Anyone have any results working out two hours or day

2

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Tiffanyisalibra wrote: »
    Anyone lose weight working out 2 hours a day everyday ? Or more ? How much weight did you lose and how many calories did you eat per day ?

    On my long runs I will be running for 2 hours plus... it makes me rungry!
  • Ann262
    Ann262 Posts: 266 Member
    The original poster hasn't been back to answer clarifying questions. What does she mean by "2 hours of working out" each day? I have trained for and run 25 marathons so I have certainly exercised (run) for more than 2 hours at a time. I have to say that setting aside 2 hours out of every day to "workout" wouldn't be sustainable long term. If she means being active at least 2 hours per day, that's different. Another factor to consider is the person's fitness/activity level to start with.
  • kakaovanilya
    kakaovanilya Posts: 647 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    kakaovanilya wrote: »
    Isn't two hours exercise too much?

    Nope.

    2 hours on a bike is just getting warmed up...

    :o
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,692 Member
    My past week ...

    Nov 18 - 162.3 km cycling (507 min) ... November Century!! ...That's about 8.5 hours.
    Nov 19 - 3.2 km walking (40 min)
    Nov 20 - 7.1 km walking (88 min)
    Nov 21 - 7.6 km walking (95 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min) ... Total: 1 h 43 min
    Nov 22 - 10.9 km walking (136 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min) ... Total: 2 h 24 min
    Nov 23 - 11 km walking (137 min) + 12 flights of stairs (9 min) ... Total: 2 h 26 min
    Nov 24 - 7.6 km walking (95 min) + 14 flights of stairs (11 min) ... Total: 1 h 46 min
    Nov 25 - 50 km cycling (148 min) + 1.6 km walking (20 min) ... Total: 2 h 48 min

    That's 1302 min in 8 days ... 162.75 min per day or 2 hours and 43 minutes a day on average. And that's nothing out of the ordinary for me. :)

    Unfortunately, exercising that little only allows me to maintain my weight. If I want to lose weight, I have to increase my exercise quantity or eat less.


    Incidentally, regarding the November Century ... my husband and I have been cycling one 100-mile ride each month of the year since January. I've done this in 2003, 2005, 2006, missed it by one month in 2008, and 2011. It's called a CAM (Century-A-Month) Challenge.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited November 2017
    Tiffanyisalibra wrote: »
    Anyone have any results doing cardio for two hours or more than two hours . What was your weight loss results ? How many calories did you eat .

    So many questions I have.

    Is this walking? Running? An indoor cardio machine of some sort?

    Are you doing 2+ hours and not losing weight? Are you doing this every single day? Are you using 2+ hours of cardio to try and create your calorie deficit? How many calories are you eating? etc etc etc

    Case in point here, hoping that unless a person is an excessive exerciser or is abusing exercise in some way for weight loss, doing cardio for 2+ hours would be specifically for fitness related or specified training goals like long distance running, cycling etc...
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited November 2017
    Going from largely sedentary to 2 hours of intense-ish cardio per day is not realistic. Obviously some trained people do that much per day and more (although I'd think they'd also need to fit in some rest days).

    If someone is largely sedentary, adding in 2 hours of less intense exercise, like walking, could be extremely helpful, but even there I'd work up -- going from nothing to 2 hours is a LOT of time for most people and strikes me as risking burn out.

    If one loves working out (or one's sport) that much, I think it's a great thing to do, but it may (or may not) be useful for weight loss -- IMO, controlling one's diet is the first and most significant thing, and if OP is hoping not to have to do that I think she's on the wrong track. And if OP thinks that there are weight loss benefits to exercising that much or that it's necessary, that's also wrong.

    For person experience, the most intense exercise I've ever done was when I was training for a half ironman in 2015, and I did do 2 hours or more of somewhat intense exercise most days (I had an active rest day every week). That level of exercise made it impossible for me to control my calories, and I did not lose any weight (I probably even managed to gain a bit). On the other hand, I've generally been able to lose some training for half marathons or when I first did an olympic distance tri and trained for that.

