walk everyday like you do, but cut othere activities to every other day

you can swim 2 a week, have dvd workout 2 a week, it will be enough.

If fat loss is your goal then this is spot on. Keep your diet tight though.

If your goals are athletic and you are working towards a competition the advice would be different (and of course would factor in a lot of eating to support that goal...)

It is just a fat loss goal at the minute

findesme

I try to workout 5 times a week , but it doesn't always work.
I think that 7 days a week is far too much. Your body needs a break!!

If I were you, I would walk everyday like you do, but twice a week would do no more exercise, apart from that.
You should be proud of yourself i think that you have achieved a lot!!

PrincessNikkiBoo

Thank you for the tips... please keep them coming. I'm so fed up I need to break out of this cycle!

I think the plan for the rest of the week is to go swimming tonight and do a DVD tomorrow, then have a complete weekend off and start a new routine from there.

With the responses so far, I think I'm going to aim for around 4 days exercise a week on top of the walking I generally do.

Hopefully I won't feel as bad as I do now, that way! :sick:

PrincessNikkiBoo

I try to workout 5 times a week , but it doesn't always work.
I think that 7 days a week is far too much. Your body needs a break!!

If I were you, I would walk everyday like you do, but twice a week would do no more exercise, apart from that.
You should be proud of yourself i think that you have achieved a lot!!

Thank you! I may be slightly addicted to working out, which is amazing since 6 months ago I did none at all!

millyvanilli321

Please give yourself a break! There's no need to exhaust yourself and make yourself miserable doing this. You've obviously worked really hard and come a long way, which is fantastic, but your body needs time to rest to get stronger.

If it helps, my routine is a run and 30 day shred on tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays and a 45 minute swim on Fridays. That burns over 500 cals 3 x a week and slightly fewer on a friday. and I get monday and wednesday nights totally free! With your walking 40 mins each way to work every day, I say give yourself a week day off too

PrincessNikkiBoo

Please give yourself a break! There's no need to exhaust yourself and make yourself miserable doing this. You've obviously worked really hard and come a long way, which is fantastic, but your body needs time to rest to get stronger.

If it helps, my routine is a run and 30 day shred on tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays and a 45 minute swim on Fridays. That burns over 500 cals 3 x a week and slightly fewer on a friday. and I get monday and wednesday nights totally free! With your walking 40 mins each way to work every day, I say give yourself a week day off too

I think I'm just petrified that I will slow the loss down completely or put it all back on. Silly, but it is a hard habit to break out from. :frown:

myofibril

4-5 times a week is more than enough if fat loss is your goal.

Keeping your diet tight will become more important though as you won't have the additional "calorie burn" from exercise to keep your calorie deficit in check. Don't be tempted to slash calories though - you're probably not eating enough in the first place if you are overly exhausted.

When you are close to goal as you seem to be it's more efficient to have a moderate deficit but take a little longer to shift the last few pounds then try and beat your body into submission.

Good luck!

deales

It sounds like you're addicted to exercising, and scared of the consequences if you stop doing some of them...

I have lost a stone since July 17th and you know what..........I occassionally do some exercise. I dont have a regime and I certainly, definitely do not do exercise every day. I do it when I feel like it. And I am happy with this, especially when I'm losing weight slowly, changing my eating habits and doing exercise when I fancy it.

If you do exercise when you don't want to be doing it, or you feel like it's ruining your life, then it's always going to be a chore and you'll never sustain it.

Lighten up; enjoy your partner, enjoy your life, enjoy your friends and enjoy doing exercise WHEN YOU WANT TO. If you're doing exercise to burn off calories, perhaps you're just eating too much. If you want to lose weight, you have to eat healthier and slightly (not massively) less.

Keep your chin up honey xxx

Fozzi43

Could you do a few HIIT sessions a week rather than swimming or classes? You can burn a lot in only twenty minutes?

rocky163

Shorten your workouts to one hour or less and take the weekends off completely. You'll be surprised at how much better you feel and will want to get back to working out.

PrincessNikkiBoo

Thank you for all of your suggestions

hookandy

If you are walking 40mins a day, then I would count this as exercise, so already you have done 3+ hours a week.

Don't make your life a chore, we are trying to make positive changes not to kill ourselves. Might be worth swapping some of your work outs for family and friend related exercise. I play tennis and squash with the other half, and go sailing on the weekend.

I would also try and make sure that I was eating enough to fuel all your exercise. The lack of sleep alone would drive me nuts.

Relax, take care of yourself. That is the point of this isn't?

dad106

If your goal is fat loss then you are doing way to much cardio and not enough weight training.

I'd ditch the swimming/walks later on, and lift weights.. plus keep your diet in check.

nyssa1231

It sounds like you're either exercising too much or stressed out because you don't have any time for a social life. Maybe it's a little of both?

