The other day someone told me “If you’re doing 13 hours of exercise a week, you’re doing it wrong.  You should only do a few hours of weight lifting a week.”  

I boggled at this because I’m not sure what this “it” is that I’m trying to do and, clearly, doing wrong.  (Has anyone else found that weight lifters can be zealots?)  

Right now, I’m doing three days a week of 5k training and yoga stretching, this takes about 6 hours total each week.  I’m taking 6 fitness class, for a total of 6 more hours.  I do an hour of yoga at home once a week.  And I’m also doing physical therapy for my shoulder right now which is another 2 hours a week.  (Sometimes I add in some extra yoga, depending on how much time, energy, and desire I have.)  

In May, I’m planning on adding 2 hours of Aikido a week and not all of my fitness classes might exist during the summer, so I might need to drop a few of those.  

In September, I’m planning on dropping the fitness class membership (sniff) and adding 2-3 days of weight lifting.  (Aikido will switch to 1 hour a week as well due to choir.)  I figure I’ll hire a personal trainer for a month so I can learn how to lift correctly.  I’ve never enjoyed weight lifting in the past, but I’m hopeful that a smaller me will find it more interesting.  And, at some level, I know that it’s an important part of a well rounded exercise regimen.  

And once I reach my goal weight, I’m planning on becoming a parkour master.  

So.. aside from the parkour thing, am I “doing it wrong?”  I don’t feel like I am?  I feel like I’m really enjoying life and doing great things for my body.  It just really bothered me that someone who doesn’t live my life thinks that they know the right and only way that I should be exercising :(  

You are doing AMAZING!!!  Everyone will ALWAYS try to put their stink on your life and what you are doing BUT you answered your own question at the end when you said "I'm really enjoying life and doing great things for my body" then YES you are doing it perfectly right.  PLUS you are taking care of your shoulder with physical therapy.  Not only are you doing GREAT things but you are doing a variety of things to keep your body guessing.  

There is no RIGHT or WRONG way to work out...there is what you LOVE and what you don't love so much you know?  Personally, I LIVE for weight lifting.  When i was losing my weight that was what helped me change my body composition while losing body fat was weight lifting.  I weight lift 2 hours a day 6 days a week and swim/yoga/zumba on sundays for a little switch up.  

Do what you LOVE... not just that but do what makes you FEEL good.  This is your life...everyone will just want to put their stink on it... GOOD LUCK! 

Yeah, I don't buy the "wrong" part either. According to who? If you got the time & the energy, I don't see anything wrong with investing 13 hours each week in yourself. Maybe if you were just doing one thing, they'd have a point (though I raise my hand in guilt. Basically only running for the past 2 years without any other cross-training. Yes, my hands should be slapped!) because that might increase risk for over-use injuries, but you're doing a variety of things for 13 hrs. So, yeah, sounds like you had an opinionated zealot on your hands....

Thanks!  That's pretty much what I tell myself too - I'm doing lots of different things and exercising all the parts of my body.  I just don't see how that can be wrong!  :D

I am proud of her for making the time.

I did and everyone at my wedding commented on how I did not have any sagging skin. My nutritionist claims it is a combination of EXERCISE/AGE/Good genetics.

I was obese for 8 long years..so it wasnt a time thing.

Anyway, my producton is in the toilet..but I made time for exercise and I can DO so much more.

And it totally kills the snide people who wonder "Did she or didnt she (get surgery)?" when I get on the elevator in my leggings for a run over lunch.

I have heard from 3 seperate people that on 3 seperate occasions there have been discussions in which others wondered if it was surgery.

And that is the goal right?  To lose the weight, be able to DO things again, and look and be NORMAL.

You're amazing.  I had to google parkour master because I've never heard of it.  I still don't know what is though.  Will you explain?  Is it a fitness program?

At it's core, it's just a method of getting from point A to point B in the most efficient manner.  Sometimes this involves going over and under things.  If you've seen any of the Assassin's Creed video games, or Prince of Persia... the way the characters move is an example of parkour.  :)

Gwen, as long as you're feeling good I don't believe you're doing too much. You have a great variety of activities. Which really helps and helps keep your interest up. If you start noticing joint pain or other nagging pains, cut back on that activity and you can switch it with another.

Instead of weightlifting have you thought about trying some bodyweight work? It's easier on the joints, can be done anywhere, and will certainly help with the Parkour as it increases the strength to weight ratio. I am a bodyweight calisthenics coach and would be more than happy to post some help here.

Tom

Thanks, Tom.  I figure that most of the exercise I'm doing is bodyweight stuff :)  That's basically what yoga and pilates are, after all!

There has been many more stories lately about working harder for shorter periods of time. HIIT - High intensity interval training. Perhaps this person was trying to say you don't have to do that much work if you try that? But as long as you're happy, staying injury free, and seeing results, then go ahead :)