Is it wise to cut cardio for now?

shortie_sarah · June 2013

Here is a post that I made to my 30 day challenge group. I'm posting it here because I would love some input on it.

ok... day 2 is done, but it didn't go so well for me. Today was the cardio portion of my workout. I couldn't get through the whole thing. I had to stop about 3 minutes early and that was after slugging my way through it. I used my hrm and I burned about 250 calories in 28 minutes. About 40 minutes after I was finished, I started feeling really dizzy and lightheaded and felt like I was going to fall over. I realized that the workout actually put me negative in my calories for the day. (1200 goal. Ate 241. workout 250. left me with 1209 to eat for the day). I have a lot of trouble meeting my calorie goal. I'm not sure why... I just don't feel hungry most times. The reason I'm overweight to begin with is because I used to eat when I wasn't hungry...out of boredom and I don't want to go back to that so now I have trouble getting in 1200 calories. I think cardio is a bad idea for me until I'm able to meet my calorie goal on a more consistent basis. I don't want to end up hurting myself. I really felt like I was just going to fall over.. So for now I may just have to do some strength training so I don't lose too much LBM and fit in some cardio when I think I feel well enough for it. Does anyone have any suggestions or input?

So is it wise to cut out cardio for now and just focus on some light strength training?

cmriverside · June 2013

Well, at least you have the sense to question your method.

It's common for people to go from one extreme to the other - their body and their mind have lost touch. You can mess up your hormones by over or under eating, and that in turn deregulates your hunger signals to the brain. Try to be consistent, it's the only way you'll finally heal. Doesn't matter whether you do Cardio or not, but eat consistently. Add in and eat those additional Exercise calories if you are going by MFP's numbers. Just do it - you've heard "fake it till you make it" - this is one time it's important to hit those numbers, whether you are hungry or not.

If you have to, plan ahead. You know you'll be exercising, eat more early in the day. PLAN.

moondawg14 · June 2013

Here is a post that I made to my 30 day challenge group. I'm posting it here because I would love some input on it.

ok... day 2 is done, but it didn't go so well for me. Today was the cardio portion of my workout. I couldn't get through the whole thing. I had to stop about 3 minutes early and that was after slugging my way through it. I used my hrm and I burned about 250 calories in 28 minutes. About 40 minutes after I was finished, I started feeling really dizzy and lightheaded and felt like I was going to fall over. I realized that the workout actually put me negative in my calories for the day. (1200 goal. Ate 241. workout 250. left me with 1209 to eat for the day). I have a lot of trouble meeting my calorie goal. I'm not sure why... I just don't feel hungry most times. The reason I'm overweight to begin with is because I used to eat when I wasn't hungry...out of boredom and I don't want to go back to that so now I have trouble getting in 1200 calories. I think cardio is a bad idea for me until I'm able to meet my calorie goal on a more consistent basis. I don't want to end up hurting myself. I really felt like I was just going to fall over.. So for now I may just have to do some strength training so I don't lose too much LBM and fit in some cardio when I think I feel well enough for it. Does anyone have any suggestions or input?

So is it wise to cut out cardio for now and just focus on some light strength training?

there's a lot going on here. What time of the day did you work out? In the evening?

That would mean that you only ate 241 calories for the entire day, and then tried to do a workout? No. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. You need to fuel your body to continue living, AND you need to fuel your workouts. I COMPLETELY understand eating due to boredom or whatever.... but you need to get a grip on your eating to make sure that it's not TOO LITTLE, and not TOO MUCH. "In all things, find the middle path." - paraphrased from Buddhism.

If you're having too much trouble balancing eating and exercise, DROP THE EXERCISE FOR NOW. Get control of your fork first. I find that when people make big changes all at once, they fail more often than if they break it into small changes.

My advice: Take a month, get a grip on your eating. Make sure that you're making the choices during the day to hit your calorie target. No more, no less (within reason. You don't need to go slicing grapes in half to find that last 3 calories or whatever)

Once you've got control on how much energy you're taking INTO your body, you can start controlling how much you're spending.

It's a process. You're not going to "miss out" on anything by taking it slow and making sure you master each step.

OR

shortie_sarah · June 2013

there's a lot going on here. What time of the day did you work out? In the evening?

That would mean that you only ate 241 calories for the entire day, and then tried to do a workout? No. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. You need to fuel your body to continue living, AND you need to fuel your workouts. I COMPLETELY understand eating due to boredom or whatever.... but you need to get a grip on your eating to make sure that it's not TOO LITTLE, and not TOO MUCH. "In all things, find the middle path." - paraphrased from Buddhism.

If you're having too much trouble balancing eating and exercise, DROP THE EXERCISE FOR NOW. Get control of your fork first. I find that when people make big changes all at once, they fail more often than if they break it into small changes.

My advice: Take a month, get a grip on your eating. Make sure that you're making the choices during the day to hit your calorie target. No more, no less (within reason. You don't need to go slicing grapes in half to find that last 3 calories or whatever)

Once you've got control on how much energy you're taking INTO your body, you can start controlling how much you're spending.

