Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

How much excercise is too much?



Recommended Posts

Hi!

I am currently doing 150 minutes of excercise a day. It just is the amount that feels right to me in terms of raising my energy level. BUT, I once read that after a certain point, there is a "law of diminishing returns" when it comes to excercise - meaning that more does not add anything to cardiovascular health or weight loss.

Does anyone know at what level more excercise is just pointless? 150 minutes seems excessive to me (although I love it when I'm doing it) but I'm losing really slowly. (and yes, I do track calories, am following nutritionist recommendations, but am not at my "sweet spot" yet. I have a fill set up in 2 weeks.)

So, here are my questions:

1) does anyone know if there's a point beyond which there's no added benefit to excercise?

2) is it dangerous to excercise for more than 2 hours a day?

rdk211:huh2:

31 y/o, "almost" 5 feet tall

Surgery 7/1/08

Highest 215

Day of Surgery 211

Current 184.8

Goal 115

Edited by rdk211

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Any exercise is better than none and as long as you are enjoying it and not over exhausting yourself then i don't see that there would be a problem. if you are really worried break it up into blocks of 30minutes or maybe try HIIT, I'm almost positive you won't be able to do 150minutes if you are doing Interval Training

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think as a general rule, you'd find a lot of trainers say that any more than an hour of cardio is really a waste of time. I know I've never really seen great returns for running for an hour and a quarter as opposed to fifty minutes and now that maintenance is the goal, not weight loss, I tend to do about 40-45 minute long runs.

But if its something you ENJOY, theh its not a waste of time, other than things like my concern with running is that to run for an hour and a half every day would be enjoyable to me becuase I love it. But the levels of pain and injury I suffer increase a lot with that kind of workload. I'd be better to keep up my running and add weights.

If you're mixing it up and doing cardio and strength training, then you could easily spend two hours or so a day working out, with a good run and some attention on chest/back one day/ legs and arms another kind of thing.

And if you chose to walk for an hour on top of that, well how can that hurt? As long as you dont start to feel that you're overtraining - not sleeping, not performing well, getting sick etc.

It depends on intensity too of course, yes, interval training, boy, I'm whacked after 45 minutes of that, no way could i do 3 hours. Or run a half marathon every day.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jachut-

You really lost big! Do you feel that getting "into" excercise is what helped you do that?

My problem is that I am a tiny woman - barely five feet, and the weight just comes off so slow, I want to speed it up.

The excercise I do is my elliptical. I do interval training. I don't do weight lifting yet (I am scheduled with a trainer for December, I'm scared to lift without her, even though I own a state of the art weight stack)

Right now, I lose an avg. of 3/4 lb a week.

I think I am replacing the "high" I get from food with a "high" from excercise.

It also helps that I made a rule - No electronic media (read, DVDs etc.) without being on the elliptical.

Do you think the extra hour of excercise is just wasted time? (Like the extra Vitamins you take are just colored urine....)

rdk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hmmmm, like I said, it depends on the intensity.

I found interval training GREAT for weight loss and the value of running over walking made a huge difference for me too - I honestly dont believe that old work in your fat burning heart rate range for maximum fat loss. Baloney. Work harder and smarter, it works.

But that said, you only need a relatively short session of hard work - 45 minutes is plenty. If you're just turning over the pedals whilst watching TV then you're not wasting your time, incidental exercise is a big part of our own personal metabolisms, most really thin people dont spend a lot of time sitting still. But by the same token, easy slow exercise isnt going to make the weight literally fall off you either.

If you're tiny, 3/4 of a pound a week might be realistic. Honestly, I didnt lose any faster than that. I took 2 years to get my almost 100lb off.

But everyone is different - you can only try it. Dont do it for a week or two and see what happens. You also have to think - is it realistic long term. I know I decided to run because I thought 8 kms a day would be great, but I dont have an hour and a half to walk that. I'm too time poor. I can run it in 50 minutes. Can you really continue with 150 minutes of exercise a day long term?

But yes, I credit a lot of my success to running. It's definitely the make or break factor between losing ALL your weight or just the 60% average.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

jacqui,

question about what you consider 'interval' training...

do you consider it doing cardio at a rather intense level, get off, do weight/resistance training (1 set of 1 machine), back to cardio, another weight/resistance (different machine), cardio, etc...

or

on cardio at level X intensity then for 45 secs (or so) do level X+5?

not that i can do it right now, but...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Long time no speak LJM!

I'd consider using cardio machines alternating with weight machies circuit training and cardio with intense bursts interval training.

I *try* to both. But it hurts, lol. My new form of laziness is to just go for an easy run and listen to music, lol. And a really ultra lazy day is to do an 8km walk instead of running it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

8 KM is FAR from lazy!! i hate to admit i havent really exercised much since a 5K run in June :)

sure, i've gone on the dreadmill a couple (ok, 1-2 maybe) times, but nothing serious...

once this baby comes, im going to need to really step it up in high gear again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I used to see this pregnant chick running around here and it astounded me. I couldnt do much when I was pregnant, in the first three months I was soooooo exhausted and then after that any physical stuff gave me wicked braxton hicks and I'd want to go to the toilet about fifty times - to the point of squatting in people's front bushes, and my back would play up. Then in the last three months, I'd get SO dizzy, i'd get tunnel vision and the ground would tilt etc. I say dont worry about it until the baby is born.

I know 8kms isnt lazy, it just astounds me how much my outlook has changed. But you know what they say about a habit taking six weeks to cement, that's complete bullshit, this has taken me three YEARS. But honestly now, I am fit enough and so used to the routine of exercise that I really do think "oh, its 35 degrees celcius today and I'm tired, I think I'll just walk the 8kms" and it really FEELS like I'm slacking, lol.

It really is that hot here today too!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It is hard to figure out how much exercise is too much. Usually your body will let you know. If you start having lots of aches, pains, injuries, fatigue, etc., then you know you are doing too much. Exercise is really a balancing act. You may be able to do cardio for a extended period of time, but you really need to pay attention to your heart rate to know if you are doing what you intend. What I mean is, if you aren't getting your heart rate up, you may be only 3-5 calories per minute, but if you really work up a sweat, you may be burning 10-12 calories per minute. A calorie burned is a calorie burned, we need to get rid of them however we can. But you can work harder for a shorter period of time and burn the same amount as you may be doing in 150 minutes. If you are trying to do your heart some good you really need to be somewhere between 60-75% of your max heart rate. You need to stress that heart muscle to make it stronger. You can find charts listing your heart rate everywhere in the gym and on the internet. I'm sure I have made this clear as mud and haven't helped much. I do have a degree in kinesiology (similar to exercise physiology ) so I have done alot of study of this and I don't think there is a simple answer to this question.:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • vsg.with.sharon

      Hey everyone!
      I’m new here! Looking for some friends! 🥰
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×