Am I working out too much

SuperSaiyanGoddess86
SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
edited December 1 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello guys I was trying to see if I am working out to much. I go to the Y for 2 hrs in the morning and 2 at night 4-5 days a week. I do body pump, cycling, dance fusion, and HIIT each a hour class and sometimes I will get on the elliptical for a hour.

Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited April 2016
    In my opinion, that is too much for me. Is that too much for you? I don't know. I would be worried that you risk injury or burn-out. It seems excessive and it certainly isn't necessary. Eating at a calorie deficit causes weight loss, not exercise.

    I work out four to five days a week, approximately an hour each workout. Three of those days are weight lifting, Stronglifts 5X5, the other one to two days are cardio. I eat 1930 calories per day. I'm 41 years old, 5'9" and currently 177 lbs. I'm losing slowly, but steadily.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    4 hours of exercise a day? I sure hope you're eating enough to fuel that amount of activity. Pretty sure I would throw in the towel after about a week, but what's too much for one person may not be too much for another.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    4 hours a day, 4-5 times a week, does seem like a lot . . . especially if you aren't training for something specific. Is it crowding out other valuable activities (like work, other hobbies, socializing)? Are you doing it because you enjoy it?
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    You're doing more exercise in terms of hours per week than I did in training for various imperial century rides, Olympic distance duathlons and half marathons...
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"
  • JackieMarie1989jgw
    JackieMarie1989jgw Posts: 230 Member
    Seems like you could risk injury or burnout, like above poster said, especially if this is new to you.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"

    These really are the important questions.

    I might add, is this your long term plan or a weight loss plan?
  • ames105
    ames105 Posts: 288 Member
    I think its too much but I don't think we have all the info in which to form an opinion. Are you in training for something like a marathon? Or are you trying to lose weight quickly? Are you eating enough? Or do you feel tired, drained, lightheaded? Are you allowing your muscles a chance to rest and recover or are you doing this every day? I have been able to lose weight with 30 minutes per day of walking. I do another 30 minutes a day three times a week when I'm lifting. Any more is not enjoyable to me. Are you enjoying this workout schedule or is it interfering with your life, family, work, rest and responsibilities? I think its too much but ultimately, you know your goals and your body the best.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    Too much. Half of that would be a lot IMHO.

    For ref I do about 3hrs 45 of serious gym work and about 1 hour of messing about (playing with the kids, running, walking etc) per week.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Doesn't seem sustainable to me. You're also risking injury from working out so much.

    Can I ask why you're working out so much? How long have you been doing this for? Are you planning to keep this up forever? Are you eating enough to properly fuel these workouts?

    4 hours at the gym.... is alot of time.
  • AmberSpamber
    AmberSpamber Posts: 391 Member
    I want to be fit and healthy, but I also don't want to spend my whole life at the gym. When you spend that much time working out, you miss out on so much. You can still accomplish great results with less time. I know, because I have done it. To each his own though. It may work for you, but it sure as hell wouldn't work for me.
  • slsanderson
    slsanderson Posts: 1 Member
    I'm training for a competition and find myself doing 3-4 hours a day, about 3/4 days of the week, but this is with a sports-specific goal in mind; as such, I eat A LOT to fuel performance! If you're exercising for weight loss, I'd say cool it on the excessive cardio - focus on high intensity circuit training (for 30 mins or so) and strength training / body pump classes. Training twice in a day is good because you can break up strength and cardio, but an hour of each would be more than sufficient. Two hours a day is plenty!
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"

    These are excellent questions and we need to know more about the OP's training history certainly.

    However while she may feel terrific now that does not of course mean she will necessarily feel that way in the future as overuse injuries have a way of sneaking up on a person...

    I just hope this is not some Biggest Loser inspired nonsense which promotes the false idea that excessive volume of exercise is necessary or even productive for weight loss. Exercise is great. Too much, not so much.
  • heavy_heavy_lowlow
    heavy_heavy_lowlow Posts: 45 Member
    dang honestly.. i started at the gym going only 45 mins then leaving. after a week or 2 i went to an hour. now im at almost 2 hours. i was going everyday for about a month. Sunday-Monday sometimes twice a day maybe hour in morning and hour or a lil more after work at night. recently went had dizzy spells and fatigue while on the treadmill. i drank lots of water still pushed myself and did abs and elliptical for a mile. after that day i promised myself id take a day off. sometimes 2. so i now go monday,tuesday. take Wednesday off. go thursday. take friday off. and go Saturday and sunday. i feel way refreshed having those days off. but good luck to u. dont wreck your body. u may feel good now but ur body will shut down when its exhausted.
  • heavy_heavy_lowlow
    heavy_heavy_lowlow Posts: 45 Member
    dang honestly.. i started at the gym going only 45 mins then leaving. after a week or 2 i went to an hour. now im at almost 2 hours. i was going everyday for about a month. 7 days a week sometimes twice a day maybe hour in morning and hour or a lil more after work at night. recently went had dizzy spells and fatigue while on the treadmill. i drank lots of water still pushed myself and did abs and elliptical for a mile. after that day i promised myself id take a day off. sometimes 2. so i now go monday,tuesday. take Wednesday off. go thursday. take friday off. and go Saturday and sunday. i feel way refreshed having those days off. but good luck to u. dont wreck your body. u may feel good now but ur body will shut down when its exhausted.

