Can you exercise too much?
Ket0_queen21
Posts: 14 Member
Say if I get up in the morning and cycle walk run weights swim workout and only sitting down to eat my meals until I go to bed would it be too much ?
What would be the benefits or negatives?
What would be the benefits or negatives?
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Replies
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Going from (near) zero to constant exercise would be a bad idea, counter productive. (If we exercise too much for our current level of fitness, our body effectively claws back some of the calorie expenditure by making us exhausted.)
Why do you think you should exercise more? Exercising all day long to lose weight faster is a really, really bad plan - can lead to injuries, ill health, hair loss, heart problems . . . ugh.
What are you trying to accomplish? People here might be able to help you figure out a more productive route.
It's possible to gradually work up to quite high amounts of exercise, but even elite athletes who spend lots of time working out nearly every day will build in appropriate rest, recovery, fueling, balance of higher and lower intensity exercise (less of the former, more of the latter), and things like that.
For anyone, trying to go all out all day every day is counterproductive for health, fitness *and* weight management. For *anyone*, even a very fit person. For a relative beginner to exercise, it's even worse. Terrible plan.
Again: What are you trying to achieve? Why do you think you should exercise more?7 -
Going from (near) zero to constant exercise would be a bad idea, counter productive. (If we exercise too much for our current level of fitness, our body effectively claws back some of the calorie expenditure by making us exhausted.)
Why do you think you should exercise more? Exercising all day long to lose weight faster is a really, really bad plan - can lead to injuries, ill health, hair loss, heart problems . . . ugh.
What are you trying to accomplish? People here might be able to help you figure out a more productive route.
It's possible to gradually work up to quite high amounts of exercise, but even elite athletes who spend lots of time working out nearly every day will build in appropriate rest, recovery, fueling, balance of higher and lower intensity exercise (less of the former, more of the latter), and things like that.
For anyone, trying to go all out all day every day is counterproductive for health, fitness *and* weight management. For *anyone*, even a very fit person. For a relative beginner to exercise, it's even worse. Terrible plan.
Again: What are you trying to achieve? Why do you think you should exercise more?
To get healthier fitter faster and something productive to fill my days.
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Ket0_queen21 wrote: »Going from (near) zero to constant exercise would be a bad idea, counter productive. (If we exercise too much for our current level of fitness, our body effectively claws back some of the calorie expenditure by making us exhausted.)
Why do you think you should exercise more? Exercising all day long to lose weight faster is a really, really bad plan - can lead to injuries, ill health, hair loss, heart problems . . . ugh.
What are you trying to accomplish? People here might be able to help you figure out a more productive route.
It's possible to gradually work up to quite high amounts of exercise, but even elite athletes who spend lots of time working out nearly every day will build in appropriate rest, recovery, fueling, balance of higher and lower intensity exercise (less of the former, more of the latter), and things like that.
For anyone, trying to go all out all day every day is counterproductive for health, fitness *and* weight management. For *anyone*, even a very fit person. For a relative beginner to exercise, it's even worse. Terrible plan.
Again: What are you trying to achieve? Why do you think you should exercise more?
To get healthier fitter faster and something productive to fill my days.
Going all out right away definitely won't make you healthier faster, nor fitter faster. It's much more likely to get you burned out and maybe injured.
Pick something you'd like to improve at, use a good training program appropriate to your starting level and *follow the program* when it comes to rest/recovery to build in. If you want to be super bold, start a cardio training program of some sort (C25K if can and want to run, otherwise a rowing, biking, swimming (or dance, whatever) program that's analogous). Then, after you give that around (say) a month to settle in, add a beginner strength training program. Or do the strength program first, cardio after the strength program settles in.
As a generality, start with a manageable level of physical challenge, then gradually increase duration, intensity, frequency or exercise type(s) to keep a manageable challenge in the picture long-term. That's IMO a better, smarter route to improved health and fitness. Rest and recovery is part of how people make actual fitness progress. (That probably means actual days off exercise as a beginner starting out; as you get fitter, it can be varying exercise types and intensities in terms of how they stress your body instead.)
If you need something productive to fill your days when you're ramping up exercise gradually, consider setting yourself to learn about something that interests you, work on a new skill/hobby or revive and refine an old one, or something like that. Even something like meditation can be good, or a practice from your faith tradition if you have one. Physical progress isn't the only kind of progress that contributes to health. Cognitive and psychological health is pretty important, too.
