How Much is Too Much?
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Cardio that is. I think I might be a cardio addict. I do anywhere from 1 hour to 2, five nights a week. It's Wednesday and I have already done 4 hours this week. A few people have told me that it's too much if you are doing more than an hour a day, but I feel like I'm not doing enough if I don't do more than an hour. Today, for example. I worked out for an hour and felt like I was slacking off. And I try to switch it up as much as possible, so that I'm maximizing my workouts.
So is there such a thing as too much cardio? Is it counter-productive? I don't see how it could be, since I'm burning calories like crazy. I need help from my fitness junkies.
11 comments:
I'm glad you're doing enough for both of us.;)
As a personal trainer for the past 5 years and Triathlete, too much cardio? There is no "right" answer across the board, but if you wanted to talk to me, hit me up. We can talk about what you're doing and see what's what.
Basic answer is no, but truly we need to talk to figure out if too much is too much.
This is a great question.
No, I'm not trying to sell you anything.
I'm with NotCarrie--I'll take some of that cardio energy if you are giving it away. Muah!!
cardio? what's that? afre taking drugs ashy? drugs are bad.
my only work out is briskly walking to the toilet to take a piss after too many beers!
Since mid June I've been using the exercycles at the gym for a half hour five days a week. That's usually enough for me. Then I'm using another machine and adding more minutes onto it each time, and then I walk for the rest. I'm usually at the gym for an hour to an hour and a half. It usually the walking I can't get enough of. If the exercising feels good to you, though, don't limit yourself too much.
notcarrie- haha...well, then there is a reason for all of the cardio! I'm working out for two.
needtsza- thanks. I'll be in touch.
kassy- thrust me, it's not energy..I struggle through every workout.
mgc- no drugs. at least none of the good ones.
tara- yeah, I can't get enough of the walking/jogging. and it definitely feels good afterwards.
No, it's not counterproductive. Consider for a moment if you lived and worked in the city, and walked to work. And say that walk takes 25 minutes. You would get 50 minutes of cardio a day. If you were then getting on a treadmill for another hour plus, I'd say it was too much. But I didn't get the impression that was your life - only because your name is "Ashburnite."
I do 1/2 hour to an hour a day. I like the sweating. Makes me feel good.
Needtsza summed it up perfectly. There is suchy a thing as not enough, and you are not there. But a lot depends on your body's ability to recover, your metabolism and your goals.
All I know is that there's a cardio wall that everyone eventually hits and I hit mine during last night's kickboxing class. I was actually becoming short of breath.
But you definitely have a higher tolerance for the stuff than I do. And, truth be told, you have MUCH more love for physical activity than me. I so hate exercising.
Can you bottle up your cardio-love and sell it? I'd be your biggest client. ;)
you know they say sex is a good cardio workout. add that to your agenda. i think it is good for 200-300 calories at least.
You can do too much cardio if your goal is to gain or retain muscle. As a woman, I'm sure your goal is to tone the muscle that you have and burn a little fat.
The equation for doing so is relatively simple: Eat less calories than you burn on a daily basis.
As for cardio, you might consider doing low-to-medium impact cardio in the morning on an empty stomach. I highly suggest walking on a treadmill at 3-4 mph on a 5-7% grade for an hour. Based on your bodyweight, you could probably burn 400-500 calories.
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