  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    msf74 wrote: »
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"

    These are excellent questions and we need to know more about the OP's training history certainly.

    However while she may feel terrific now that does not of course mean she will necessarily feel that way in the future as overuse injuries have a way of sneaking up on a person...

    I just hope this is not some Biggest Loser inspired nonsense which promotes the false idea that excessive volume of exercise is necessary or even productive for weight loss. Exercise is great. Too much, not so much.

    Agreed. For me, 16-20 hours a week is too much. I do about 3-5 hours of working out a week, depending on what my schedule can accommodate. This week, I can only do 3 hours, next week I may be able to get to the 4-5 hours. I really hope you're eating enough to sustain this level of activity.

    Other questions to ask yourself, do you think you can sustain this long term? How does your body feel over all? How do you feel mentally? Are you getting dizzy or lightheaded? Are you constantly sore? How are your joints and muscles feeling?

    I'm worried you're going to burn yourself out or injure yourself.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    jdhcm2006 wrote: »
    msf74 wrote: »
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"

    These are excellent questions and we need to know more about the OP's training history certainly.

    However while she may feel terrific now that does not of course mean she will necessarily feel that way in the future as overuse injuries have a way of sneaking up on a person...

    I just hope this is not some Biggest Loser inspired nonsense which promotes the false idea that excessive volume of exercise is necessary or even productive for weight loss. Exercise is great. Too much, not so much.

    Agreed. For me, 16-20 hours a week is too much. I do about 3-5 hours of working out a week, depending on what my schedule can accommodate. This week, I can only do 3 hours, next week I may be able to get to the 4-5 hours. I really hope you're eating enough to sustain this level of activity.

    Other questions to ask yourself, do you think you can sustain this long term? How does your body feel over all? How do you feel mentally? Are you getting dizzy or lightheaded? Are you constantly sore? How are your joints and muscles feeling?

    I'm worried you're going to burn yourself out or injure yourself.

    Hey I have been doing this for almost a month now and I feel perfectly fine. I rest on thursdays and sundays. To answer your other questions. Yes I think I can do it for a long time. I do not get dizzy or lightheaded I stay hydrated. My legs and joints feel good except for my but I just started cycling so getting use to the seat.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    msf74 wrote: »
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"

    These are excellent questions and we need to know more about the OP's training history certainly.

    However while she may feel terrific now that does not of course mean she will necessarily feel that way in the future as overuse injuries have a way of sneaking up on a person...

    I just hope this is not some Biggest Loser inspired nonsense which promotes the false idea that excessive volume of exercise is necessary or even productive for weight loss. Exercise is great. Too much, not so much.

    NO I do not watch biggest loser dont know what they do on that show I just like working out.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    I'm training for a competition and find myself doing 3-4 hours a day, about 3/4 days of the week, but this is with a sports-specific goal in mind; as such, I eat A LOT to fuel performance! If you're exercising for weight loss, I'd say cool it on the excessive cardio - focus on high intensity circuit training (for 30 mins or so) and strength training / body pump classes. Training twice in a day is good because you can break up strength and cardio, but an hour of each would be more than sufficient. Two hours a day is plenty!

    Thanks I do HIIt 4 times a week and body pump 3 times a week and cardio about 4 times a week.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    I want to be fit and healthy, but I also don't want to spend my whole life at the gym. When you spend that much time working out, you miss out on so much. You can still accomplish great results with less time. I know, because I have done it. To each his own though. It may work for you, but it sure as hell wouldn't work for me.

    Thanks Amber Yeah I have time to spend with my fiance and kids and I am off work for the remainder of school year plus summer so I have nothing else to do.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    4 hours a day, 4-5 times a week, does seem like a lot . . . especially if you aren't training for something specific. Is it crowding out other valuable activities (like work, other hobbies, socializing)? Are you doing it because you enjoy it?

