Anyone afraid to skip exercising?

graelwyn
graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I find that I feel compelled to exercise every day even if I feel tired or want to sit down and do other things for a day. I fear that I will gain weight if I skip too many days of my cycling, which is my main form of exercise.

What is a sensible amount of exercise to do?

I am averaging about 6-8 hours of cycling a week, sometimes more.

Replies

  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Lifting 3 days a week for no more than an hour.

    Mild to moderate cardio no more than 3 times a week for no more than an hour.
  • s1lence
    s1lence Posts: 493
    I feel like I have to exercise. When I don't I get depressed. Exercise just makes me feel better even when I'm sore. I had a trainer tell me that three days a week was good for exercise but he didn't say how long.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    I know what you mean. I am taking Sunday off. We are going away overnight to party. Will be drinking lots beers. Have exercised 14 days in a row doing 30 DS and treadmill.

    I deserve a day off. Might double up 30 DS tomorrow. Oh the guilt!
  • WatchMomRun
    WatchMomRun Posts: 91
    Absolutely, very compelled to exercise everyday! Sometimes twice a day!

    I think that is a good thing though. With MFP the link between exercising and getting to eat a little bit more is a serious motivator for me.
  • Amy_Lee_2012
    Amy_Lee_2012 Posts: 156 Member
    I work out everyday. I do it because it makes me feel great and It's become part of my daily routine.
    I now do two hours of cardio a day, one hour in the morning and one hour at night.
  • M1chelles5
    M1chelles5 Posts: 107
    Yes. Even when I'm achy or just dont feel like it I try to exercise everyday in order to keep my motivation up. I do alternate my activities though.
  • karylee44
    karylee44 Posts: 892
    i do.. and panic if i can't.. (I have bad knees.. and get really pissy when then hurt too much to walk)..
    i panic even more if i just had a large meal..
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    Yes, I think I might be finding it tough going as I have been sticking to cycling which can get really tiring with all the hills.
    I mostly enjoy it as it gets me out into the countryside (I don't drive and buses are too expensive for such distances) but sometimes I have to drag myself kicking out the door, I must admit, just wanting to have a day of doing some of my hobbies and relaxing.
  • Buddhasmiracle
    Buddhasmiracle Posts: 925 Member
    I do cardio and weight training 3xs weekly. On non "workout" days, I ride my bike or walk for 30-60 minutes. I must admit, that riding my bike for sheer enjoyment seems like less "work" than being in the gym; and yes, I feel a little "antsy"; but I don't worry (or obsess) about missing a day or two. There are issues that routinely come up that interrupt your workout schedule . Practice patience with yourself.
  • sandradaisy
    sandradaisy Posts: 24
    Ya, even on whats supposed to be on our day off for rest, I fell like I have to do something, even if its half what we normally do, have to do something...
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    i do.. and panic if i can't.. (I have bad knees.. and get really pissy when then hurt too much to walk)..
    i panic even more if i just had a large meal..

    Yep, that is me. If I feel very bloated or had a bad eating night, I then feel impelled to exercise even if I really feel like giving myself a rest, I guess the lesson is to not have too many bad eating nights, lol.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    If you dont get proper rest to recover torn muscle youll overtrain and eventually injure yourself.
    Take at least 2 days for full rest.
  • sofitheteacup
    sofitheteacup Posts: 396 Member
    I'm the same way... I do an hour of cardio a day, and on weekends I add other stuff like yoga and zumba. I rearrange my schedule to ensure that I go. I don't hurt or feel bad or anything, it's what I do and it works like therapy for me.
  • ShalisaClam
    ShalisaClam Posts: 190
    I feel the same way. I only allow myself to take one day off of exercise....can never take off two days in a row. I'm afriad I will fall off the 'exercise wagon' if I do. Scary. I try to do 45-70 mins a day of something, usually cardio with some strength training built in on alternate days.
  • kayleesays
    kayleesays Posts: 564 Member
    I started the 30 Day Shred and missed a few days in the beginning; now I'm terrified to miss one!
  • pamperedhen
    pamperedhen Posts: 446 Member
    I am not afraid to skip....I NEED to! And recovery time is worth it!:drinker:
  • lewandt
    lewandt Posts: 566 Member
    i usually get an hour a day with a day off in about 7-10 days but if i am really burnt out i give myself the day off. I think your body tells you when it has had enough.
  • StartingAnewDay
    StartingAnewDay Posts: 319 Member
    *whispers* It's an addiction!! It can get you like anything else and it can be not healthy if you push your body beyond it's limits, don't get enough rest, or allow your body the time to heal. It can make you prone to illness and injury also..