It's a process. You're not going to "miss out" on anything by taking it slow and making sure you master each step.

OR

Well, my schedule is all topsy turvy at the moment. My husband works strange hours so it has me on a strange pattern as well. The workout was around 2pm so I had 241 calories prior to that (it was a turkey bacon sandwich) and right after my episode of feeling faint-like I immediately ate something worth 360 calories. I felt better once that got into my system.

I understand trying to make a balance of things. I lost 13 pounds (i'm sure a lot was water) in just under 4 weeks through my deficit alone so I thought I was ready to add some exercise in the mix but I now realize that I need to first get a grip on my fork first, as you cleverly put it

Thanks for your input

deksgrl · June 2013

You don't have to do *intense* cardio to see results, you didn't say what type of cardio and what intensity you were doing.. Do a 20-30 minute brisk walk, 15 minute mile. I'm thinking this is less intense than whatever you were doing and shouldn't have the same effect.

shortie_sarah · June 2013

You don't have to do *intense* cardio to see results, you didn't say what type of cardio and what intensity you were doing.. Do a 20-30 minute brisk walk, 15 minute mile. I'm thinking this is less intense than whatever you were doing and shouldn't have the same effect.

It was the cardio portion of Power 90 by Tony Horton. Included some power yoga, jumping jacks, basically keep your feet busy stuff then you finish it out with different kicks and punches.

I would LOVE to use walking as my cardio but it's tough to get a sitter for my kids and I can't really bring them with me. Too young to keep up

mygrl4meee · June 2013

I think I know the feeling your talking about. I joined a running group and burned quite a few calories and then dinner was later than normal. I felt so drained and sick. It turns out that I had burned off everything I ate that day. Now I either am going to eat a little something before I run or right after I run. If you honestly feel you can't eat more then go for less of a workout.

PinkNinjaLaura · June 2013

You don't have to do *intense* cardio to see results, you didn't say what type of cardio and what intensity you were doing.. Do a 20-30 minute brisk walk, 15 minute mile. I'm thinking this is less intense than whatever you were doing and shouldn't have the same effect.

It was the cardio portion of Power 90 by Tony Horton. Included some power yoga, jumping jacks, basically keep your feet busy stuff then you finish it out with different kicks and punches.

I would LOVE to use walking as my cardio but it's tough to get a sitter for my kids and I can't really bring them with me. Too young to keep up

Power 90 is tough! Not sure how much cardio you were doing before, but that's a big jump if you weren't doing much. Try the Walk Away The Pounds DVDs by Leslie Sansone. You can do it in your home.

RoseDarrett · June 2013

I would LOVE to use walking as my cardio but it's tough to get a sitter for my kids and I can't really bring them with me. Too young to keep up

I take my kids in the double stroller all the time. Starting from when they were only a few months old. My youngest is 9 months and I have an almost three yr old. Both of them are used to it now. It's difficult to incorporate exercise especially with little ones. Find what works for you,but make sure you eat enough. I had to cut back on my cardio because I don't eat vey much. My deficit was always too high. I don't get very hungry in the evenings either. The only time I'm ravenous is during TOM. I put on pregnancy weight and after losing the 40 pounds I put on,I had to seriously stay on top of my eating. Make sure I met my 1200,I upped my calorie intake since then.

Good luck with everything. You're on the right track. Keep at it and right amounts of the right foods

endoftheside · June 2013

My first inclination in your situation would be to make sure you eat a substantive protein/carb snack an hour before your workout, and then another snack immediately following. You need to eat enough to support your workout, but I would push the eating, not drop the workout.

My hunger signals are totally messed up as well. I understand not wanting to eat if you are not hungry, but if your hunger signals are broken you cannot rely on them. The most extreme example I have was when I didn't eat for 10 days because I was sick (turned out to be pneumonia) and I wasn't "hungry". Trying to fight off an illness with no incoming nourishment almost landed me in the hospital. Since tracking my calories, I do my best not to net under my BMR, regardless of "hunger". Thinking back, I am not sure that "hunger" ever really was reliable for me, so I just do a workaround. Maybe things will change, but I am not counting on it.

shortie_sarah · June 2013

You don't have to do *intense* cardio to see results, you didn't say what type of cardio and what intensity you were doing.. Do a 20-30 minute brisk walk, 15 minute mile. I'm thinking this is less intense than whatever you were doing and shouldn't have the same effect.

It was the cardio portion of Power 90 by Tony Horton. Included some power yoga, jumping jacks, basically keep your feet busy stuff then you finish it out with different kicks and punches.

I would LOVE to use walking as my cardio but it's tough to get a sitter for my kids and I can't really bring them with me. Too young to keep up

Power 90 is tough! Not sure how much cardio you were doing before, but that's a big jump if you weren't doing much. Try the Walk Away The Pounds DVDs by Leslie Sansone. You can do it in your home.

Thanks for the recommendation on Leslie Sansone. I found some youtube videos that I may try

Is it wise to cut cardio for now?

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