Is there such a thing as "Too Much"? I'm confused!!

Bella7810
Bella7810 Posts: 39
edited October 2 in Fitness and Exercise
I know this may sound like a stupid question (and I'm not a stupid person) but is there such a thing as "too much" exercise? The reason I ask is because I work out every day at minimum 35 minutes and very intensely. I'll easily burn 550 to 800 calories in a single workout session, which I'm very proud of myself for. I use an elliptical/stairstepper/strider machine that works the entire body. I've struggled with eating disorders in the past and I'm really trying to not let that get control of me again so I tend to workout a little bit more when I give into a craving or eat something that's naughty (after all, that's better than the alternative, right?). So, I'll do two or three workouts in a day.

My fiance says he doesn't want me to lose more weight because he fears I'll lose my figure. MY concern is I'll gain too much "figure" back! But, exercise tones you, right? And muscle weighs more than fat so isn't it impossible to lose your figure if you're exercising regularly and keeping yourself toned? The thing for me is now that I've been exercising daily for several months, I crave the activity. If I take a day off or slack on the routine, I literally feel sluggish and almost ill. It's almost like my body NEEDs to exercise just like I need water. I've read that exercise releases endorphins and chemicals that are good for you so too much exercise doesn't make sense to me.

My best friend says exercising too much is a bad thing but how can that be? I've never worked out to the point of exhaustion or passing out or hurting myself but I will workout more than once in order to burn extra calories and continue to lose weight and reach my goal. I don't completely understand or agree with the whole concept of eating back the calories that you burn either. This is such a contradiction! Why burn them at all if you're just gonna eat them up again? I understand taking in a minimum of 1200 and I understand the deficit from your BMR (at least 500cals/day to lose weight in a week) but wouldn't it make sense that the bigger the deficit, the faster you will lose those unwanted pounds? Exercising keeps your metabolism up too so will lowering your calories still slow your metabolism? I'm confused.

So, I'm asking you guys. Is it possible to exercise too much? And if it is, can you explain that to me cuz it just doesn't jive. I don't get it. I want to be healthy. I'm not starving myself anymore and I'm working out in a way that strengthens my heart and tones my muscles. I don't eat back my calories but I'm not sick. I'm eating the right foods and very seldom indulge in unhealthy things. When I do, I compensate for it. How can this be a bad thing? Just asking.

Replies

  • routerguy666
    routerguy666 Posts: 188
    There are studies that show negative effects of cardio and reduced calorie diets, but the amount of cardio is far, far more than half an hour (or an hour, or two hours) a day.

    As to the rest, how you look is up to you.
  • Jennfur2610
    Jennfur2610 Posts: 67 Member
    I saw a documentary once about a woman who was addicted to exercising. She battled with a lot of different eating disorders too. You might want to google too much exercising and see what you come up with. She would "punish herself" for eating something as simple as a sugary granola bar, or popsicle. And she always wanted to have a huge deficit at the end of the day. She spent several hours working out. There were doctors on the show talking about the damage she was doing to her internal organs because all her exercising was burning the fat around them.

    My suggestion is that once you get to your goal weight of 120 you maintain. I wouldn't try to go lower than the 120.

    I don't agree with the eating back burned calories, but I don't think you need to realize that everything is in moderation. It's ok to splurge, and eat unhealthy from time to time, or to not work out at all.
  • twiztedgrl69
    twiztedgrl69 Posts: 191 Member
    Ok I know you don't agree with it but working out too much is an addiction...just like having an eating disorder...I know it doesn't make since but there are people that work out 2-3x a day and they're working out for long periods of time b/c they are so self conscience about their bodies that by eating one piece of fruit they have to go work off the calories...I'm like you I really don't eat back the calories I burn but I only work out once a day too...you need to slow down and possibly go talk to a specialist about what's going on b/c it sounds like you still have the eating disorder mentality and that's not good for your health...I've been there so don't feel like you're alone
  • Marig0ld
    Marig0ld Posts: 671 Member
    As long as you aren't feeling too tired, I don't see how it's a problem. Are you eating enough? No one knows your body better than you do. Trust yourself and don't beat yourself up if you need to relax.
  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    It is possible to exercise too much. It's called over training. 35 minutes a day 7 days a week isn't going to get you to that point though.

