AM I DOING TO MUCH?

karennh65
karennh65 Posts: 27 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Just looking for some input from others on the amount of time I am spending at the gym.

Here is my typical weekly routine:
Monday 45 minutes on the arc trainer & treadmill then a 1 hour Body Pump class
Tuesday 1 hour Body Vive class, occasionally I will stay and do a 1 hour Zumba class
Wednesday is my off day (normally) but thinking of adding 1 hour Palites or 30 minute CXWOX class
Thursday 45 minutes on the arc trainer & treadmill then a 1 hour Body Combat class
Friday 1 hour Body Flow
Saturday or Sunday usually either 1 hour step & pump or 1 hour step & flow

My gym is now adding a 30 minute CXWOX class that I will add prior to my Thursday Body Combat and maybe do on Wednesday. I am seeing results but I am now plauged with a calf muscle problem. Am I pushing my body too much???

Your thoughts please.........

Replies

  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Reduce your cardio by at least 50% and make three days a week lifting days.
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    Reduce your cardio by at least 50% and make three days a week lifting days.

    Yes! Please take this advice!
  • m4ttcheek
    m4ttcheek Posts: 229 Member
    I personally think if you can do two classes in a row you haven't tried very hard in either. No matter what your fitness level you should be pushing yourself to be tired after one.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    heck no!!!, but you should add some whiskey or vodka to that all.
  • Zomoniac
    Zomoniac Posts: 1,169 Member
    I am now plauged with a calf muscle problem. Am I pushing my body too much???

    I think that answers your question. I define "too much" as "passing the point at which my body breaks".
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    I am now plauged with a calf muscle problem. Am I pushing my body too much???

    I think that answers your question. I define "too much" as "passing the point at which my body breaks".

    This really is the deciding factor.

    The other is that you suddenly notice you aren't doing any workout with the same intensity.

    You need to take at least one rest day, the slowly work back up to a full routine.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    What is too much for one person, isn't enough for another so it's hard to say just looking at the programs. My guess though is that you're new and thinking you'll do everything by working out more rather than focusing on your diet and being patient.

    Optimally, you would be taking 1 or 2 days off a week for recovery, but you can get away with little rest for a while. It will eventually catch up to you though in the form of fatigue, or worse, injuries.

    So . . . lift 3 or 4 days a week and do cardio 2 to 3 days a week. Take 1 or 2 days off for recovery. Focus on cutting your calories by 10% to 20% under TDEE and getting sufficient fat and protein.
  • wnbrice
    wnbrice Posts: 244 Member
    I would get a HRM and see where your heart rate is at any given exercise. Best way to know if you are slacking or pushing to hard IMO. I starting doing two pretty intense cardio workouts back to back and use my HRM to make sure I keep working hard.
  • karennh65
    karennh65 Posts: 27 Member
    Trust me I am exhausted after 1 class but push myself to make it through the 2nd class.
  • peachypants
    peachypants Posts: 34 Member
    At one point (previous to having a baby and gaining a ton of weight) I kicked up my exercise to where I was burning 1000 cals plus every work out. There came a point in my career that I didn't have the time to do that 5 days a week. As soon as that happened,
    I packed on the pounds quickly. If your injuring your self, slow it down a bit. We all want the pounds to drop off quickly but it's not going to help maintain a healthy weight for life.
  • JGainingHealth
    JGainingHealth Posts: 194 Member
    Are you doing all of this because you genuinely enjoy exercising or is it because you want to lose weight quickly? Are you eating enough to fuel that much activity?

    This might be an interesting read for you: http://psychologyofeating.com/happy-exercise-vs-stressed-exercise-theres-a-big-metabolic-difference/

    For right now, your first plan of attack should be to rest your calf muscle if you detect a problem. If you continue to strain it, you might end up not being able to do anything for a while.
  • PetulantOne
    PetulantOne Posts: 2,131 Member
    Reduce your cardio by at least 50% and make three days a week lifting days.

    QFT
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    Since you're eating 1000 to 1300 calories a day, I would say you are exercising too much given your low caloric intake.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I personally think if you can do two classes in a row you haven't tried very hard in either. No matter what your fitness level you should be pushing yourself to be tired after one.

    This ^^

    As long as you are eating enough to fuel those workouts and you are not overly fatigued, there is nothing wrong with it. But you could just push yourself harder in one class and get the same or better benefits.
  • schnarfo
    schnarfo Posts: 764 Member
    I agree with th two classes thing, if you can do 45 mins cardio before a combat class your not giving it your all in combat! I think you'd be better dropping that cardio session. Body flow s great, nice relaxing and stretching so you could do cardio before that or a weight session? Have you tried body pump? That might be an excellent way to get some strength training in there?

    Edit- just re read your post and noticed you do body pump already!

    Personally I think you could get away with not doing the cardio before it as your getting plenty with the combat, Zumba etc. if your body is hurting then try to build in a rest day or two a week :) you could just walk on these days? Active rest?

    Enjoy
  • 4_Lisa
    4_Lisa Posts: 362 Member
    I personally think if you can do two classes in a row you haven't tried very hard in either. No matter what your fitness level you should be pushing yourself to be tired after one.