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Ket0_queen21 wrote: »Going from (near) zero to constant exercise would be a bad idea, counter productive. (If we exercise too much for our current level of fitness, our body effectively claws back some of the calorie expenditure by making us exhausted.)
Why do you think you should exercise more? Exercising all day long to lose weight faster is a really, really bad plan - can lead to injuries, ill health, hair loss, heart problems . . . ugh.
What are you trying to accomplish? People here might be able to help you figure out a more productive route.
It's possible to gradually work up to quite high amounts of exercise, but even elite athletes who spend lots of time working out nearly every day will build in appropriate rest, recovery, fueling, balance of higher and lower intensity exercise (less of the former, more of the latter), and things like that.
For anyone, trying to go all out all day every day is counterproductive for health, fitness *and* weight management. For *anyone*, even a very fit person. For a relative beginner to exercise, it's even worse. Terrible plan.
Again: What are you trying to achieve? Why do you think you should exercise more?
To get healthier fitter faster and something productive to fill my days.
Going all out right away definitely won't make you healthier faster, nor fitter faster. It's much more likely to get you burned out and maybe injured.
Pick something you'd like to improve at, use a good training program appropriate to your starting level and *follow the program* when it comes to rest/recovery to build in. If you want to be super bold, start a cardio training program of some sort (C25K if can and want to run, otherwise a rowing, biking, swimming (or dance, whatever) program that's analogous). Then, after you give that around (say) a month to settle in, add a beginner strength training program. Or do the strength program first, cardio after the strength program settles in.
As a generality, start with a manageable level of physical challenge, then gradually increase duration, intensity, frequency or exercise type(s) to keep a manageable challenge in the picture long-term. That's IMO a better, smarter route to improved health and fitness. Rest and recovery is part of how people make actual fitness progress. (That probably means actual days off exercise as a beginner starting out; as you get fitter, it can be varying exercise types and intensities in terms of how they stress your body instead.
If you need something productive to fill your days when you're ramping up exercise gradually, consider setting yourself to learn about something that interests you, work on a new skill/hobby or revive and refine an old one, or something like that. Even something like meditation can be good, or a practice from your faith tradition if you have one. Physical progress isn't the only kind of progress that contributes to health. Cognitive and psychological health is pretty important, too.
^^ This is a great post. On the point in the last paragraph, I just wanted to add the suggestion of finding a cause or a need that inspires you to want to help and volunteering.
Best of luck, @Ket0_queen21
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Try it for a month first, then let us know what you think.
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That's a really bad plan trying to go from unfit to fit.
Your heart, lungs, circulation, tendons, ligaments, muscles only change/improve their capabilities slowly. You should build progressively and cause appropriate stress and allow sufficient recovery.
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Ket0_queen21 wrote: »
To get healthier fitter faster and something productive to fill my days.
Do you think that the fittest humans on earth got that way with your proposed method?
Is that how you think any, even moderately fit person, got that way?
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I second (third? fourth?) @AnnPT77 's advice above.
I was fairly active just going about my daily life before weight loss, but as I have lost weight my activity has increased further. I am active most of the day now, but only about 45 minutes to 1 hour is what I would call formal exercise - running three days per week and lifting three days per week. But I have built in walks for errands (I started with a smaller radius and now have branched out to walking to anything within 1.5 miles that doesn't require carrying loads that can't be stowed under a stroller) and spend time with hobbies like gardening and cooking/baking. I like to read, so I do still sit down and take a break to do that, or watch a little TV in the evenings, but I can also "read" by listening to audiobooks while housecleaning (or on a run!). My leisure activities have also broadened to more outdoor activity with my kids instead of sit down activities like read-alouds or board games (we still get a healthy dose of these and I expect there to be more of that once the really cold weather hits, but for now I'm going to enjoy being outside and playing catch or hopscotch or finally using that old croquet set.)
