Has anyone done two workouts a day?

I am thinking of doing two workouts a day, one the morning and one in the evening. the morning one is a gym workout class of one hour and evening would be a run on my treadmill at home for about 45 mins (including warm up and cool down). Would there be any issues with this? I'm keen to kickstart the weight loss. I'd make it more of a 90 min one go but I have kids and need to work around them.

Replies

  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    A lot depends on your fitness level and workout intensity. (How fast will the treadmill be? Hill mode or incline? What kind of workout class?)

    My cardio is mostly walking; I shoot for 2 hours per day, but not necessarily all at once. Today I had to be downtown for an appointment. I walked both ways, 90 minutes each way with a roughly 90-minute rest in the middle. When I got home, I did my strength-training workout (30 minutes to do lower body, plus 5 minutes warmup and 7 minutes cooldown stretches). I'm fine doing that, but I've been exercising for two years, the walking wasn't intense for me, and I waited about two hours after I got home to do the strength. For me at this stage? Perfectly fine. Go back two years to when I started at Obesity Level 3 and I probably could have done the walk one way at a slower pace. And I don't think I'd be lifting any dumbbells heavier than 8lbs, as opposed to the 25s and 30s I did today.

    See how you do. And if it feels like too much, don't feel bad about cutting back till you're ready.
  • bluesheeponahill
    bluesheeponahill Posts: 169 Member
    thanks! I don't drive, so I walk a fair bit. my average walking per day is 10km when exercise isn't included, but it seems I am still too fat! (even my stomach agrees), I was thinking I might need a bit more of a boost while the holidays are here and it's most achievable. Once I've reached my ideal weight I'll take it back to once a day workouts to maintain that.
  • 796fra
    796fra Posts: 46 Member
    I hit the gym for weights and cardio in the am and attend an exercise class most evenings. Try it, your body will let you know if you over did it through soreness and/or exhaustion.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    thanks! I don't drive, so I walk a fair bit. my average walking per day is 10km when exercise isn't included, but it seems I am still too fat! (even my stomach agrees), I was thinking I might need a bit more of a boost while the holidays are here and it's most achievable. Once I've reached my ideal weight I'll take it back to once a day workouts to maintain that.

    What you need is a calorie deficit. Exercise is a fantastic contribute because it burns calories and has all kinds of wonderful side effects. But the sad thing is it doesn't really burn that many calories, so most people still need to watch their diet too.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    It sounds like you're doing zero workouts now, am I reading that correctly? If so, then start with one workout 3x week. Do that for a month, then add one more workout to your weekly schedule each month. Too much too soon is a recipe for burnout and injury.
  • bluesheeponahill
    bluesheeponahill Posts: 169 Member
    Doing one work out a day for the last two weeks plus my regular 10km walking throughout the day.
  • Keto_Vampire
    Keto_Vampire Posts: 1,670 Member
    Usually not a huge deal to break things up due to schedule (ex) cardio in the AM, weight lifting in the PM). Might want to consider which workout has higher priority though based on your goal(s).

    Consider issues with recovery/failing @ progressive overload goals (say if you were doing 2 lifting sessions in one day there will likely be a compromise in intensity for one of the workouts...depends on energy levels/activity & eating times); less of an issue/more balanced if you were doing say a weight lifting session in the AM & a LISS session/aerobic activity in the PM.
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    Sure if it fits in your schedule. I used to when I had the time to but now it's a struggle with the schedule to get even one work out in a day sometimes.

    Many moons ago when I played football in high school we had two 4 hour practices per day lol.

    But make sure to listen to your body. You don't want to overtrain and injure yourself. Then you won't be able to hang workouts. If you are feeling like 2 a day is too much for your body, cut back on them.
  • bluesheeponahill
    bluesheeponahill Posts: 169 Member
    Thank you for all the advice and suggestions!
    I was doing C25K for a while but stopped around 5 week mark for some reasons . Think I will restart that so I’m not doing it every day but 3 times a week and see how I go from there. I don’t want to burn out, but I do want to see results too.

  • fatmonsters
    fatmonsters Posts: 30 Member
    Good idea. Don’t overdo it based on your excitement for weight loss (I am kinda the same way). The best way to keep going For the long haul is to stay injury free. Even overdoing treadmill work can lead to knee irritation.
  • bluesheeponahill
    bluesheeponahill Posts: 169 Member
    For sure, I’ve already busted both knees at some point the last one was in September 2017 and it took until March 2018 to get it completely recovered. I’ve already broken a toe too 2 months ago (thank you children for leaving you things around) but I cannot stand being chubby. I want to get back to looking and feeling good once again.
  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    Used to. Ran 5 mornings a week then 3 days a week at lunch, then 1 evening and Saturday and Sunday.

    Then got a new job that killed my free time
  • pierinifitness
    pierinifitness Posts: 2,226 Member
    Take your pick - duration (which may include two workouts a day) or intensity because you can’t have both.

    If you’ve got some training under your belt, I’d invite you to experience some training on the intense side. Short and intense, i’ve done duration and doubles, it’s time consuming.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I did two workouts a day for a while, but it was for specific fitness reasons (I was training for an overnight relay race). It was fine because it was for a limited time period, but it was sometimes challenging to make the time and it required me to cut back on some other things that I was doing. It was also harder on my body than working out just once a day.

    I personally wouldn't start my weight loss efforts with a plan that I didn't think was sustainable for the long term. For me, working out twice a day would be in that category.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    I am thinking of doing two workouts a day, one the morning and one in the evening. the morning one is a gym workout class of one hour and evening would be a run on my treadmill at home for about 45 mins (including warm up and cool down). Would there be any issues with this? I'm keen to kickstart the weight loss. I'd make it more of a 90 min one go but I have kids and need to work around them.

