How much/often do you exercise?

More exercise isn't always better. Sometimes less is more

"how much/how long/how often do you exercise?"

Cardio 5-6 days a week, about a half hour per session. I used to only do cardio 2x a week at higher intensity and for a longer duration but it's much nicer being able to do the former.

"What kind of exercise(s) do you do?"

Stair-running + MMA (sparring/bag work)

"Do you exercise solely to eat more food, or do you do it for other reasons as well?"

Both to be able to eat more food and to maintain physique/composition.

"At what point do you think it becomes an obsession?"

When I'm not listening to my body and put on mileage or restrict food beyond what's necessary.

I'm active daily. I do 45 mins circuit training 4-6 times a week, hour of yoga 3-5 times a week (a mix of yin and power), walks and jogging 2-3 times a week for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours each session. I have 1-2 rest days per week where I do gentle yoga and walk, the rest of the days I train at a relatively high intensity.

I don't think it's an obsession. It's a hobby/way of life which brings me enjoyment and lots of benefits - physical and mental!.

I do about 80 minutes of active "exercise" a day. Typically, it's me walking around the house while doing nursing readings (especially if it takes 40-60 minutes to thoroughly read one chapter in some of my nursing books) or walking on a treadmill at my university's gym if I'm up on campus. Since classes started, I'm averaging 15-17,000 steps (I managed to get 18K yesterday), with 8-10K being from purposeful "exercise"/walking while crying about nursing school. I'm constantly running around while at school (I realized a few days ago that a round trip from the nursing building to my preferred student center to eat lunch -of course, it's across campus- and back to the nursing building is about 2.5K steps), which also really helps to boost my step count.

My main goal is to get about 13,000 steps per day. Doing so gives me a TDEE of about 2000 calories, which gives me a lot more options for food choices while in maintenance (if I was on my butt all day, I would only maintain at 1400-1450).

Congrats on hitting maintenance!

I'm active everyday. Sometimes twice a day. Fast walking, lifting, Pilates, exercise dvd's, jump roping, body weight exercises, ice skating, volleyball, tennis and I'm always willing to try new sports and activities.

I only take a complete rest day when it's needed, which is not often since I only do moderate workouts and I am in great shape.

I average around 2200 calories. Some days more, other days less. I love what being active and eating has done for my figure and my health.

I'm often told I'm addicted to exercise, but if it's wrong then I don't want to be right!

Lately, SL 2x a week and roller derby practice 2 hrs 2x a week.

Walking- at least 3 times a week, up to 90 minutes a walk. And before anyone leaps in about how walking isn't exercise, uhm, yeah, it is. I'm up to 6 miles, headed for 6.5 on my distance days and just broke 15 minutes a mile on my 'short and fast' days (short is 4 miles). I'm starting to incorporate jogging, hoping to get up to a 5k at a jog, but knee pain is holding me back. (Ortho appt. on March 3rd. Fingers crossed for good news.)

Swimming- Used to be three times a week, alternated with walking, but I can't state enough how much I hate the new owners of our gym and the way they manage the pool. Probably will end my gym membership and go back to swimming at the Boys & Girls Club. More expensive but at least it's clean and the people are polite. Upped my hula hoop workout to 40 minute instead,

Strength-Training- Three times a week, usually incorporated with my hula-hooping. 40 minutes hooping, 30 minutes weight training. I have adjustable weight dumbbells that I'm getting back into using, but honestly, I prefer my resistance bands and strap-on style arm and leg weights for weight training because it doesn't just feel like I'm 'pumping iron', I'm getting more of a full-body workout. Plus the strap-on arm weights don't put pressure on my wrists. (I have tendinitis and need my wrists to type for work.)

Honestly, I started walking to help with weight loss, but what I've seen is that my blood pressure readings have, for the most part, fallen out of the "Pre-hypertension" range for the first time in probably 3 years. I read three times a day, and now, maybe 1/3rd of those readings are in the 120's/over 70's range, but the rest are all solidly below that. After years of my doctor nagging me to reduce sodium, and eating low sodium? If I'd realized all it would take was some walking, I would have been walking my little legs off!

After talking to a trainer, I cut down 2+ hours a day to an hour, or just 45 minutes. I'm not doing an excessive amount of cardio, and there's tons of variety in my workout which helps. I'm usually in the gym at least 6 to 7 days a week though, and I find that my current routine is much easier to fit into my schedule (which can be insanely at times). I try eat at maintenance, or just a little bit below. I have about one cheat day per week, and I've been able to maintain quite well.

You have to do what works for you, though.

Last week my total exercise was 9 hours 17 minutes. I try to workout everyday, but it's not always possible. I don't count cleaning, walking, playing with my kids or gardening.

I'm also new to maintenance. My life responsibilities (and some pesky minor injuries) didn't allow more than 1-2 karate classes a week and walking for 30 minutes 1-2 times a week during my losing phase. I don't expect any big changes to my activity levels now that I have switched to maintenance. For comparison, I also didn't have a lot to lose.

Every day 60 minutes cardio ( walking/jogging)
And i teach twice a week Body-Robics for 60 minutes
plus 30 minutes elliptical

vixtris wrote: »

So, for those who are maintaining, how much/how long/how often do you exercise? What kind of exercise(s) do you do?

Every day I go for a walk of about an hour. Every other day, I do weightlifting (full-body routine) which takes about an hour. About once a week I'll go sprinting. I don't do any deliberate endurance training.

What is your daily calorie intake for maintenance?

About 2300 or so.

Do you exercise solely to eat more food, or do you do it for other reasons as well?

This is a somewhat alarming question.

I exercise for my health. I think "doing cardio" to "burn calories" is a really bad idea. Why not just eat less in the first place? Don't grind the body down for no purpose other than to make up for overeating.

At what point do you think it becomes an obsession?

When it doesn't make sense. Exercise is pretty boring; I do it because it's important but am happy to get it over with.

I work out 5 times a week.

Mon: Rest day
Tues: Shoulders & cardio (30 minutes elliptical/jogging)
Wed: Cardio (1 hour ZUMBA!!!), and alternating strength training
Thurs: Arms, abs & Cardio (30 minutes)
Fri: Rest day
Sat: Chest & Cardio (30 minutes)
Sun: LEGS DAY!

Start running. A 10K run burns 700 calories for me. That's only an hour. It's a way to get in excellent cardiovascular exercise and to burn a high amt of calories in a shorter time.

mommarnurse wrote: »

jsidel126 wrote: »

I don't have time to exercise. I watch my caloric intake by logging the food I consume. I have been losing weight since I started this experiment. Keep your calories in check and you can lose/maintain your weight.

This is very true.
For me though, I enjoy being able to eat much more because I exercise. Haha.

I do also feel it's important to be physically active. It's a huge stress reliever in my life.

Also, slightly overweight and active trumps thin and idle, health-wise. A very restricted diet is the fastest way to lose weight for sure, but it's not good for your body, and not good thinking either... I can pretty easily drop below a healthy BMI by working out less and not eating much, and my mind still pulls toward that sometimes. Staying fit and feeling firm and strong helps to offset the unhealthy thinking patterns.