    The best exercise program for losing weight for me was when I was riding my bike a ton but not in a way I perceived as super intense.
  • beesareyellow
    beesareyellow Posts: 335 Member
    In the summer months I cycle 50kms 2-3 times a week and 30 kms twice a week. I do this because it really is fun and we have some very interesting and scenic bike paths along the river and through trails. This is coupled with strength training a few times a week. This ends up averaging about two or so hours a day. Did I lose weight? Sure, but only because I was in a caloric deficit. I had a few weeks at the beginning of the season where I actually gained because I was sooo hungry. This is normal for me. Now that winter has hit, I have to be more mindful of my eating as there is no way in hell I'm going to bike indoors for 2 hours, how boring is that!
    I could just as easily do nothing and keep the same deficit and lose at the same rate.
    All this to say I exercise for health and fun and eat at a deficit for weightloss. Also exercise lets me eat way more food so thats another reason I do it.
  • kakaovanilya
    kakaovanilya Posts: 647 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    My past week ...

    Nov 18 - 162.3 km cycling (507 min) ... November Century!! ...That's about 8.5 hours.
    Nov 19 - 3.2 km walking (40 min)
    Nov 20 - 7.1 km walking (88 min)
    Nov 21 - 7.6 km walking (95 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min) ... Total: 1 h 43 min
    Nov 22 - 10.9 km walking (136 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min) ... Total: 2 h 24 min
    Nov 23 - 11 km walking (137 min) + 12 flights of stairs (9 min) ... Total: 2 h 26 min
    Nov 24 - 7.6 km walking (95 min) + 14 flights of stairs (11 min) ... Total: 1 h 46 min
    Nov 25 - 50 km cycling (148 min) + 1.6 km walking (20 min) ... Total: 2 h 48 min

    That's 1302 min in 8 days ... 162.75 min per day or 2 hours and 43 minutes a day on average. And that's nothing out of the ordinary for me. :)

    Unfortunately, exercising that little only allows me to maintain my weight. If I want to lose weight, I have to increase my exercise quantity or eat less.


    Incidentally, regarding the November Century ... my husband and I have been cycling one 100-mile ride each month of the year since January. I've done this in 2003, 2005, 2006, missed it by one month in 2008, and 2011. It's called a CAM (Century-A-Month) Challenge.

    Wow. I could have never been that active. What is your age & height & weight?
  • tess5036
    tess5036 Posts: 942 Member
    I quite often do two hours at the gym, the outcome is I am much healthier. I do cardio and weights. I am loosing weight as well, but that is down to the calorie deficit. The gym does help with keeping that deficit, but it's not the main benefit.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,692 Member
    kakaovanilya wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    My past week ...

    Nov 18 - 162.3 km cycling (507 min) ... November Century!! ...That's about 8.5 hours.
    Nov 19 - 3.2 km walking (40 min)
    Nov 20 - 7.1 km walking (88 min)
    Nov 21 - 7.6 km walking (95 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min) ... Total: 1 h 43 min
    Nov 22 - 10.9 km walking (136 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min) ... Total: 2 h 24 min
    Nov 23 - 11 km walking (137 min) + 12 flights of stairs (9 min) ... Total: 2 h 26 min
    Nov 24 - 7.6 km walking (95 min) + 14 flights of stairs (11 min) ... Total: 1 h 46 min
    Nov 25 - 50 km cycling (148 min) + 1.6 km walking (20 min) ... Total: 2 h 48 min

    That's 1302 min in 8 days ... 162.75 min per day or 2 hours and 43 minutes a day on average. And that's nothing out of the ordinary for me. :)

    Unfortunately, exercising that little only allows me to maintain my weight. If I want to lose weight, I have to increase my exercise quantity or eat less.


    Incidentally, regarding the November Century ... my husband and I have been cycling one 100-mile ride each month of the year since January. I've done this in 2003, 2005, 2006, missed it by one month in 2008, and 2011. It's called a CAM (Century-A-Month) Challenge.

