How much is too much?

[Frugal Raw]

Hi -

I have a tendency to be a fitness junkie. I love working out - especially with weights, and I really miss my weight bench and heavy plates. We sold them years ago because we had no room for them.

I'm wondering how to know if you're working out too much? With the increased energy and stamina on raw, I am able to do more than I've ever done in my life, and yet it doesn't feel like I'm doing much of anything...

Today I've done:

3 miles - powerwalking
4 sets of 25 each: bicep curls, tricep extensions, and pec flys using 5 lb weights (it's all I have currently)
100 sit ups
30 minutes of intense bellydance fitness (high aerobics for slimming down)

...and am about to do another 3 miles of powerwalking. I did the same yesterday, but sans the bellydance. I felt good, yesterday, but not like I'd really done all that much.

How much is too much?

Thanks!

[Aleesha Sattva]

you should always take a break from weight lifting... one day on, one day off. it's allows your muscles to heal. when you do it daily... you don't increase your muscles as they never recover!

otherwise... it doesn't seem like too much to me. personally i keep my workout for the day down to one hour (except for my 2 hour yoga class on tuesdays combined with my usual 1 hour workout).

I think you are doing GREAT!!!

[ForTheHealthOfIt]

Just listen to your body. If you do to much, you'll know it tommorrow. If you start feeling tired and lethargic you may want to take a rest day.
and ditto on the weights...you should give each muscle group at least 48 hours to repair themselves before hitting them again. Maybe try splitting your weight workout so you hit different muscle groups on different days.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i wanted to add this though:

one thing i've found about myself in the past. when i get all gun-ho and heavy into working out, i burn out. this is why i keep it lower now. i want to be able to do this for life... not just for this month/week/day.

so as long as you won't think (later on) "oh man, an hour is not enough so i won't bother"... then you should be good to go.

[Frugal Raw]

That's just it - I don't feel like an hour is enough, and I go thinking about fitness instructors and bodybuilders who work out for 4 or more hours a day, and that's honestly where I want to get to. I wish I still had my weights. I'm hoping to get my first kettlebells next month, and begin rebuilding my home gym with those. I'd also LOVE to have a barbell and some plates to work with as well...

[Revvell]

My friends work out HOURS every day. The thing is, change up, change out. Vary your workouts so you don't get bored, so you don't use the same muscles, so it's constantly fun. Question will be, how much fun can you have?

We stopped using barbells and free weights. My teacher and I (Rocannon.com) use to train heavy with weights ~ 4-6 hours a day, 6-7 days a week. Now we know that if you've got a limb, you've got a gym. Use whatever you've got around the house, get some small medicine balls, get some ropes, get some Indian Clubs, kettlebells, rebounder, hula hoop, jump rope ~etc. Be a kid again. Dance! Play! Frolic! Stop thinking exercise! How many kids you know wear out after a few weeks of play?

Ever hear a kid say "Oh, I'm burnt from playing too much. Think I need to take a day off". Never happen.

Good resources: IronWoodyFitness.com; http://www.lifestylesport.com/indian_clubs.htm (get the one pound; you'll be surprised at the workout you'll get playing with them. My teacher is 5/10", about 200# and he backed off the 2#'ers)
http://www.lifelineusa.com/.

Then do a search here for Primal Play and see what my friends are doing or look at the vids on Rocannon.com.

Revvell



That's just it - I don't feel like an hour is enough, and I go thinking about fitness instructors and bodybuilders who work out for 4 or more hours a day, and that's honestly where I want to get to. I wish I still had my weights. I'm hoping to get my first kettlebells next month, and begin rebuilding my home gym with those. I'd also LOVE to have a barbell and some plates to work with as well...

[Frugal Raw]

OMG! I am loving Rocannon's website! Going to check it out more after another workout. Thanks for the info AND thanks for letting me know I'm not so out of the ordinary!

[Revvell]

... thanks for letting me know I'm not so out of the ordinary!

Ohhh, you are out of the ordinary ~ but who wants to be ordinary??? :D

[Frugal Raw]

Oh yeah - that goes along with that whole being normal thing...I much prefer being an abby-someone;)

[Frugal Raw]

Revvell, you inspired me to buy a new toy yesterday!! A 5-lb weighted squooshy ball!! I had so much fun playing with it yesterday. It's like a soft version of a medicine ball. It came with a dvd and a booklet of things to do with it. I may have to go back another time when I can afford it and get the 8-lb as well:D

[Revvell]

Yayyy you!!!! I love mine!!! Even have a poor-quality vid on it on YouTube. Now that we've got a better place, going to make some better quality vids ~ where I'm dressed better and don't drop the ball. :D

Glad to be of inspiration; glad to be inspired. The circle continues on. :)

[Frugal Raw]

Yeah - I loved that when I dropped it it didn't go through the floor!! LOL!!! The wood floor in my living area is over 100 years old - DEFINITELY doing the kettlebells outside when I get them!! I'd hate to slip up and have one go through to the basement!

[RawSinger]

Yes, I strongly agree with letting your muscles rest after weight-training. After you weight-train, your muscles need about 48 hours to repair themselves (new muscle fibers fit themselves into the little tears that were caused by weight-training, and that's how your muscles get bigger). Everyone gave you great advice. Don't do the same workout all the time. Other than that, keep up the great work. I envy you!

You know you're doing too much if you feel really irritable, exhausted, and it interferes with the rest of your life.


Be well,


Francesca

[Frugal Raw]

That's a good marker - thanks! On the weight training, because I am using low weights (5 lb dumbells) and high reps, do I really need to skip any days? I can see doing it when I have heavier weights in the house, but right now this feels more aerobic than anything else...

[RawSinger]

Amberstorm: that I'm not positive about. I have some exercise videos that are a mix of aerobics and light to heavy weight training and they reccomend that you do the videos "at least three times a week." Even though it's only five pounds, I would think that you're still stressing your muscles. But I'm not an expert! Sorry I couldn't be more thorough.

Be well,


Francesca

[Frugal Raw]

Thanks Francesca! I'll cut the weights back to every other day and see how it goes. I tried looking all over the internet this afternoon, and found nothing really definitive on doing/not doing low weights every day. I did see where a lot of places recommend doing high cardio, which I can do that every day:D

[RawSinger]

Yeah. Cardio is always good! Actually, Amberstorm, I'm trying to get motivated to exercise religiously again. What are your favorite workouts? Or which are the most fun? :confused:

[Frugal Raw]

I like to mix it up as much and as often as I can so I don't get bored. Tomorrow I am going to do my powerwalking miles, but also, I found my husband's Army training dvd, which tells you how to do a standard PT session!!!!!!!! I can hardly wait til morning! I'm also doing my weights since I laid off of them today.