    I agree. After one hour at the gym, I have nothing left. There is no way I would be able to do 2 classes back to back! Plus I'd rather get in, work my *kitten* off for an hour and get out... I still have a life to live!
  • schnarfo
    schnarfo Posts: 764 Member
    I personally think if you can do two classes in a row you haven't tried very hard in either. No matter what your fitness level you should be pushing yourself to be tired after one.

    I agree. After one hour at the gym, I have nothing left. There is no way I would be able to do 2 classes back to back! Plus I'd rather get in, work my *kitten* off for an hour and get out... I still have a life to live!


    Step and pump work well together - I did that for ages at my old gym and never had a problem as ones cardio the other is strength. Now trying combat and pump together - that's a different scenario lol i was killed after that and wouldn't do that again!
  • karennh65
    karennh65 Posts: 27 Member
    Are you doing all of this because you genuinely enjoy exercising or is it because you want to lose weight quickly? Are you eating enough to fuel that much activity?

    This might be an interesting read for you: http://psychologyofeating.com/happy-exercise-vs-stressed-exercise-theres-a-big-metabolic-difference/

    For right now, your first plan of attack should be to rest your calf muscle if you detect a problem. If you continue to strain it, you might end up not being able to do anything for a while.

    Actually I am becoming to enjoy my workouts as it gets me out of the house to meet people. Also, as for weight coming off quickly, I would love that to happen but it's not coming off quickly but more slow and steady.

    I have decided to cut out the Step classes as those seem to be the ones that bother my calf the most.
  • Surisaddai
    Surisaddai Posts: 142 Member
    *too much:smooched:
  • krithsai
    krithsai Posts: 668 Member
    I personally think if you can do two classes in a row you haven't tried very hard in either. No matter what your fitness level you should be pushing yourself to be tired after one.

    I agree. After one hour at the gym, I have nothing left. There is no way I would be able to do 2 classes back to back! Plus I'd rather get in, work my *kitten* off for an hour and get out... I still have a life to live!

    Totally agree. Working out is part of my lifestyle but I have a life outside of the gym too.
  • JezzD1
    JezzD1 Posts: 431
    if you can do all that and give your body the fuel and STICK TO IT without injury I see no problem.
    I would drop one cardio and switch it with a lifting routine but whatever works for you is key.
    The issue is will you stick with it for months or years depending on however long it takes to achieve your goal.
    Going balls to the wall for a week and then dropping out due to fatigue the next week is not going to help your cause. Therefore I suggest a plan you can live with you don't want to burn yourself out before you even had a chance to crack your first goal.
  • schnarfo
    schnarfo Posts: 764 Member
    Are you doing all of this because you genuinely enjoy exercising or is it because you want to lose weight quickly? Are you eating enough to fuel that much activity?

    This might be an interesting read for you: http://psychologyofeating.com/happy-exercise-vs-stressed-exercise-theres-a-big-metabolic-difference/

    For right now, your first plan of attack should be to rest your calf muscle if you detect a problem. If you continue to strain it, you might end up not being able to do anything for a while.



    Actually I am becoming to enjoy my workouts as it gets me out of the house to meet people. Also, as for weight coming off quickly, I would love that to happen but it's not coming off quickly but more slow and steady.

    I have decided to cut out the Step classes as those seem to be the ones that bother my calf the most.

    Step is tough on the calves particularly if u don't stretch or your new to step. I miss step so so bad tho my new gym doesn't offer step classes
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    Reduce your cardio by at least 50% and make three days a week lifting days.

    This is what i am going to do i found some great routines on youtube if like me you didnt know where to start
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    I think instead of doing so much cardio you should take some of those days were you do the elliptical before a class and do some weight lifting in that time instead. You will see some major significant changes in your body by adding in weight lifting.
  • karennh65
    karennh65 Posts: 27 Member
    I personally think if you can do two classes in a row you haven't tried very hard in either. No matter what your fitness level you should be pushing yourself to be tired after one.

    I agree. After one hour at the gym, I have nothing left. There is no way I would be able to do 2 classes back to back! Plus I'd rather get in, work my *kitten* off for an hour and get out... I still have a life to live!

    Totally agree. Working out is part of my lifestyle but I have a life outside of the gym too.

    Well as a mother of 3 grown boys, the wife of a long distance truck driver, going to the gym after work is becoming my life outside of home and work. 2 boys out of the house 1 boy I only see on Sundays, husband gone for weeks at a time. Prior to my starting the gym last September my life consisted of work and home. However, now that warm weather is upon us the bikes will be on the road and I am sure my weekends at the gym will taper off for the summer.
  • tenkesh
    tenkesh Posts: 81
    Totally agree with people suggesting reducing cardio and adding weights. Your lower body is clearly getting too much stress while your upper body gets close to no workout. Workouts work the best way if you let your musclegroups rest and recover. You should do a split. Do a class of your regular aerobic stuff, then on the next day hit the gym and work on your upper body strength while your legs get the rest they need. And have at least 1 day a week when you don't work out at all. Rest and recovery are crucial part, if you ignore it it almost always leads to injuries.
  • haroon_awan
    haroon_awan Posts: 1,208 Member
    I'm leaving messages and voicemails telling you I miss you, baby am I doing too much?

    YESSSSS.

Categories