    Wow. I could have never been that active. What is your age & height & weight?

    You've got to build up to it. I've always been active, since I could first crawl, but I really started deliberately including exercise in my day in 1990 and have kept it up ever since.

    I'm 50 and am within my normal BMI range. I had slid into overweight at the end of 2014, and lost the weight in 2015. I'm not as active as I was in my early 30s, but I am gradually building up to that again.

    On page 1 of this challenge, I've listed my hours of exercise since I started with MFP.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10606853/november-2017-walk-jog-run-bike-steps-challenge/p1

    But back in 1990, I was walking several km each day, but then one day decided to add cycling. I had done a lot of cycling until about the age of 17 and then stopped for a while. So April 29,1990, I hopped on the bicycle again hoping to go for a decent ride ... and managed 2 miles. Plus I had to take a break after the first mile.

    By the end of that summer, I had built up to a 50 mile ride. In 1994, I cycled my first century (100 mile ride). And I've done a whole lot of long distance cycling (centuries and longer) since then.

    If you'd suggested the length of rides I do now to me on April 29,1990 ... I would have laughed. I would never thought it possible. But it's just one step at a time, gradually building up, and next thing you know ... :)
  • JessicaMcB
    JessicaMcB Posts: 1,503 Member
    OP 2 hours a day is so not necessary to losing weight. I lost the bulk of mine before I could even run a sustained 5k. Calorie deficit through diet for weight loss, exercise for enriching your life imho.

    Also I just wanted to echo @Machka9 that while being conditioned to a 2+ hour a day cardio load before taking it on is vital, that it isn't anything crazy :/ . I love to run so I prioritize that in my busy life. This is just my copy and pasted running log from the November Running Challenge thread (I run long tomorrow thus the two consecutive off days), I walk so much between carting my kids around town and running errands I don't even bother tracking that- laziness on my part I guess haha! Definitely want to be like @Machka9 when (if?) I grow up and stay very active for life :)


    November 1- 18+8
    November 2- 22
    November 3- 20
    November 4- 42
    November 5- 20
    November 6- 18
    November 7- 18
    November 8- 19
    November 9- 18
    November 10- 28+6
    November 11- 38
    November 12- 20
    November 13- Off
    November 14- 19
    November 15- 19
    November 16- 24
    November 17- 25
    November 18- 52
    November 19- 23
    November 20- 22+10
    November 21- 14+8
    November 22- 20
    November 23- 15+7
    November 24- Off
    November 25- Off

    553/500km
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    I worked out for 2 hours today because I ran 11 miles in training for a half marathon.
  • lucerorojo
    lucerorojo Posts: 790 Member
    It really depends on diet. I'm 52, and I would say for 30 years of my life I did 2 hours (at least of exercise per day) and did not lose weight. I wasn't doing it to lose weight. I would run 4 miles each morning, and then later in the day, ice skate, take a dance class (1.5 hours) or two, or swim for an hour. Look at all the college and pro athletes. Usually they are practicing at least 4 hours a day, 6-7 days a week and they do not lose weight. They maintain because they are eating at maintenance.

    You can burn off some calories with exercise. I usually will put in 11 hours of exercise per week now--including 6-7 hours of walking, swimming, cycling and zumba classes. With the exception of zumba, MFP says I burn about 400 calories in a day. I eat back most of my exercise calories. I have been losing 2 lbs. a week (SW: 237, CW: 206, GW:137) but I'm mostly losing because of 1000 calorie deficit coming from my eating. I just switched to 1 lb. per week, so I'm cutting back 500 cals in food, and will eat back less of my calories--probably 50-75%, for a while. Although today I ate them all back!

    As others have said, and I agree, you cannot depend on exercise to create the deficit. Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,692 Member
    lucerorojo wrote: »
    Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.

    Exercise as part of commute.
    Exercise during lunch hour.
    Get an extra hour or so in right after work.
    Weekends. :)

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,692 Member
    JessicaMcB wrote: »
    OP 2 hours a day is so not necessary to losing weight. I lost the bulk of mine before I could even run a sustained 5k. Calorie deficit through diet for weight loss, exercise for enriching your life imho.