That might all sound like a lot and that's because it is! But I didn't just jump from doing a lot of sitting around to doing all of that in one day. I built them in a little at a time. I look forward to them because as I've lost weight I like moving my body more and find these things enjoyable instead of just chores to get through and endure. And most of them are not focused solely on exercise but spending time with loved ones, doing things to make someone's day a little bit brighter, and just the mundane necessities of living one's life. I think the idea to find and practice hobbies is a great one, especially if you can find a way to serve others (even in a small way!) by doing so. It can be hard nowadays depending on where you are and whether people are meeting formally or not, but if you don't have people in your household or locally to spend time with, and you'd like company, I'd check and see what community activities are available and suggest meeting people that way - it can be a really fun way to try something new!3 -
Don’t do it. If you’re starting at the bottom then start with the simplest. Walk walk walk. To many folks underestimate the benefits of just walking. For the most part I walked about 11 months as the main exercise before I jogged a single min or seriously started pushing other things like all out rowing or elliptical(full body one)sessions. Build up your cardio levels, strengthen your legs drop a few lbs and the other pieces will start falling into place. You go all in from the get go and you’ll injure yourself and be back at 0 and stay there for some time. Even now that I’m jogging daily in addition to all the other pieces I now do if I’m not feeling it I drop back, end it sooner and if injured hello old friend. I walk! You try walking at 4 mph in 90 degree weather or on a treadmill with a decent amount of incline and see if you don’t feel like you actually worked out. Be safe and make it a sustainable lifestyle. Slow and steady…. The tortoise and the hare… again slow and steady will get you there…6
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So..... if your sister, best friend, mom, whoever came up to you and said ....
'look. crazy idea, but stay with me here. All I'm gonna do...from the time I get up, till the time I go to bed, is eat and work out. Not gonna hang with my friends anymore. Not gonna just chill and watch netflix for an hour or so. Not gonna read that book. No working. No time to worry about bills (i dunno maybe you dont have to work, i dont so really not judging you on that lol), not gonna do anything to help or be active in my community, nothing to better my mind. nothing just for fun. Just sleep, eat. workout. thats it. every day. you want to talk to me, heres my workout schedule. come join me'
Do you see how ridiculous that sounds?
I don't know that you actually INTEND it to sound or BE that extreme (or ... maybe you DO?). Physically, you COULD NOT. Physically, an olympic ATHLETE could NOT do that.
You want to improve your health and fitness. That is AWESOME. It also takes time. The only thing running into it full steam will do will, best case scenario- burn you out and worst case scenario- wind you up in the hospital.
If you want to fill your days, there are a hundred ways to do it. work with a trainer to come up with a reasonable work out plan, and then reach out to any community organization or non profit group and find out who needs volunteers (they ALL do!) and go help. There's your 'do good' thing. Do you like to sing, dance, or act? There's probably a community theater not terribly far away from you. Sometimes I feel like I live at ours, and my best friend pretty much DOES lolol There's a fun thing. (and.... can be a workout depending on the show!). There are a ton of ways to fill your days, if you look.
It is so easy, when doing anything new that you are excited about, to go 'all in'. But doing that is also the best way to burn out. We see so many people do just that. They are so excited to change their life and start this journey and within a few weeks or a month or MAYBE 2 months...they just can't do it anymore. They burned their candle from both ends. It wasn't sustainable. Make small changes. Keep them. MASTER them. then, add to them. Think of it like a controlled burn and not a raging wildfire. This is not a race. It is a long distance marathon. All of it. whether it is weight loss or general physical fitness, or both.... NONE of this happens quickly. Patience. Consistency. And more patience. THAT is how you get to the finish line (and... there really is not a finish line, the goals just change).5 -
Pick something you'd like to improve at, use a good training program appropriate to your starting level and *follow the program* when it comes to rest/recovery to build in. If you want to be super bold, start a cardio training program of some sort (C25K if can and want to run, otherwise a rowing, biking, swimming (or dance, whatever) program that's analogous). Then, after you give that around (say) a month to settle in, add a beginner strength training program. Or do the strength program first, cardio after the strength program settles in.
This!
If going from minimal activity level, then you'll be very, very sore even when starting something new at an appropriate starting level of volume.. so waiting for your body to adjust to it before adding in the other (cardio option/weight training) would be a good idea.
You'll be able to find training plans online for many things defining your goal and current starting level (from running to weight training to cycling to ...). And these plans will define the frequency and volume. Going more than that will backfire on you (injury, weakness from not recovering,..).
(For instance, beginning running programs typically start with partial walking, recommend no more than 3 days per week, and have distances. Beginner weight training programs are typically 3x/week. 1-2 days for muscles to recover. and supporting/stabilizing parts of the body will take time to be strong enough to support higher volume without injury).
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »Ket0_queen21 wrote: »Going from (near) zero to constant exercise would be a bad idea, counter productive. (If we exercise too much for our current level of fitness, our body effectively claws back some of the calorie expenditure by making us exhausted.)
Why do you think you should exercise more? Exercising all day long to lose weight faster is a really, really bad plan - can lead to injuries, ill health, hair loss, heart problems . . . ugh.
What are you trying to accomplish? People here might be able to help you figure out a more productive route.
