Time off to exercise - your comments

I've decided to take time off (3 months) from work to take care of myself a bit. I want to exercise 3 to 4 hours a day (bought Ripped in 30 from Jillian Michaels) and eat healthy. I have about 50 lbs to lose. Need some encouragement and tell me if what i'm doing is crazy :noway: lolll
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Replies

  • AmberLee2012
    AmberLee2012 Posts: 540
    Wow 3-4 hours a day seems kind of excessive! It's great that you want to take better care of yourself, but depending on your fitness level, you might want to start out slower. Otherwise you could end up with some injuries that sideline you anyway.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    Not really sure what to say here...why do you find it necessary to exercise 3 to 4 hours per day?
  • It's not a bad idea to take care of yourself. I just wonder how you will be able to keep up the exercise once you go back to work. Taking a 3 month hiatus to work out is nice but it's not real life. At some point you will be back at work. Take this time to make sure you a serious about this and really hit that goal so it doesn't feel like wasted time. Also decide if 50 lbs is safe and feasible in 3 months. Good luck and best wishes!!
  • krithsai
    krithsai Posts: 668 Member
    Not really sure what to say here...why do you find it necessary to exercise 3 to 4 hours per day?

    Same question.
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    I honestly think you run a very high risk of overtraining...it takes time for a body to acclimate to exercise. Starting off excessive can cause all sorts of injuries.
  • m4ttcheek
    m4ttcheek Posts: 229 Member
    I could see why you'd do this if you were passionate about a sport but 4 hours of exercise dvds a day...... Really?
  • RoseTears143
    RoseTears143 Posts: 1,121 Member
    I am all for you taking care of yourself - but I fail to see why you would need a 3 month break from work to do so. 3-4 hours day is a bit excessive...what are you going to do when you go back to work? Stop taking care of yourself? It's all about balance and making time in your current routine to be able to exercise and enjoy fitness related activities.
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    Nothing wrong with taking a break from things to recharge, if that's what you need for your physical or mental health.

    However.

    Four hours a day? Cray-cray. Totally unnecessary.

    You can achieve your goals without excessive exercise (certainly no need to take time of work JUST to exercise).
  • DuckDynastyMakesMeLaugh
    DuckDynastyMakesMeLaugh Posts: 363 Member
    I am not a doctor and I do not play one on TV, but exercising 3-4 hours a day sounds too challenging and unsustainable.

    Obviously, there are people in the world, Olympic athletes, body builders, celebrities with 3 nannies who exercise that much...but so many encouraging people here just like you and me say that "Slow and steady wins the race".

    You need to be patient.
    You need to make healthy food choices.
    You need to exercise regularly!

    YOU CAN DO IT! :flowerforyou:
  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    I've decided to take time off (3 months) from work to take care of myself a bit. I want to exercise 3 to 4 hours a day (bought Ripped in 30 from Jillian Michaels) and eat healthy. I have about 50 lbs to lose. Need some encouragement and tell me if what i'm doing is crazy :noway: lolll

    If you are interested on long term results, I would recommend no more than 1 hour a day, with 1 day rest a week.

    60 minutes of exercise is enough to include warm up, workout and stretch.

    I wish you luck in your journey
  • Topsking2010
    Topsking2010 Posts: 2,245 Member
    I lost 47 pounds in 5 months working 9 hours per day 5 days a week.

    All you need is 1 hour of exercise 6 days a week and a healthy diet!


    Go to work and get paid. A good job is hard to find these days!!!
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    is this a joke??? your pics are amazing
  • FITnFIRM4LIFE
    FITnFIRM4LIFE Posts: 818 Member
    I think it's great you want to better yourself..But, look at what you can do for a lifetime. Probably not going to do 3-4 hrs for life. Also,You should look at the lifeplan more than 3 month block. You can ex, work and eat and lose weight. I wish you well!
  • iLose2Gain
    iLose2Gain Posts: 138 Member
    Well contestants from the Biggest Loser take 3-4 mths off to lose weight & workout up to 8hrs per day, so I don't think what you are doing is "crazy"! However, they are also under heavy medical supervision. Speak to your doctor about it and make sure to have regular check ups. You may also what to work with a chiropractor or physical therapist to make sure you are using the correct muscles during each workout.

    Once you return to work, you should be at maintenance status & could reduce the time you workout at the gym to 2-3 hrs per day. Most are not as fortunate to take 3 mths off to focus on their health so I say kudos to you. But again, make sure you are also working with a medical professional.

    Much Success to you!
  • ClementineGeorg
    ClementineGeorg Posts: 505 Member
    Another problem is that this is not a permanent solution. It's temporary. What are you going to do after you will go back at your normal lifestyle?

    For example many people in weight loss reality-shows gain back the weight. Why? Because it is easy to lose weight when you only take care of this, when you workout 3-6 hours a day, when you cook every meal. But it's not sustainable. You can go back to your old life and don't know how to handle it.
    Some manage to make a healthy lifestyle after this, but some not.

    It is better to manage to lose with all the day-to-day problems, because this is your life... you should aim for permanent solutions, not temporary fixes. Because temporary fixes are not always sustainable.