    Also I just wanted to echo @Machka9 that while being conditioned to a 2+ hour a day cardio load before taking it on is vital, that it isn't anything crazy :/ . I love to run so I prioritize that in my busy life. This is just my copy and pasted running log from the November Running Challenge thread (I run long tomorrow thus the two consecutive off days), I walk so much between carting my kids around town and running errands I don't even bother tracking that- laziness on my part I guess haha! Definitely want to be like @Machka9 when (if?) I grow up and stay very active for life :)

    Thanks! :)

    I still don't feel like I've grown up! All the cycling and walking is just too much fun. :grin: Plus my husband is twelve years older than me (he's 62), works a physically active job 5+ days a week, and joins me on the evening and weekend cycling and walks. I look at him for inspiration!
  • ttreit
    ttreit Posts: 59 Member
    I used to hate the gym but now I love it. I walk, use the elliptical, lift, etc. I go at a pace that I enjoy and push myself to walk more miles or increase incline or lift more weight than I did last week. I just compete with myself. By starting small and going every day I find myself craving the gym, which I never in a million years thought would happen.

    You can lose weight doing nothing but eating at a deficit but you’re losing fat, water, and muscle and not necessarily becoming much more fit. If you work on fitness rather than just weight loss the weight comes off (probably more slowly) but you feel better in your day to day life. At least that’s my experience.

    It really comes down to what your goals are. There’s certainly nothing wrong with starting with a focus on weight loss but personally I think overall health and fitness is best. Two hours in the gym is awesome - just keep it fun because if you hate it you will quit.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I used to do between 90 and 150 minutes, 5 - 6 days per week, sometimes longer if I had a long bike ride, but I was supremely fit back then and it took me time to build up to it. At that times, I was doing cycling, running, walking, boxing, circuit training, stationary bike ... just about everything and it was a huge focus for me. I also had to eat an awful lot to fuel that amount of activity...which was enjoyable, but eventually, I did burn out. Now, I tend to just do 4 times per week of 60 - 90 minutes intense activity and 7-14k steps per day and eat considerably less.
  • DanishFeta
    DanishFeta Posts: 61 Member
    I need at least 90mins of walking per day just to relax. I only go past that if I'm enjoying my walk. I'd never try to do 2 hours of exercise just for calorie burn though, I can't imagine that would be enough to motivate me to continue it for that reason alone. But if you do it and you love doing it, then I'm not going to say don't.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lucerorojo wrote: »
    Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.

    Yet people have no problem working a job and plopping their butt on the couch for more than 2 hours a day of television, video games internet surfing, etc.

    Absolutely. People have time to do what they really want to do.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    I have had amazing results from working out less than two hours per week (while losing). For me it's all about quality vs. quantity.
  • lucerorojo
    lucerorojo Posts: 790 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lucerorojo wrote: »
    Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.

    Yet people have no problem working a job and plopping their butt on the couch for more than 2 hours a day of television, video games internet surfing, etc.

    Absolutely. People have time to do what they really want to do.

    Well, since I haven't watched TV since the 1970s and I'm one of the people who works out everyday, in spite of having 2 careers, 2 businesses and hobbies to boot, I can't claim to have ever plopped my butt on the couch for two hours a day! I wasn't even allowed to do that as a child except for Saturday morning cartoons!

    I can't speak for those people but I'll take your word for it that they exist and could fit it into their days by eliminating time on the couch!
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lucerorojo wrote: »
    Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.

    Yet people have no problem working a job and plopping their butt on the couch for more than 2 hours a day of television, video games internet surfing, etc.

    When people feel worn out or like they've had a stressful day, it's sometimes hard to get the energy/will to go exercise vs. a fast and immediate pleasure like just vegging or something they think of as relaxation and not just more work. Often they'd actually feel better (and even more relaxed) if they worked out to de-stress instead, but it's far less immediate and takes time before you realize that will be the result.