    Err and 550 to 800 calories for 35 minutes sounds like a massive over estimation of calories burned. How are you tracking that? At 200 lbs and as a boy with an average heart rate in the 160s I burn about 10 calories per minutes. you're half my size, a girl, and you're burning double that?? Not sure that's possible.

    And lastly - eat your exercise calories. Find a good HRM, wear it and then eat them. You're right - the bigger the deficit the faster you will lose weight. At 126 lbs shooting for 120 lbs you really don't want to lose all that fast. That close to goal if you're creating a huge deficit you're going to be losing more than just fat.
  • ApproachingDusk
    ApproachingDusk Posts: 70
    If you are really confused I would honestly say to talk to your Primary Doctor to see what they say.
  • auskelly
    auskelly Posts: 45 Member
    mmmm i think it is possible to become obsessive with working out , if your doing it every time you eat something. especially if you have struggled with eating disorders in the past. although exercise is a good thing, if your over obsessing about it , it may not be . im not a doctor or course, maybe you should speak to your doc who knows your history and tell him exactly what you said here, and get his/her opinion. and maybe an exercise physiologist or something . your health is the most important thing and its not just physically its mentally. obsessive compulsive behaviour and eating disorders are as much a mental problem as a physical one if not more. id get some professional advice if i were you to make sure your not using exercise as a substitute for not eating or another alternative for removing the food from your body. hope this didnt offend or upset you , its just my perspective :indifferent: we all want the same thing, to be healthy :smile:
  • Bella7810
    Bella7810 Posts: 39
    It is possible to exercise too much. It's called over training. 35 minutes a day 7 days a week isn't going to get you to that point though.

    Err and 550 to 800 calories for 35 minutes sounds like a massive over estimation of calories burned. How are you tracking that? At 200 lbs and as a boy with an average heart rate in the 160s I burn about 10 calories per minutes. you're half my size, a girl, and you're burning double that?? Not sure that's possible.

    And lastly - eat your exercise calories. Find a good HRM, wear it and then eat them. You're right - the bigger the deficit the faster you will lose weight. At 126 lbs shooting for 120 lbs you really don't want to lose all that fast. That close to goal if you're creating a huge deficit you're going to be losing more than just fat.


    The machine I have is from FreeMotion. It has a computer that figures the calories burned for the speed, resistance, time and stride length that I'm doing. I'm sure it's not completely accurate as I've heard that machines can be off by 20% or so but even if that's true (which it very well could be), I'm still burning alot cuz I'm losing weight quickly and steadily. How did you know how many calories you burn per minute? Is that while exercising or just in general? I appreciate your response and your honesty.
  • Mitchlou84
    Mitchlou84 Posts: 135
    Do you do 35 minutes and 550-800 per day? Or that 2-3 times per day?
  • Slothzilla
    Slothzilla Posts: 3
    If you honestly are working out 35 min a day, then I don't think that's too much at all. You have obviously changed your lifestyle to incorporate healthier habits. That's what it takes. But caution yourself against the dread of putting some weight back on. Ease up on the dieting sometimes. If you discover you've added a little weight (despite your routine), would that make you work out harder and longer and eat less? Because it shouldn't. Your body weight will fluctuate. Losing weight like you have is a big win. The success and self-esteem can be addictive, but try to keep the accomplishment as just that: an accomplishment. You reached your goal weight!! Keep the lifestyle that got you there and will keep you there and MOVE ON WITH YOUR NEW LIFE, not to more lost weight, but tackle another part of your life with the same tenacity. Congrats!
  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    It is possible to exercise too much. It's called over training. 35 minutes a day 7 days a week isn't going to get you to that point though.