    Again, think about reality-shows contestants. Yes, they train many hour a day. But they are surounded by medical personal, by nutritionists and special trainers. To workout 3-4 hours a day without damage to your joints and other body parts you should have at least a personal trainer that should guide you, like professional athletes.
  • jmcreynolds91
    jmcreynolds91 Posts: 777 Member
    is this a joke??? your pics are amazing

    this...your pics dont look like you need to loose 50 pounds.
  • pluckabee
    pluckabee Posts: 346 Member
    Taking time off to do your weight loss plan isn't going to teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle when you are living a normal life, which includes going to work.

    small adjustments that fit into your life and become habits are more likely to lead to long term success
  • skinnydreams19
    skinnydreams19 Posts: 282 Member
    That seems excessive (the recommendation is 30-45 minutes of activity per day, but more than 1 hour 6 days per week is usually no considered very healthy). You want to build healthy habits that work with your life so you'll be successful in the long run!

    Also, what job do you have where you have enough money to just take 3 months off to gym? Jealous!
  • lina1131
    lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
    is this a joke??? your pics are amazing

    this...your pics dont look like you need to loose 50 pounds.

    Those pictures are most likely not her.

    Honestly, working out 4 to 5 hours a day is not necessary. 1 hour per day and watching what you eat will do the job!

    Good luck.
  • AmberLee2012
    AmberLee2012 Posts: 540
    is this a joke??? your pics are amazing

    I'm going to guess those aren't really her pics. Maybe a model's? There is no face in them.
  • fattyfoodie
    fattyfoodie Posts: 232 Member
    Taking time off to do your weight loss plan isn't going to teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle when you are living a normal life, which includes going to work.

    small adjustments that fit into your life and become habits are more likely to lead to long term success

    +1
  • droneofvelvet
    droneofvelvet Posts: 290 Member
    I understand where you're coming from, but this is most likely rooted in a wish to make an amazing transformation before people you know see you again and these plans tend to backfire and add to our self worth issues. Like others have said, it would be wise to keep working and just add one hour a day of exercise. If you are really passionate add another hour of just walking or stretching. During your time at work you can save up for new clothes, gym classes that are motivating, accessories, healthful food, you name it. I've tried doing a few hours a day before and you burn out quickly. Suddenly you become ravenous and eat back all your exercise calories, etc.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If you are planning to do JM DVDs for 3-4 hours per day, I'm not sure that will fall under the "taking care of myself" category. Especially if you have not been doing that amount of exercise at that intensity before.

    If you are including stretching and a good amount of walking then 3-4 hours a day probably isn't a bad thing as long as you are eating and drinking enough..
  • danglarity
    danglarity Posts: 31 Member
    I don't recommend taking time off from work. Unemployment (regardless of how it is initiated) is the root of all weight gain evil. I have been out of work for 6 months+. I gained 20lbs very early on, on top of whatever I wanted to lose when I was working. If you look at my ticker, my weight loss goal is the same as yours. I can't WAIT to get back to work because I know I will drop 20lbs just from actively working again. There are 24 hours in a day and you want to work out 3-4 hours per day, but what happens to all that other unaccounted time in a day? I think it is a risk losing the active time you have at work for a few more hours of work out time. Also, I hope taking that time off doesn't put your job security in jeopardy because a new job search could be hard and long. I hope this helps! :)

    Also, I'm currently out of work (not by choice) with time on my hands and I only work out 1 hour each day, 5 days a week.
  • FitnessRXusaAnna
    FitnessRXusaAnna Posts: 44 Member
    Taking time off to do your weight loss plan isn't going to teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle when you are living a normal life, which includes going to work.

    small adjustments that fit into your life and become habits are more likely to lead to long term success

    +1

    +2
  • cjpembo
    cjpembo Posts: 42 Member
    4 hours a day is doable... 3 hours a day shopping for and preparing healthy meals, and 1 hour a day working out. A recipe for success. The 50 lbs in a few months idea is never going to work.
  • thisismeraw
    thisismeraw Posts: 1,264 Member
    3-4 hours a day is excessive. Unless you are a pro athlete you shouldn't be exercising that much and it isn't required.

    Losing 50lbs in 3 months can be unhealthy and not sustainable depending on how much you have to lose. Working out as much in a day as you claim you will be can lead to a disorder.
  • dfonte
    dfonte Posts: 263 Member
    It's not crazy if you're training for something, and over training is an excuse (most of the time). Most people will never come close to actually over training.

    Once you get going every day, you start to recover faster (assuming you eat well). When your body physically tells you to stop, then stop. Fatigue, soreness, cramps - are all normal things. Excruciating pain that physically limits your exercise is not. Use common sense.

    You should fit exercise into your schedule though. I work full time (no kids and not married so I have extra time in those respects), and I can fit in 2-3 hours of exercise a day. I don't usually, but i can.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    man, i wish i could take off for a few months and just train and train train and train train and train train and train...
  • drchimpanzee
    drchimpanzee Posts: 892 Member
    I lost 47 pounds in 5 months working 9 hours per day 5 days a week.

    All you need is 1 hour of exercise 6 days a week and a healthy diet!


    Go to work and get paid. A good job is hard to find these days!!!

    Similar story. June of last year I was 290ish. By the end of the year I was 230ish. That's with 45 minutes of cardio 3-4 days a week, some simple lifting 3 days a week, and a simple diet change (pretty much did meat/veggies/dairy only most of the time).