    I force myself to listen to my body... before my body takes the choice out of my hands!!
  • aggie613
    aggie613 Posts: 21
    I'm not saying it's not nice to eat the extra calories, but my nutritionist (who counsels the US Olympic Diving Team), says it's 80% diet/20% exercise. You can burn all the cals you want, but if you aren't eating properly, it won't necessarily make you lose any faster. You're supposed to be active for 30 mins 5-6 days/wk, but I know most of us do classes or videos that are 45-60 min, so I'm happy when I get my 3 days of cardio in.
  • ddiestler
    ddiestler Posts: 353 Member
    Thanks for posting this question. Exactly why I love this site so much..Also, why this site has been so critical to my weight loss and journey.

    I tend to get obsessed about things I am doing..so with that said..yes, I feel horrible and guilty if I miss a day of scheduled exercise. I go to the gym or run outside for 1 hour 3-5 days a week. On days I've ran outside and my legs are tired and sore I rest..it's hard because I do feel guilty. With that said, our bodies need rest so listen to your body..if it's saying rest, then rest. Because I am an all or nothing kind of gal I find it difficult to scale down my exercise and say walk.. I'm learning, but haven't gotten there yet.

    I too have heard that 80% is diet and 20% is exercise.. on days I don't workout I pay close attention to my food intake.. Hope this helps
  • robsgurl
    robsgurl Posts: 97 Member
    I exercise everyday cause I know the way I am and if I go a day or 2 with out doing it I usually stop doing it..last week end I had to skip a day and I forced myself to work out the next day. I don't like taking a day off but I will if I have to. The days I have to take off I am cautious of what I eat and don't want to go over my calories for the day and afraid I am going to go over..it seems like the days I work out I eat better for some reason.
  • LilSomethin
    LilSomethin Posts: 545 Member
    I exercise 5 days a week. I only start going crazy if I miss 3 days in a row. I can see how people feel the need to exercise every day but your body does need a rest too :) U won't gain all the weight back if u miss a day or two :)
  • cjaharmon
    cjaharmon Posts: 46 Member
    I wouldn't say I am afraid to miss a day, but I don't like it. I feel icky if i am not up and moving. The last two weeks have sucked as i have barely made it to the gym at all. But I keep at it and try to watch the calories no matter what.
  • newcomer9
    newcomer9 Posts: 38 Member
    YES!!!! in fact last night i took a nap cuz i onlu had like 8 hours of sleep for the past couple of days , so i passed out after work. Anyways I was beatin my self up about it so i just decided o ill just runfor 30 minutes, at least its sumthing. Well I ran but towards the end a creepy guy started hitting on me. i told him i wasnt interested and started walkin towards the main street, so if i got hurt ppl would see it. OH yeah this was at 11pm at night!!!! daddy was right lol and im creeped out for life. but i had a knife on me so it was all good. just shows don't let it control ur life lol
  • Tdk4685
    Tdk4685 Posts: 293 Member
    I feel like I have to exercise every day. I am afraid if I dont I will go back to my lazy ways. So I make myself go even if I dont feel like it.
  • newcomer9
    newcomer9 Posts: 38 Member
    oh and i work out 7 days a week burning like 725 calories a day
  • JanetLM73
    JanetLM73 Posts: 1,226 Member
    I do 40-60 mins of cardio 6 days a week, weigh train 3 days a week and I always end up doing something on my day off. I love the feeling, my body is changing, I don't feel so stressed out anymore, it's changed my life for the better, and YES I don't want to skip a day, not yet at least.
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    I eat like I'm going to exercise that day, and when I don't exercise it freaks me out cuz I know where those calories are going =(
  • kwest_4_fitness
    kwest_4_fitness Posts: 819 Member
    Being as OCD as I am, it always feels like my pattern is broken if I don't do SOME form of exercise every day.
  • KourtneyP83
    KourtneyP83 Posts: 319
    Yep...I am trying to break a plateau and desperate to lose more weight...this week I have been absolutely exhausted and had so much to do but yet everyday I find myself working out 2 hours. I tell myself I am busy and want to take a day off from it but then I feel guilty. I keep wondering if my life is always going to be this way - I haven't had a chance to even watch a minute of TV this week because I've been so busy exercising!

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