    Hey Janejellyroll. Love your name by the way and I am doing it because I enjoy it. I am off work till school starts back in August I don't like friends, I socialize at the gym and I spend alot of time with my kids and fiance I go to the gym while hes at work and the kids are in school and I go back when they go to bed for 2 more hours.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"

    1 month and counting and I feel great. I feel lazy if I miss 1 day of working out. Before I was going to the gym 6 days a week for about an hour then I would come home and get on the WII or do jillian michaels but it got boring.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    ladyjaye25 wrote: »
    4 hours a day, 4-5 times a week, does seem like a lot . . . especially if you aren't training for something specific. Is it crowding out other valuable activities (like work, other hobbies, socializing)? Are you doing it because you enjoy it?

    Hey Janejellyroll. Love your name by the way and I am doing it because I enjoy it. I am off work till school starts back in August I don't like friends, I socialize at the gym and I spend alot of time with my kids and fiance I go to the gym while hes at work and the kids are in school and I go back when they go to bed for 2 more hours.

    As long as you enjoy it and your body feels good (that is, no injuries), I don't see the problem with being passionate about fitness. I mean, it's a lot of exercising -- but if you get sick of it, you can always do less. Just listen to your body. :)
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    ladyjaye25 wrote: »
    jdhcm2006 wrote: »
    msf74 wrote: »
    Well, the questions I would ask are, "How long have you been able to sustain this amount of activity?" and, "How do you feel?"

    These are excellent questions and we need to know more about the OP's training history certainly.

    However while she may feel terrific now that does not of course mean she will necessarily feel that way in the future as overuse injuries have a way of sneaking up on a person...

    I just hope this is not some Biggest Loser inspired nonsense which promotes the false idea that excessive volume of exercise is necessary or even productive for weight loss. Exercise is great. Too much, not so much.

    Agreed. For me, 16-20 hours a week is too much. I do about 3-5 hours of working out a week, depending on what my schedule can accommodate. This week, I can only do 3 hours, next week I may be able to get to the 4-5 hours. I really hope you're eating enough to sustain this level of activity.

    Other questions to ask yourself, do you think you can sustain this long term? How does your body feel over all? How do you feel mentally? Are you getting dizzy or lightheaded? Are you constantly sore? How are your joints and muscles feeling?

    I'm worried you're going to burn yourself out or injure yourself.

    Hey I have been doing this for almost a month now and I feel perfectly fine. I rest on thursdays and sundays. To answer your other questions. Yes I think I can do it for a long time. I do not get dizzy or lightheaded I stay hydrated. My legs and joints feel good except for my but I just started cycling so getting use to the seat.

    That's good to hear.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    Seems like you could risk injury or burnout, like above poster said, especially if this is new to you.

    Thanks Jackie its not new to me I have been doing this off and on for 3 years no injuries yet. Knock on wood.I do get tired but I am not working so I sleep at least 10 hrs a day in intervals.
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    ladyjaye25 wrote: »
    4 hours a day, 4-5 times a week, does seem like a lot . . . especially if you aren't training for something specific. Is it crowding out other valuable activities (like work, other hobbies, socializing)? Are you doing it because you enjoy it?
    ladyjaye25 wrote: »
    4 hours a day, 4-5 times a week, does seem like a lot . . . especially if you aren't training for something specific. Is it crowding out other valuable activities (like work, other hobbies, socializing)? Are you doing it because you enjoy it?

    Hey Janejellyroll. Love your name by the way and I am doing it because I enjoy it. I am off work till school starts back in August I don't like friends, I socialize at the gym and I spend alot of time with my kids and fiance I go to the gym while hes at work and the kids are in school and I go back when they go to bed for 2 more hours.

    As long as you enjoy it and your body feels good (that is, no injuries), I don't see the problem with being passionate about fitness. I mean, it's a lot of exercising -- but if you get sick of it, you can always do less. Just listen to your body. :)

    Thanks. I just had to ask one lady was like I see you here all day. I told her about my workout routine and she was like it was to much but my dance instructor who also teaches pump, and cycling said it was fine she teacher 5-6 hour classes a day starting at 5:30 am and she says if she can do it we can do it.
  • sarochka85
    sarochka85 Posts: 103 Member
    I think I would be bored stiff.

    Are you sure you are working hard enough?
  • SuperSaiyanGoddess86
    SuperSaiyanGoddess86 Posts: 84 Member
    sarochka85 wrote: »
    I think I would be bored stiff.

    Are you sure you are working hard enough?

    oh yeah im working hard in ever class unless it starts to really hurt then I modify but im not bored because I enjoy working out.
This discussion has been closed.