    I usually weight train in the morning, and run and then dance in the evenings. (My running fatigue is actually worse the day AFTER weight training rather than the same evening).
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    But the sad thing is it doesn't really burn that many calories, so most people still need to watch their diet too.

    Just for fun, a couple days ago I did the math on this.

    I'm 210 and run. In order to burn 3,500 calories (one lb of fat), I need to run 42.6km, or slightly more than a marathon. All based on Weight * .63 * .6214 (to convert to KM)

    Some highlights from my spreadsheet.
    210 42.6km
    205 43.6km
    200 44.7km
    190 47.1km
    180 49.7km
    170 52.6km
    160 55.9km
    150 59.6km
    140 63.9km

    So, right now I would need to run 42.6km to lose one pound. My wife needs to run 63.9km to lose one pound. I'm not telling her this.
  • Kimmotion5783
    Kimmotion5783 Posts: 417 Member
    edited December 2018
    Occasionally I'll do that (exercise twice a day). Once on my lunch break and once at night at the gym. Both cardio. There's nothing wrong with working out twice a day so long as you don't overdo it and end up injuring yourself. It depends on one's physical ability.
  • Sunshine_And_Sand
    Sunshine_And_Sand Posts: 1,320 Member
    Back when I taught aerobics I often taught 2 plus classes multiple times per week without any issues. But I was much younger and fitter then.
    Now, I sometimes do a yoga workout as well as a spin class.
    It really depends on your fitness level. If you are new to working out, it may be better to start slow at first.
  • pierinifitness
    pierinifitness Posts: 2,226 Member
    edited December 2018
    I have a saying: “The cardio pony can build a stallion appetite.”

    Another one: “The calories burned in one hour of exercise can be eaten in five minutes.”

    I find not being as ravenous when doing short and intense workouts. Your mileage may vary.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    It's something, as had been noted, that you need to ease into.

    As has also been noted, controlling your calorie intake is going to do more for weight loss than exercise will.

    Becoming fit and active is, however, an essential part for many people of maintaining weight loss. So, getting into the habit of exercising now will be a good thing.

    Saying that, habit is a key word here. One of the best ways of forming a habit is gradually introducing something into your life in incremental steps so that you have time to adapt to the changes and make them habitual.

    A lot of people work out twice a day, or split one long workout into two shorter sessions, but no one starts out there. Trying to take on too much at once when you haven't been working out is a recipe for burnout and potential injury.
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,186 Member
    I do it on Mondays and Wednesday. Chair yoga in the morning and the gym in the afternoon (strength training and moderate cardio).
    My workouts are not extreme, but on then other hand, I am not "new" in the exercise department, I am at my goal weight, and my fitness level is pretty good for my age. I can handle this routine without a problem, and I modify if needed.
    Bottom line, I think that it depends in your fitness level and in the intensity of your workouts. Just start slowly and steady and you may be able to increase the intensity or time of the workouts as you lose weight and your body becomes more efficient.

  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Doing one work out a day for the last two weeks plus my regular 10km walking throughout the day.
    So keep that going for 4 weeks then start to gradually add as I suggested above. If you want to split your current workout into 3 sessions of same total duration that’s ok. Results come from consistency at any level more so than overdoing it. Weight loss results happen in the kitchen.

  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    I have a saying: “The cardio pony can build a stallion appetite.”

    Another one: “The calories burned in one hour of exercise can be eaten in five minutes.”

    I find not being as ravenous when doing short and intense workouts. Your mileage may vary.

    I don't find myself especially ravenous after long workouts that are cardio heavy, be it rowing, cycling, running, or swimming. I mean I row inside 3 days a week at 5:30am (fasted because I don't have the energy to wake up early enough to also get food in me) and my breakfast afterwards consists of a bagel and a pastry. I had to be convinced that I should also do something to get more protein after that, so now I'll also mix up some protein powder. Yesterday's breakfast was around 590 calories, that's after burning over 700 calories on the rowing machine.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I've done two-a-day training sessions, but not every day...that seems like a good recipe for burnout and/or injury, particularly if your level of fitness can't sustain it.

    I lift on Monday and Wednesday evening after work and Saturday mornings (usually). I often do a quick 30 minute interval ride on my bike on Monday and Wednesday morning and depending on the weather and other goings on, I sometimes commute to and from the gym on my bike on Saturday. So my two-a-day sessions are typically only 2-3 days per week, not everyday.
  • RadishEater
    RadishEater Posts: 470 Member
    This is definitely dependent on what your body can handle.

    Days I double up on workouts I usually am doing two different types: i.e elliptical & horse riding, elliptical & barre, 5mile walk and horse riding. But I do not do any intense workouts on days I double up. Both are light-medium. My intense days i.e. long runs, intense spinning workouts, I have to let my body recover.

    I'm the opposite with @pierinifitness, big calorie burn sessions --> spinning or long runs are days that don't leave me ravenous after I eat a nice breakfast, whereas if I go to barre in the morning I still want to eat the same amount of calories even though I've only burned a fraction, which is why I end of doubling on exercise on those days.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    I've done two a day sessions but like others, not every day. I can't sustain it. I suspect that if I was in high school or was at a very high (nearing elite) level of fitness I could, but neither of those things are true. I might potentially be experimenting with erg'ing twice a day on Wednesdays for the next two or three weeks during winter break, but there will be 12 hours in between and probably a nap.
  • anothermfpuser
    anothermfpuser Posts: 84 Member
    Too much too soon = burnout and injury. Not sustainable.

    I often/mostly do 2 workouts a day. I do cardio, weights as well as Pilates, so I have a plan that integrates a balance of all 3.