How much exercise is reasonable to you?

I shouldn't have expressed my opinion here.  I didn't realize how MY opinion would seem insensitive to others.  

 I think your routine sounds very reasonable.  I've been doing between 30-45 minutes of walking (doing Walk Away The Pounds) almost daily - some days I have a different video I do that has some toning exercises in it using hand weights and I'm doing weights 3 days a week too.  Now, keep in mind, I'm new to exercising regularly but I do know it makes me feel GREAT when I do it and that usually motivates me enough to get-r-done!! Doncha hate PMS!

Hi Juli,      I find your regimen perfectly reasonable.  :-)  My usual is treadmill 7 days/week (50-55 min) with anywhere from 1-3 trips to the gym each week which is where I do 2+ hours of elliptical, weight machines, and the bikes.  Once I get to where I simply want to maintain, I will probably have at least 1-2 treadmill-free day each week and get to the gym realistically about once a week.      I just came off of several days of PMS'ing and raging at everyone around me.  LOL  The funny thing is that the last few weeks have been so stressful that I totally forgot to realize that I was about to get my period.  So last night when it showed up, I was like, "Oh, that's why I've been a total B last few days."  :-)  (Also, explained the cantaloupe appearance my abdomen had taken on.)      But I have similar responses to those who choose to be helpless and whine.  We all have problems and setbacks, but it's up to us to pick ourselves up, deal with the problems, and make some progress.  Saying "I can't exercise" and then complaining about no weight loss, or "it's not fair to my kids if I don't keep Twinkies/Doritos/(fill in your junk food of choice) in the house" and then complaining about binges every day are cop out's.      Nothing worth having in life is free.  We do the work; we reap the benefits.  It's as simple as that.  No one's saying it's easy...just that it's do-able if you want it badly enough. Julie 244(highest recorded)/164(current)/122(goal)

Reasonable?  As you say, that MAY vary from person to person.  Nobody - NOBODY on earth has an excuse to not do 20 minutes a day of any exercise. That would be the stone cold minimum in my book.  We all know the recommendation for heart health is 30 minutes daily minimum.  An hour daily is reasonable in my mind for most people who choose to make it a priority. We had an exercise discussion this weekend at my association meetings. A few people claim hatred for exercise.  I said one must work thru that. I'm not sure I LOVE flossing my teeth either or eating salmon 1-2x a month.  To me, the motivation begins intrinsically, the basic belief that exercise is important.  Is heart health important to ya or would a heart bypass surgery be in your schedule rather than trying some prevention??  Is stress management important to ya...or would a little yellow pill do it for ya instead?  Is bone health important...or would a dowager hump on your back help ya get thru the day coupled with a walker?  There are SO many reasons to exercise, and weight loss is only ONE aspect.  

Hi, Well, I do agree that your exercise routine sounds great.  I stepped mine up in January because I had been plateauing for a couple months.  I currently workout 2-3 hours a day, six days a week and I hired a personal trainer--because that's right for me now.  But here's the thing,  I didn't start out this way.  I worked my way here.  When I started it was only 30 minutes, 3 days a week.  I had to hit bottom and find my way out.  And, you may be sick of those people complaining, but they just haven't found their reason to make changes yet.  It took me 5 years of being morbidly obese to finally decide I wanted something else in my life, for my life.  I'm not saying you have to agree with them or even listen to them, but feel fortunate that you made that change in your life when it was right for you and you are healthy and taking care of your body and spirit. They will do it if they want.  I've learned to just nod my head to their complaints and offer help if they want it. I am just so thankful I'm not in "that place" anymore.   Katy (428-highest weight;208 current weight; 160; goal weight)

Hmmm, is the real issue here assurance of YOUR time spent? Others answered commenting about your specfic routine. if some one (that some one being more couch potato than anything) in your family is grousing about the time spent exercising:  BLOW IT OFF. That person is most likely trying to push some buttons. AND may be pushing away personal responsibility/guilt toward personal health. Not your problem. They are not broke, and it's not your job to fix them anyway. No YOU are not exercising too much. For stress management alone, that amount of time is more than reasonable. You have been exercising many years, you are at a level that warrants that amount.

I had PS - BR & TT in Nov. Before that I had lost 100 lbs. I had some complications after my PS and so the Dr. just released me to start exercising. I have done Walk Away the Pounds for a long time. My DH used to make fun of me but now he is working out with me and he found out what a workout it can be!!! We use the advanced 5 mile tape and have been doing 3 miles (about 40 min.) each night. Soon we will bump it up to 5 on some nights and 3 with strength trainuing on others. It is great to have him working out with me and that we can motivate each other to get going!  I spent alot of time being overweight and I knew what I needed to do all along. We have all been in that place or we wouldn't be here. I try to be very positive when friends complain about their own weight issues and I share the things that have worked for me. I know in the end that everyone needs to get to that place and make a commitment to themselves before their situations will change. I'm still not perfect and I have a ways to go (I share that, too). Try to remember ...we all came from that place and change is not easy. -Sally P.S. - I also feel like telling people to quit whining and suck-it-up when I have PMS!  It is my few days to tell everyone what I think - and get away with it!!!  :-)

Hi Juli!!!! At the beginning of my journey I decided that the one thing that had gotten me off track so many times before was the fact that I had placed unreasonable expectations on myself.  I used to think I'd start a "diet" and I would exercise EVERY day and I'd lose this weight in no time.  WRONG! When I started my program back in July of 2005 I did NOT work out for 3 whole months.  I just didn't have the energy and focused instead on my food program and how that was going to settle in for me.  On October 15, 2005, after an 11 month hiatus from my gym, I started back again.  My plan was to do 3 days a week, period.  I wasn't aiming for 7, I just knew that wasn't going to work for me.  After a few months I upped that to 4 days a week.  My workouts consist of 4 days a week cardio and 3 days a week of strength training.  That being said, it's not uncommon for me sometimes to go every night of the week, or to do some cheesy Richard Simmons tape at home if the weather doesn't permit going out.  I am also ALWAYS on the go, never stopping until it's almost time to go to bed.  Frequently I will be sitting at home on a Sunday afternoon and realize that there is a class that I wanted to take at the gym and hop in the car and just go.  If I set myself up for 6-7 days a week at 2-3 hours a day I would surely not do it.  That in turn would make me guilty and I would probably just STOP doing it altogether.  See the dilemma? LOL I think that everyone should exercise.  I have so many friends that don't do a THING.  I so cannot imagine that being the case for me.  I have people I work with who go home and nap before dinner.    I suppose it's really a matter of "to each his own", but that doesn't work for me anymore. I commend your stringent plan, I really do.  I am SO scared right now knowing that after my LBL at the end of March that I will not be able to work out for a while.  HOW in the world did you deal with that??????? I hope everything is wonderful with you!!! Donna