I totally understand exercising (almost) every day. I do much better when I have a routine. I wake up early during the week, and work out for 45 minutes before work and take our pups on a 30 minute walk after work. Also, my body naturally wakes up early on the weekend. This sucks because I end up waking up at 6 a.m. on the weekend! I just shrug and work out and plan to take a nap later.

As far as socializing, could you maybe combine working out with hanging out with friends/significant other? It can be something like jogging around the park or going for a bike ride.

kgb6days

It is very important that the body get adequate rest. Per Jeff Galloway (olympian runner now trainer) and my personal trainer, there is a way to tell if you need a rest day. Take your pulse immediately upon waking every morning for a week, then average. This is your resting heart rate. When you wake in the morning take your pulse. If it is 5% higher than your average you need to have an easy workout. If it is 10% higher than the average, your body is TIRED and needs a complete rest day. This helps me know if I'm just feeling lazy, or I really am ready for a rest day. Don't overdo it (and it sounds like you might be). Overdoing it leads to giving up which leads back to the sedentary overweight place we used to live

pkw58

Wow. you have activity down. Check your food intake - if you are exhausted, it could be low , or you are may just not be drinking enough H20!

Good job getting active!

Capt_Apollo

i think you are probably over reacting. i don't understand what it is that has you so close to the edge. is it that you don't spend enough time with friends and your boyfriend?

Make time.

Yes, the same thing that people told you on how to find time to exercise applies to everything else.

i used to tell myself the same thing in regards to friends and school work. i started to exercise and i cut out things like being with my better half and my friends and family. school work started to suffer as i would be "too tired" to do it after working out, or i wouldn't do it before a work out because i was so motivated and excited to exercise.

I started cutting back on things like television and video games. yes, even though i didn't have time for friends, family, and grad school, i had plenty of time for mindless entertainment. i started using google calanders to schedule everything, and i mean everything, from dates, to hanging out with friends, to work outs, to football games. i watch a lot less tv and play almost zero video games. i sleep about 7 hours a day, exercise, do school work, work, see friends and family, and find that i have plenty of time to do it all.

Invite friends and family to exercise with you. a 20 mile bike ride can be fun and relaxing with a person to talk to. go to an indoor rock climbing gym and challenge each other. that is my best friend and mine favorite thing to do lately. and the best thing about exercising with friends? going for guilt-free beers afterwards.

velsbree

I did the same thing, and had no time for anyone or anything else. I have cut back to min of 4 days per week and kept up the weight loss and have been happier. I do feel guilty and get twitchy but we need a well balanced life. I was using exercise to take the place of food. Healthier but still not good still working on finding that balance in my life.

beachlover317

If your goal is fat loss then you are doing way to much cardio and not enough weight training.

I'd ditch the swimming/walks later on, and lift weights.. plus keep your diet in check.

This, plus if your ticker is correct - you are down to the last 10 pounds to lose (Awesome!). Weights and strength training will be much more appropriate now. You will see some amazing changes in your body and you will actually have time for a life. Also very important. Besides - Do you want to have to keep this up for the rest of your life? I doubt it doable! Good luck!

PrincessNikkiBoo

If your goal is fat loss then you are doing way to much cardio and not enough weight training.

I'd ditch the swimming/walks later on, and lift weights.. plus keep your diet in check.

I do weight training and strength training in the DVD's I do.

ironanimal

If your goal is fat loss then you are doing way to much cardio and not enough weight training.

I'd ditch the swimming/walks later on, and lift weights.. plus keep your diet in check.

I do weight training and strength training in the DVD's I do.

Unless you're using weights significantly more than any bag you carry on a daily basis, no you're not.

Just chill with some of the exercise. If your body is exhausted, a break is the best thing you can give it.

PrincessNikkiBoo

i think you are probably over reacting. i don't understand what it is that has you so close to the edge. is it that you don't spend enough time with friends and your boyfriend?

Make time.

Yes, the same thing that people told you on how to find time to exercise applies to everything else.

i used to tell myself the same thing in regards to friends and school work. i started to exercise and i cut out things like being with my better half and my friends and family. school work started to suffer as i would be "too tired" to do it after working out, or i wouldn't do it before a work out because i was so motivated and excited to exercise.

I started cutting back on things like television and video games. yes, even though i didn't have time for friends, family, and grad school, i had plenty of time for mindless entertainment. i started using google calanders to schedule everything, and i mean everything, from dates, to hanging out with friends, to work outs, to football games. i watch a lot less tv and play almost zero video games. i sleep about 7 hours a day, exercise, do school work, work, see friends and family, and find that i have plenty of time to do it all.

Invite friends and family to exercise with you. a 20 mile bike ride can be fun and relaxing with a person to talk to. go to an indoor rock climbing gym and challenge each other. that is my best friend and mine favorite thing to do lately. and the best thing about exercising with friends? going for guilt-free beers afterwards.

Do it all already, but thanks and I really don't feel like I'm over reacting.