    I was thinking about this (oddly!) when running yesterday, because it was one of those runs where it took a couple of miles for the pleasure to kick in and although I was then really enjoying it my mind wanders when I run and I was thinking about how it's not surprising that people will choose quick ways to relax (TV, food, a drink) vs. exercise often. Even I have to talk myself into it sometimes, and I KNOW how much better it makes me feel.

    I totally understand (even if it's something I fight with in myself) why someone who gets up, does chores, commutes to a stressful or (sometimes) unpleasant or not liked job, commutes home, cooks, deals with kid stuff, whatever, may feel like their 2 free hours before bed need to be something fun or relaxing or social with the family and choose TV, vs. yet more work/chores (how they think of exercise).

    This is even assuming that you are correct about the people saying they lack time being the same ones who watch the TV and also assuming that working out is possible (you can watch TV when kids are asleep, but may not be able to go out to exercise or have a space where you can exercise indoors easily).

    I don't really see the point of being snotty or overly judgmental about people who are purely hypothetical anyway. If someone asks for how to find time or why or how to fit it in when they are tired, there are probably ways to be encouraging without suggesting that they must just be spending all their free time watching TV.

    (For example, for me that I can combine commuting and exercise often makes it way easier. I know not everyone is able to do that, so in that way I am lucky.)

    Agree with @TimothyFish people in general find time for what they want to do. Not snotty or judgmental at all. You don't need to exercise 2 hours a day, but do a few searches concerning the non-work time spent by the average US adult vs the exercise time, you can see what people are choosing to do.

    They are finding time to do what they want to do and it's generally a poor choice.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    I exercise an hr or 2 (and sometimes 3 or 4) a day (except on weekends when I usually rest) but I can also sit in front of the TV and computer 4-6 hrs (or more) a day too.

    It's what I do but yet I am as fit and healthy (perhaps even more) than people younger than my 67 years of age by any objective metric including but not limited to BP, cholesterol levels, blood glucose, BMI & BF%.

    There are a lot of ways to remain healthy and fit and they cannot necessarily be measured strictly in terms of one's net level activity or inactivity.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,692 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lucerorojo wrote: »
    Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.

    Yet people have no problem working a job and plopping their butt on the couch for more than 2 hours a day of television, video games internet surfing, etc.

    When people feel worn out or like they've had a stressful day, it's sometimes hard to get the energy/will to go exercise vs. a fast and immediate pleasure like just vegging or something they think of as relaxation and not just more work. Often they'd actually feel better (and even more relaxed) if they worked out to de-stress instead, but it's far less immediate and takes time before you realize that will be the result.

    I was thinking about this (oddly!) when running yesterday, because it was one of those runs where it took a couple of miles for the pleasure to kick in and although I was then really enjoying it my mind wanders when I run and I was thinking about how it's not surprising that people will choose quick ways to relax (TV, food, a drink) vs. exercise often. Even I have to talk myself into it sometimes, and I KNOW how much better it makes me feel.

    I totally understand (even if it's something I fight with in myself) why someone who gets up, does chores, commutes to a stressful or (sometimes) unpleasant or not liked job, commutes home, cooks, deals with kid stuff, whatever, may feel like their 2 free hours before bed need to be something fun or relaxing or social with the family and choose TV, vs. yet more work/chores (how they think of exercise).

    This is even assuming that you are correct about the people saying they lack time being the same ones who watch the TV and also assuming that working out is possible (you can watch TV when kids are asleep, but may not be able to go out to exercise or have a space where you can exercise indoors easily).

    I don't really see the point of being snotty or overly judgmental about people who are purely hypothetical anyway. If someone asks for how to find time or why or how to fit it in when they are tired, there are probably ways to be encouraging without suggesting that they must just be spending all their free time watching TV.

    (For example, for me that I can combine commuting and exercise often makes it way easier. I know not everyone is able to do that, so in that way I am lucky.)

    Agree with @TimothyFish people in general find time for what they want to do. Not snotty or judgmental at all. You don't need to exercise 2 hours a day, but do a few searches concerning the non-work time spent by the average US adult vs the exercise time, you can see what people are choosing to do.

