Question:
Am I working out too much?

Has anyone else here become absolutely obsessed with working out? I had my surgery about 9 months ago with a starting weight of 324. So far I have lost about 140 pounds, although I haven't lost anything in the past 6 weeks or so. I joined a gym about 5 months ago, and I go religiously. In fact, my roommate and friends say that they're starting to worry about me, that I've become obsessed with working out. I don't have a lot of free time because I work full time and go to school part time, but I schedule everything else around the gym. I go at least 4 times a week for between 1.5-2 hours a night, plus I take a yoga class for two hours every Monday night. At the gym, I do cardio every time, burning between 800-1000 calories. I weight train 2-3 times a week in addition to that. I have to go to the gym at night, because I find that I am absolutely beat once I'm done with my workout. On the weekends, when I go mid-morning because of the gym's shortened hours, my butt is kicked for the rest of the day. My friends are complaining that the gym has taken over my life and that even when they do get to see me, I'm so tired all the time that I'm no fun. My question is this: are they right? Am I working out TOO much? I take in between 1200-1500 calories a day and I get plenty of protein. I've been on a plateau long enough that I'm really starting to worry.    — R. P. (posted on February 3, 2003)

February 3, 2003
I do think you are working out too hard. That's the beauty of WLS--you don't have to kill yourself at the gym to see results. If you're only consuming 1500 calories a day max, you don't leave yourself anything after you burn it all at the gym. No wonder you're pooped! If you work out too hard your body will rebel and/or you'll get hurt. Make sure you take at least one day off a week. And mix up your workouts--don't do the same thing for too long. Reduce the intensity of your workout to the "fat-burning" range instead of the "cardiovascular" range or higher. You'll burn up fat, not muscle, and you won't be so exhausted.<p>Good luck to you. My motto is "everything in moderation." You don't have to kill yourself at the gym to be successful. If you get hurt you may not be able to exercise at all and that would really stink!
   — ctyst

February 3, 2003
Rea, I agree with Cheri. I think you're working out too much. I'm 8 months out, and go to the gym 4-5 times a week, and have begun to wonder if THAT'S too much. However, I only do about 35 minutes of cardio, and about 15 minutes of weightlifting every other trip. Still, I can tell I get fatigued in general if I'm pushing too hard. Moderation IS the key, and I think we have to make adjustments over time to find out where that point is for us, at various stages.<P>I find it interesting that you are working so very hard at the gym, keeping your calories low, and still stuck on a plateau (boy, do you have a better claim to complain about that than most of us!). So I also think Cheri has a point about your body rebelling. I also have a friend with a serious health problem who has maintained his health for many years by working out vigorously like you do, but he takes two weeks OFF from the gym every few months, because he sincerely thinks your body just HAS to have a real break every now and then. You might try taking such a break (maybe just keep the yoga during the break?), and then go back, but for shorter or less intense workouts. You can always rotate your workout goals -- train for one objective for a few months, then re-tool and train for another later, to keep variety. Don't try to do it all, all the time. See if cutting back makes you feel any better. Good luck!!!
   — Suzy C.

February 3, 2003
Rea, what exactly do you do for cardio and for how long? I am also a "gym rat" and I go 6 days a week. I do a 1/2 hour brisk walking on the treadmill which burns a little over 300 calories for me. Then I do the weight workout on the Cybex machines. I alternate each day between upper body and lower body, so I'm not working the same muscle groups each day, giving the muscles time to repair. I'm probably at the gym 45-60 minutes a day. I'm wondering how you burn 800-1000 calories each day. Maybe still go to the gym each day but sut back on the cardio time some. Then maybe you wouldn't be soo tired. As far as whether you're working out too much, I guess I'd look at it like this. Have you traded one obsession/addiction for another? If your previous food obsession is now an exercise obsession, this isn't good. As far as plateaus, I'm 8 1/2 weeks out and have only lost 5 pounds in the last 4 1/2 weeks. This corresponds with the amount of time that I've really been working hard at the gym. I am losing inches, though, so the weight just has to follow (I hope!)
   — Michele C.

February 3, 2003
Michele, I always run on the treadmill at a pace of about 5.0 m/h for about 45-50 minutes. I actually enjoy this the most even though it takes a lot out of me. I usually burn about 600 calories doing this. Then I either work out on the ellyptical or bicycle for 20-40 minutes each, depending on if I do them both that night or if I'm just in the mood to work out on one of those. Each of these burns between 200-400 calories, depending on how long I'm on and at what level I'm working at. I don't count calories when I work on the weight machines. That's just bonus for me, although I usually spend about 20-30 minutes working on the machines.
   — R. P.

February 3, 2003
Hi, I am in no way an expert in working out. It never has been and never will be one of my favorite things to do. But I do hold a degree in Biology and will tell you right now, you are not consuming enough calories to fuel your body. If you are burning 800-1000 calories on cardio each day and you only consume 1200-1500 calories your body only has 400-500 calories for everything else, and there is a lot of "everything else" going on. Depending on your current height, weight, age and gender, the body will have a resting metabolic rate. This is the amount of energy that is needed just to sustain life. Not knowing your height or age, I can't give you specifics, but mine at 67 inches, 184#, age 29, female and 0 activity comes out to a little over 1600. This is what I burn just existing (breathing, cell repair, nerve activity etc). You can either up you calories A LOT, or cut back on the activity. You are not giving your body the energy it needs to just survive, much less repair all the muscle damage you do by working out. That is probably why you are not making any headway on the weight loss and if you keep it up indefinetly you will start losing muscle mass even with all the weight lifting you are doing becasue your body will start to use the muscle as the fuel it needs. Your body just does not have the resources to keep up with this level of activity if you are not giving it the same proportion of fuel.<p> I used the following calculator to find the basal metabolic rate:<p> http://www.sirius.on.ca/running/bmr.html <p> But that was just the first hit on a Google search, there are a ton of them out there. Find you BMR, and see how much energy your body uses just existing, then enter your activity level and see how much it goes up. ALSO, please don't freak out at that number and think you automatically should be consuming that many calories a day. While that is good in theory, the body is very complex and everyone is an individual. Try to up the calories a little at a time to see when you start feeling better.
   — Ali M

February 4, 2003
Hi there! Here is some info from my Significant Other....She is a P.E. teacher and has been lifting for 20+ years (can you believe that!! and I am gettng ready to have WLS!! God has a great sense of humor) Anyway, she works out 4 days a week, plus teaching classes 5 days a week. Every couple of months, she takes a couple weeks off. She says your body needs time to rest and recoup. My question has always been....How, then, do you get yourself motivated to return to the gym? Well, my S.O. LIKES the gym - so not an issue for her....but I have to wonder how that would effect me? Anyway, hope this helps shed some light. Remember, a lack of moderation is what got us to the point of WLS. Moderation is the key to a healthy, happy, and WELL BALANCED life! Good luck!
   — MissKimberly

February 4, 2003
Rea, I'm impressed that you can run for 45-50 minutes! I really wish I could. I'm hoping after some more weight comes off that I will have enough stamina to run.
   — Michele C.