Can you exercise too much?

JintyS1906
JintyS1906 Posts: 6 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Please help me -I am 55 years old, 5ft 7 female and I am trying to lose @ 7lbs to get back to my Weight Watchers GW of 10st 13
I have been exercising faithfully, increasing it by quite a bitover the last few months. I am putting ON weight rather than losing it, despite having a calorie deficit every day on MFP. In addition to walking for 60 mins a day with my dog, I do as follows:
Monday: Pilates 60m Metafit 30mins Body Balance 45 mins
Tuesday: Spinning 45m Piloxing 60mins
Wed: Body Pump 45m Circuits 60m
Thurs: Rest
Friday: Gym programme 60mins cardio?weights or running for 60mins
Sat Spinning 45mins Boxercise 60mins
Sun Rest
The majority of these workouts are back to back classes
I have a compromised immune system due to drugs I take for Crohns Disease and I am also on long term meds post breast cancer treatment. I am pretty tired after all that and tend to crash after it but Im afraid to give anything up! My sleep pattern is rubbish too.
I hope some one can help as I am at my wits' ens and ready to through the towel in and bury myself in a massive cream bun! ( only joking)

Replies

  • Barbonica
    Barbonica Posts: 337 Member
    Everyone is different, but if you are not losing, you are over estimating calories burned or underestimating calories consumed. Probably the former. Mfp overestimated calories burned. My personal opinion (based on no facts) is that mfp gives you burn if you were working at 100% for the entire workout. No one can do that. To lose weight, you need a deficit. That is best done by reducing caloric intake.

    I am 52 YO woman, and working on my last 10 to 15 pounds to goal. To date, I have lost 63 #. I lift weights (heavy) 4 times a week, cardio 2 to 4 times a week, and rest at least once a week. Part of my routine is a 30 minute walk mid-day. Lifting is usually 60 to 90 minutes (including warm-up and stretch), cardio is usually 20 to 30 minutes (but I do try for a longer run once a week). I have worked up to this schedule over the past 3.5 years. So, no, I don't think you are exercising too much if your fitness level is high. But, if you are hungry, cranky, have no energy l2 hours after working out and eating, then you are probably doing more than you are ready for. Feel free to peruse my diary, and friends me if you would like. Hang in there, you can do it!

    Btw, glad you are on the recovery side. My sister just achieved enough hair growth to get rid of the wig after chemo from breast cancer. I saw how hard that road has been. Be kind to your body, it has been through a lot. Go you!
  • TJP_
    TJP_ Posts: 49 Member
    9.5 hours of exercise a week, plus 7 hours of dog walking? Wow.

    If you're gaining weight then you're not eating in a defecit so you need to review your calorie tracking.
  • engodwin
    engodwin Posts: 516 Member
    Building muscle perhaps? What do your non scale numbers look like? Are you losing inches?
  • Lofteren
    Lofteren Posts: 960 Member
    Considering that you have a compromised immune system, overreaching in your training is not a wise decision. Slow and steady wins the race. I would also argue that with the types of exercise you are doing, you have surpassed the threshold of diminishing returns with the volume of training you do. In a nutshell, you're doing so much that you aren't going to stimulate an adaptation from a majority of it; you may actually be hindering the adaptation stimulated by the more productive sessions that you perform. Streamline it to what is important and you'll start to see improvements in your physique, performance and health.
  • JintyS1906
    JintyS1906 Posts: 6 Member
    Thank you all for taking the time to reply and for your input. What you are all sayng makes sense, but I can promise you I am tracking my food honestly- I think I am not eating enough protein. My BMI is 24.5 body fat 28% water 52% if that helps, I fit into a size 12 ( i used to be an 18)
    i was at the breast cancer clinic today, I am on long term hormone treatment, and spoke to my doctor about it. Basically he said that while I am on these meds, I am fighting a very tough battle in trying to lose weight. He also didn't think I was fat! So maybe I should content myself trying to eat well, feel well and lose if possible. I am fitter than Ive ever been and still here to tell the tale!
    Lofteren really interested in your comments re the immune system. I am going to tweak my classes, stop doing back to back classes maybe.
    Thank you all again - Barbonica best wishes for your sister, glad shes through the chemo xx
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Yes you can exercise too much. That's going to vary enormously from person to person though.
    You can also rest too little. With your health issues and also poor sleep it's perfectly possible you are "exercising too much".
    Unfortunately age is also a factor - recovery does take longer (I'm 54 so well aware that exercise and recovery in your 50's is different).
    I've made the mistake of "pushing through" and eventually your progress stalls or you get injured. Determination can be a double edged sword. Quality of training is equally as important as quantity.
    An easy (or deload) week once in a while can make an enormous difference by the way.

    Weight is just part of the health and happiness jigsaw, maybe a spell maintaining (deliberately) will refresh you physically and mentally?

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