    Err and 550 to 800 calories for 35 minutes sounds like a massive over estimation of calories burned. How are you tracking that? At 200 lbs and as a boy with an average heart rate in the 160s I burn about 10 calories per minutes. you're half my size, a girl, and you're burning double that?? Not sure that's possible.

    And lastly - eat your exercise calories. Find a good HRM, wear it and then eat them. You're right - the bigger the deficit the faster you will lose weight. At 126 lbs shooting for 120 lbs you really don't want to lose all that fast. That close to goal if you're creating a huge deficit you're going to be losing more than just fat.


    The machine I have is from FreeMotion. It has a computer that figures the calories burned for the speed, resistance, time and stride length that I'm doing. I'm sure it's not completely accurate as I've heard that machines can be off by 20% or so but even if that's true (which it very well could be), I'm still burning alot cuz I'm losing weight quickly and steadily. How did you know how many calories you burn per minute? Is that while exercising or just in general? I appreciate your response and your honesty.

    Your calorie burn is based of the intensity level your exercising at, your age, your gender, and your current weight. The best way to figure how many calories you're burning for cardio is to get a Heart Rate Monitor that keeps track of your heart rate every second you're exercising. You enter in your age, weight, and gender into the monitor and then it calculates how intensely you're exercising based on how hard your heart is working. If the machine isn't getting your heart rate, weight, or gender into the equation then it's really probably not all that accurate.

    And I missed in your original post where you said you did the 35 minutes thing 2 or 3 times a day. That could get you closer to over training, but as long as you're not constantly exercising sore muscles your should be ok on that front.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    It is possible to exercise too much. It's called over training. 35 minutes a day 7 days a week isn't going to get you to that point though.

    Err and 550 to 800 calories for 35 minutes sounds like a massive over estimation of calories burned. How are you tracking that? At 200 lbs and as a boy with an average heart rate in the 160s I burn about 10 calories per minutes. you're half my size, a girl, and you're burning double that?? Not sure that's possible.

    And lastly - eat your exercise calories. Find a good HRM, wear it and then eat them. You're right - the bigger the deficit the faster you will lose weight. At 126 lbs shooting for 120 lbs you really don't want to lose all that fast. That close to goal if you're creating a huge deficit you're going to be losing more than just fat.


    The machine I have is from FreeMotion. It has a computer that figures the calories burned for the speed, resistance, time and stride length that I'm doing. I'm sure it's not completely accurate as I've heard that machines can be off by 20% or so but even if that's true (which it very well could be), I'm still burning alot cuz I'm losing weight quickly and steadily. How did you know how many calories you burn per minute? Is that while exercising or just in general? I appreciate your response and your honesty.

    There are two issues--the physical effects of overtraining and the psychological need to exercise more frequently. I am not qualified to address the second point except to say that the "why" question is as important as the "how much" question, so it's something to consider.

    As to the "how much", yes there is such a thing as too much training. Exercise training is a stressor--done the right way a "positive" stressor (eustress), but a stressor nonetheless. At some point, too much stress (in this case physical) causes the body to become "exhausted" (not to be confused with fatigue). You get stale and stress hormones become chronically elevated. That doesn't mean you will experience overtraining--and people can experience overtraining for many different reasons--but it's always a possibility if you are going to engage in higher volumes of training. The risks are only exacerbated if you push hard every workout--as it sounds like you are doing.
  • Bella7810
    Bella7810 Posts: 39
    Wow. Thank for the feedback everyone. I am currently doing 35 mins 2 to 3 times daily so 35 x 3. I don't feel sore but based on what alot of you said, I'm still pushing too much. I don't have a HRM. I don't think the one one the machine I use is accurate. So, I'll look to get one asap. Thanks again for your help guys. I really appreciate it!
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