It's possible to gradually work up to quite high amounts of exercise, but even elite athletes who spend lots of time working out nearly every day will build in appropriate rest, recovery, fueling, balance of higher and lower intensity exercise (less of the former, more of the latter), and things like that.
For anyone, trying to go all out all day every day is counterproductive for health, fitness *and* weight management. For *anyone*, even a very fit person. For a relative beginner to exercise, it's even worse. Terrible plan.
Again: What are you trying to achieve? Why do you think you should exercise more?
To get healthier fitter faster and something productive to fill my days.
Going all out right away definitely won't make you healthier faster, nor fitter faster. It's much more likely to get you burned out and maybe injured.
Pick something you'd like to improve at, use a good training program appropriate to your starting level and *follow the program* when it comes to rest/recovery to build in. If you want to be super bold, start a cardio training program of some sort (C25K if can and want to run, otherwise a rowing, biking, swimming (or dance, whatever) program that's analogous). Then, after you give that around (say) a month to settle in, add a beginner strength training program. Or do the strength program first, cardio after the strength program settles in.
As a generality, start with a manageable level of physical challenge, then gradually increase duration, intensity, frequency or exercise type(s) to keep a manageable challenge in the picture long-term. That's IMO a better, smarter route to improved health and fitness. Rest and recovery is part of how people make actual fitness progress. (That probably means actual days off exercise as a beginner starting out; as you get fitter, it can be varying exercise types and intensities in terms of how they stress your body instead.
If you need something productive to fill your days when you're ramping up exercise gradually, consider setting yourself to learn about something that interests you, work on a new skill/hobby or revive and refine an old one, or something like that. Even something like meditation can be good, or a practice from your faith tradition if you have one. Physical progress isn't the only kind of progress that contributes to health. Cognitive and psychological health is pretty important, too.
^^ This is a great post. On the point in the last paragraph, I just wanted to add the suggestion of finding a cause or a need that inspires you to want to help and volunteering.
Best of luck, @Ket0_queen21
Yes, I've been doing volunteer work off and on since I was a kid, and in transition points of my life, such as now, having lost my job to COVID, I volunteer more. I still message my old coworkers and some days it feels like I'm still employed - I'm spending the same amount of time engaging with former coworkers and almost the same amount of time at my desk. My volunteer job used to have Zoom meetings, so that was another constant.1 -
Ket0_queen21 wrote: »Say if I get up in the morning and cycle walk run weights swim workout and only sitting down to eat my meals until I go to bed would it be too much ?
What would be the benefits or negatives?
Well, this is essentially what The Biggest Loser contestants do and while they all lost weight during the course of the program, the vast majority gained it back.
The key is to create habits that you see yourself maintaining indefinitely, not just for a short term goal.7 -
Simply, you run the risk of injury if you go too fast/too much too quickly.
And if you get injured, it is a setback and you end up having to start all over again.
Just take it slowly! Increase over time.2 -
This is a horrible idea1
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Google Rabdomiolisis1
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Unless you are a professional athlete (in which case, you wouldn't be asking your question), your exercise plan needs to fit into and support the rest of your life. In other words, you are trying to exercise regularly in to be healthy. How much exercise you "need" is hotly debated. (The first question being, need for what purpose?) But, it is known that even small amounts of exercise are very beneficial.
To learn more about the issue of how much exercise you need, go to this page and listen to the podcast. It's really interesting:
http://blogs.wgbh.org/innovation-hub/2021/9/17/whats-point-exercise/0 -
OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.2 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
Huh? I often log more than two hours of exercise on MFP. It credits me with however many calories I say I burned for that time. My fitness tracker gives me credit for all the exercise time/calories it "sees", too.
OP's plan is still a terrible idea, though. (ETA: I've been active/athletic for 18+ years. Two hours plus of moderate exercise is fine, if someone has base fitness to support it. I have base fitness to support it. Still, longer exercise = milder intensity; if intense, then short. It's not even remotely exercise anorexia; lots of people who enjoy being active will exceed 2 hours a day, if their schedule allows. In my case, I'm retired, can have time for as much active fun as I choose to fit in.)9 -
Yeah I occasionally log a 4-6 hour hikes. I'm credited all the calories for it. Might not let you set goals formore than 2 hours a day in goal set up? Not sure since I don't use that feature.3
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wunderkindking wrote: »Yeah I occasionally log a 4-6 hour hikes. I'm credited all the calories for it. Might not let you set goals formore than 2 hours a day in goal set up? Not sure since I don't use that feature.