    They are finding time to do what they want to do and it's generally a poor choice.

    It's all about your personal priorities.

    Being active has almost always been a priority for me. It's something I look forward to, especially when I've had a tough/stressful day. Those days when I work full-time, attend university part-time, and know that I'll have to be up till 2 am working on an assignment ... those are the days when I've got to get at least a brisk walk in there somewhere or I feel like I'm going to go crazy.

  • newheavensearth
    newheavensearth Posts: 870 Member
    I exercise up to 2 hrs a day, either all cardio divided into 2 sessions or 1 hr cardio/ weights and 1 hr "stress reliever cardio". I maintain or gain if I don't make a deficit.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lucerorojo wrote: »
    Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.

    Yet people have no problem working a job and plopping their butt on the couch for more than 2 hours a day of television, video games internet surfing, etc.

    When people feel worn out or like they've had a stressful day, it's sometimes hard to get the energy/will to go exercise vs. a fast and immediate pleasure like just vegging or something they think of as relaxation and not just more work. Often they'd actually feel better (and even more relaxed) if they worked out to de-stress instead, but it's far less immediate and takes time before you realize that will be the result.

    I was thinking about this (oddly!) when running yesterday, because it was one of those runs where it took a couple of miles for the pleasure to kick in and although I was then really enjoying it my mind wanders when I run and I was thinking about how it's not surprising that people will choose quick ways to relax (TV, food, a drink) vs. exercise often. Even I have to talk myself into it sometimes, and I KNOW how much better it makes me feel.

    I totally understand (even if it's something I fight with in myself) why someone who gets up, does chores, commutes to a stressful or (sometimes) unpleasant or not liked job, commutes home, cooks, deals with kid stuff, whatever, may feel like their 2 free hours before bed need to be something fun or relaxing or social with the family and choose TV, vs. yet more work/chores (how they think of exercise).

    This is even assuming that you are correct about the people saying they lack time being the same ones who watch the TV and also assuming that working out is possible (you can watch TV when kids are asleep, but may not be able to go out to exercise or have a space where you can exercise indoors easily).

    I don't really see the point of being snotty or overly judgmental about people who are purely hypothetical anyway. If someone asks for how to find time or why or how to fit it in when they are tired, there are probably ways to be encouraging without suggesting that they must just be spending all their free time watching TV.

    (For example, for me that I can combine commuting and exercise often makes it way easier. I know not everyone is able to do that, so in that way I am lucky.)

    Agree with @TimothyFish people in general find time for what they want to do. Not snotty or judgmental at all. You don't need to exercise 2 hours a day, but do a few searches concerning the non-work time spent by the average US adult vs the exercise time, you can see what people are choosing to do.

    They are finding time to do what they want to do and it's generally a poor choice.

    It's all about your personal priorities.

    Being active has almost always been a priority for me. It's something I look forward to, especially when I've had a tough/stressful day. Those days when I work full-time, attend university part-time, and know that I'll have to be up till 2 am working on an assignment ... those are the days when I've got to get at least a brisk walk in there somewhere or I feel like I'm going to go crazy.

    I think for many people that's true, but it may be a learned thing. I have past experience where I know if I've had a stressful day that exercise is a great way to de-stress and feel better (and good for my mental health long term), but when things are at their worst is exactly when it's the biggest struggle -- especially since I'm likely to be panicking and thinking I need to go to work extra early or cannot be away from my desk or (especially) to be at work until late into the evening. When I'm in the habit, it's possible to fit exercise into the day, and then my mental state is better, I deal with stress and that feeling of mental exhaustion better, and even feel like I have more hours in the day, am more efficient in general. But if I'm not in the habit getting myself to realize that and not to think "I'm so tired, I cannot" becomes much more difficult. And that's despite the fact that from past experience I KNOW it will be beneficial and make me feel better. This is why I think starting out and learning this can be so difficult.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,692 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    lucerorojo wrote: »
    Also, if one is working a job, it can be challenging to put in that many hours.