The goals are only used for "attagirl" messages about whether you met your exercise goals or not . . . they don't have any impact or "credit" when it comes to calorie goal.4 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
Huh? I often log more than two hours of exercise on MFP. It credits me with however many calories I say I burned for that time. My fitness tracker gives me credit for all the exercise time/calories it "sees", too.
OP's plan is still a terrible idea, though. (ETA: I've been active/athletic for 18+ years. Two hours plus of moderate exercise is fine, if someone has base fitness to support it. I have base fitness to support it. Still, longer exercise = milder intensity; if intense, then short. It's not even remotely exercise anorexia; lots of people who enjoy being active will exceed 2 hours a day, if their schedule allows. In my case, I'm retired, can have time for as much active fun as I choose to fit in.)
Oh. No disagreement about moderate exercise.
But the idea that all day exercise that OP was suggesting?
I do think that’s bordering on anorexic behavior.0 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
Huh? I often log more than two hours of exercise on MFP. It credits me with however many calories I say I burned for that time. My fitness tracker gives me credit for all the exercise time/calories it "sees", too.
OP's plan is still a terrible idea, though. (ETA: I've been active/athletic for 18+ years. Two hours plus of moderate exercise is fine, if someone has base fitness to support it. I have base fitness to support it. Still, longer exercise = milder intensity; if intense, then short. It's not even remotely exercise anorexia; lots of people who enjoy being active will exceed 2 hours a day, if their schedule allows. In my case, I'm retired, can have time for as much active fun as I choose to fit in.)
Oh. No disagreement about moderate exercise.
But the idea that all day exercise that OP was suggesting?
I do think that’s bordering on anorexic behavior.
Not if you're eating back those calories...10 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
The bold isn't remotely true, you do your exercise and you log the duration and you get credited with the estimated calories for the entire time. As a long distance cyclist two hours is often just the start.
There's a lot more exceptions than professional athletes.....
I'm just an enthusiatic elderly cyclist and this was my biggest cycling volume month this year.
Plus strength training in the gym.
That the OP came up with a dreadful idea to lose weight through inappropriate exercise volume (for her) doesn't extrapolate to everyone else.10 -
I think this is one of those things where people hear 'exercise' and think 'aerobics' or something out of high school gym class (ew) or very focused training. I know until the past... year? I was one of those people.
Faced with hour upon hour of that I'd have alarm bells going off, or think 'elite athlete' too, even now. Also - still sounds yucky and totally unfun to me. I do SOME of that (strength training because crap I need muscle, and a shortish/slowish morning jog)
But there are a lot of hobbies/fun activities that are really... high duration that also happen to be exercise, and burn calories. If I'm at an agility trial roaming around moving all day - exercise. Decided to take a day to do a long/challenging hike, going to be most of the day. Rented a kayak or paddleboard - probably going to be all day. Trial riding on a horse - could be an hour, could be 10, depending.
Calorie burn on those isn't particularly high, OP of this thread and doing days of exercise to lose weight super fast is dangerous and dumb, but. I think a lot of people here have hobbies here where 'take the day/entire evening/ a lot of time and indulge' is a a thing. And those hobbies are, well, exercise.5 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
Huh? I often log more than two hours of exercise on MFP. It credits me with however many calories I say I burned for that time. My fitness tracker gives me credit for all the exercise time/calories it "sees", too.
OP's plan is still a terrible idea, though. (ETA: I've been active/athletic for 18+ years. Two hours plus of moderate exercise is fine, if someone has base fitness to support it. I have base fitness to support it. Still, longer exercise = milder intensity; if intense, then short. It's not even remotely exercise anorexia; lots of people who enjoy being active will exceed 2 hours a day, if their schedule allows. In my case, I'm retired, can have time for as much active fun as I choose to fit in.)
Oh. No disagreement about moderate exercise.
But the idea that all day exercise that OP was suggesting?
I do think that’s bordering on anorexic behavior.
"All-day" "exercise" is not inherently and universally a problem, physically or psychologically. It's not a good idea for a relative exercise beginner, of course, for purely physiological or health reasons alone.
That said, exercise bulimia (variably a.k.a. anorexia athletica, hypergymnasia) can be an actual thing. The number of hours of activity is not a common diagnostic criterion. The context and psychological state of the individual are the important issues. Whether someone is a professional or recreational athlete is also pretty irrelevant (either one can experience this type of disorder, or exercise extensively without disorder).