    Yet people have no problem working a job and plopping their butt on the couch for more than 2 hours a day of television, video games internet surfing, etc.

    When people feel worn out or like they've had a stressful day, it's sometimes hard to get the energy/will to go exercise vs. a fast and immediate pleasure like just vegging or something they think of as relaxation and not just more work. Often they'd actually feel better (and even more relaxed) if they worked out to de-stress instead, but it's far less immediate and takes time before you realize that will be the result.

    I was thinking about this (oddly!) when running yesterday, because it was one of those runs where it took a couple of miles for the pleasure to kick in and although I was then really enjoying it my mind wanders when I run and I was thinking about how it's not surprising that people will choose quick ways to relax (TV, food, a drink) vs. exercise often. Even I have to talk myself into it sometimes, and I KNOW how much better it makes me feel.

    I totally understand (even if it's something I fight with in myself) why someone who gets up, does chores, commutes to a stressful or (sometimes) unpleasant or not liked job, commutes home, cooks, deals with kid stuff, whatever, may feel like their 2 free hours before bed need to be something fun or relaxing or social with the family and choose TV, vs. yet more work/chores (how they think of exercise).

    This is even assuming that you are correct about the people saying they lack time being the same ones who watch the TV and also assuming that working out is possible (you can watch TV when kids are asleep, but may not be able to go out to exercise or have a space where you can exercise indoors easily).

    I don't really see the point of being snotty or overly judgmental about people who are purely hypothetical anyway. If someone asks for how to find time or why or how to fit it in when they are tired, there are probably ways to be encouraging without suggesting that they must just be spending all their free time watching TV.

    (For example, for me that I can combine commuting and exercise often makes it way easier. I know not everyone is able to do that, so in that way I am lucky.)

    Agree with @TimothyFish people in general find time for what they want to do. Not snotty or judgmental at all. You don't need to exercise 2 hours a day, but do a few searches concerning the non-work time spent by the average US adult vs the exercise time, you can see what people are choosing to do.

    They are finding time to do what they want to do and it's generally a poor choice.

    It's all about your personal priorities.

    Being active has almost always been a priority for me. It's something I look forward to, especially when I've had a tough/stressful day. Those days when I work full-time, attend university part-time, and know that I'll have to be up till 2 am working on an assignment ... those are the days when I've got to get at least a brisk walk in there somewhere or I feel like I'm going to go crazy.

    I think for many people that's true, but it may be a learned thing. I have past experience where I know if I've had a stressful day that exercise is a great way to de-stress and feel better (and good for my mental health long term), but when things are at their worst is exactly when it's the biggest struggle -- especially since I'm likely to be panicking and thinking I need to go to work extra early or cannot be away from my desk or (especially) to be at work until late into the evening. When I'm in the habit, it's possible to fit exercise into the day, and then my mental state is better, I deal with stress and that feeling of mental exhaustion better, and even feel like I have more hours in the day, am more efficient in general. But if I'm not in the habit getting myself to realize that and not to think "I'm so tired, I cannot" becomes much more difficult. And that's despite the fact that from past experience I KNOW it will be beneficial and make me feel better. This is why I think starting out and learning this can be so difficult.

    I actually find that getting away from whatever I'm doing for an hour or two or more is often more beneficial than sitting there trying to work on it.

    When I get on my bicycle, the first hour or so is me settling into a ride, and then starting the mind-dump. I just let my head go wherever it wants to go. Sometimes that takes the whole ride, especially if the ride is shorter, but it's a relief because I've thought about all those things that are nagging at me, so I can then focus on what I need to focus on.

    If the ride is longer (or the mind dump is shorter), then I go into the planning phase where I think about the assignment or projects I'm working on and sort everything out. And often I can come back, sit down, and just do the assignment or project because much of it is done in my head.

    Yet if I sat in front of the computer or wherever, I would just feel increasingly frustrated.


    My parents and grandparents are/were active, so I grew up being active ... I was probably fortunate to learn the benefits of being active from a very early age. :)
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