This condition is not a DSM-5 clinical diagnosis (though it may be treated as a symptom of bulimia), but (for example) the National Eating Disorders Association suggests these are things that could be part of a pattern of warning signs:* Exercise that significantly interferes with important activities, occurs at inappropriate times or in inappropriate settings, or when the individual continues to exercise despite injury or other medical complications
* Intense anxiety, depression, irritability, feelings of guilt, and/or distress if unable to exercise
* Maintains excessive, rigid exercise regimen – despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury
* Discomfort with rest or inactivity
* Exercise used to manage emotions
* Exercise as a means of purging (needing to “get rid of” or “burn off” calories)
* Exercise as permission to eat
* Exercise that is secretive or hidden
* Feeling as though you are not good enough, fast enough or not pushing hard enough during a period of exercise; overtraining
* Withdrawal from friends and family
From: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/compulsive-exercise
In theory, someone could exercise for hours pretty much every day, not be "disordered" according to those criteria. Someone else might exercise only an hour or so, but meet the criteria for disordered thinking/behavior concerning exercise.
I do share your concern that OP *could* be on a slippery slope in that direction, because some of those criteria seem as if they might apply . . . though I don't really have complete enough information to say for sure. If I take OP's statements at face value, that the point of this plan would be to get fitter and healthier faster, she's simply misinformed about the best way to accomplish those goals. It's not uncommon to be misinformed about things like that.
For some reason, there's a semi-popular tendency to believe that people who spend a lot of time being very active are somehow inherently disordered in their thinking, but it's not necessarily so.
Why is someone exercising more than a couple of hours a day exhibiting a disorder, but someone watching TV for an equal number of hours daily (quite a common thing) is not exhibiting a disorder? Both take up time, can take time away from other life activities, can (amongst a minority) involve compulsion or obsession. Both can have physical consequences. I suspect the key difference is that lots of people do the TV-watching one, and not that many people do the exercising one, so it's not normative behavior. If one doesn't do X behavior oneself, or have any close associates who do, it's pretty easy to assume that people who do are psychologically off-kilter.7 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
Never seen evidence of this, just the opposite when some have posted screen shots of trackers and adjustments on MFP - all the extra is there as expected, and calculated calories for work done has matched up for device estimated - like long hikes or bike rides.3 -
This thread reminds me of the uncountable number of times I have seen new people at the gym that seemed to have this sort of thinking. People who were obviously new to exercise, and definitely new to that gym, trying to go all-out like someone in great shape. A month (sometimes a week) later they were nowhere to be found. Sometimes I'd recognize one a year or so later doing the same thing for a week/month before disappearing again. Usually in January but not always.
My other thought was Anorexia athletica (also known as Exercise Bulimia and Hyper gymnasia).4 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
Where did you get that idea from?
I do more than 2 hours of exercise almost every day. I regularly log six-hour hikes. I've occasionally logged longer. Pre-Covid I would occasionally do back-to-back high-energy gym classes. I got the full calorie 'credit' for all of them.
In fact it would be highly unethical of MFP to lie about the amount of calories used, because that might cause massive underfuelling of endurance exercise. It looks bad if your users collapse in the middle of a 23-mile hill walk.
However, in response to the OP's question and anyone thinking like the OP - it took me literally years to work up to my current level of exercise. And that included a lot of setbacks where I would get impatient, try too much, get injured, and have to scale back again for weeks while I healed. The way to do more is by small increases and long periods of adjustment between them. Anything else just results in pain. Very literally.3 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »OP hasn’t logged in for over a week.
But I do want to point out that MFP and most other fitness apps only give “credit” for two hours of exercise daily. Beyond that you get zero credit.
This is on purpose. Because beyond that it’s more likely to be a symptom of anorexia when done on a daily basis.
Professional athletes with good coaches and nutritionists are an exception.
I've already mentioned that the OP's idea isn't a good one, but the bolded just isn't true. Not as much anymore, but I used to routinely log training in excess of 2 hours and always gotten credit. My first real training experience was for a sprint triathlon and would regularly have days requiring two or more hours of exercise. That training is what got me into cycling and I spent about 5 years really involved in endurance cycling and doing races and other events. When you're training to ride 100 miles in one pop, you spend quite a few hours on a bike training. My short rides were 60-90 minutes.
I still road ride, but I haven't done anything but shorter events the last few years so I don't train like that anymore...but I can still spend a good 3-4 hours or more out mountain biking on the weekend and most of the hikes I do are a minimum of 2 hours...most of them are 4-6 hours. I get credit for those if I log them.2
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