For a while I have felt like I was probably overtraining and I'm finally realizing I need to dial back my workouts...I am just so afraid my weight is going to start to creep up again. I lost about 50 lbs 10 years ago and have kept that weight off (give or take 5lbs) since then. I try to eat clean but am definitely not perfect when it comes to food and I know they say what you eat is 80% of the weight loss equation. I plan to try to clean up my eating a bit more but I know I will never eat completely clean (I have a serious sweet tooth and have to have my chips and salsa every once in a while!) so I have to account for that! Those of you who have decreased your workout intensity or time spent exercising I'd love to hear how that worked out for you...any tips thoughts, experiences would be appreciated!
Dailing back the workouts
- Thread starter Bonne
- Start date
atompki1
Cathlete
I'm also thinking of doing this, but like you I'm a bit scared. I think what I've decided is to just try it and figure out what works. I'm going to try lessening the intensity of some of my workouts. Things like IMAX really seem to take a lot out of me. If I remove something like that(or limit it significantly) I seem to feel much better and I can continue working out six days a week without feeling run down. I really don't want to lessen the number of days I workout as I feel it kind of keeps my life 'on schedule' so to speak.
Let's us know how it turns out for you
Let's us know how it turns out for you
wonderwoman
Cathlete
I have never been overweight but when I had my 2nd child I gained 80 pounds. After all was said and done I had to lose 50lbs to get back to my pre pregnancy weight. When my daughter was 6 months old I was back to my normal weight. It was very hard but your are right it's all about your diet.
Fast forward 7 years later I don't have the time to workout like I use to. Now I do 30min a day 5/6 days a week. I am very good with my diet usually allow myself a few indulges on the weekend then monday it's back to business. I am the lowest I've ever been.
Fast forward 7 years later I don't have the time to workout like I use to. Now I do 30min a day 5/6 days a week. I am very good with my diet usually allow myself a few indulges on the weekend then monday it's back to business. I am the lowest I've ever been.
I dialed back my workouts over 2 years ago and have actually lost weight. I am just not as hungry as I was when I was working out harder. I still workout 6 or even 7 days a week but doing less intense cardio and lighter weights. I also do a lot of fusion workouts now. I have been able to cut down on sugar and white flour which really helped. When I finish a workout now I feel good not wiped out and exhausted. I have come to appreciate fusion workouts which have added a lot more stretch and flexibility. Really I have never looked back.
mini-natty
Cathlete
Hi Bonne,
From my personal experience, it's sometimes better to train smarter and not necessarily harder or longer.
I rarely exercise longer than 60min, 5-6X/week for two reasons: 1) My schedule does not have that flexibility being a SAHM to a 3 year old. 2) I don't have the stamina and 60min is my maximum threshold before I start to feel "wiped out". I don't "double-up", or do 2 workouts in one day, for the same two reasons I mentioned. As far as intensity with my cardio, it varies. I like hiit's, steady state, intervals and circuits. I get bored easily, so variety is very important to help motivated me and keep me motivated. I listen to my body and take rest days when needed. That being said, I am a big fan of walking. Even on my rest days, I will get out there and walk. To the store, the park, even the ice cream shoppe. I don't drive, I walk. It's excellent for the body and the mind, and burns calories while avoiding risk of injury or over-training. A tool vastly underestimated.
I feel my diet is what determines if I gain/lose weight the most. The healthier my food choices and the closer I stay within my caloric budget, the leaner I become (and stay!). I like my "cheat days" and I try not to overly obsess about food and exercising (I'm all for creating a stress-free lifestyle).
The key is finding what works for you, your lifestyle, and sticking with it!
Good luck & take care,
Natasha
From my personal experience, it's sometimes better to train smarter and not necessarily harder or longer.
I rarely exercise longer than 60min, 5-6X/week for two reasons: 1) My schedule does not have that flexibility being a SAHM to a 3 year old. 2) I don't have the stamina and 60min is my maximum threshold before I start to feel "wiped out". I don't "double-up", or do 2 workouts in one day, for the same two reasons I mentioned. As far as intensity with my cardio, it varies. I like hiit's, steady state, intervals and circuits. I get bored easily, so variety is very important to help motivated me and keep me motivated. I listen to my body and take rest days when needed. That being said, I am a big fan of walking. Even on my rest days, I will get out there and walk. To the store, the park, even the ice cream shoppe
. I don't drive, I walk. It's excellent for the body and the mind, and burns calories while avoiding risk of injury or over-training. A tool vastly underestimated. I feel my diet is what determines if I gain/lose weight the most. The healthier my food choices and the closer I stay within my caloric budget, the leaner I become (and stay!). I like my "cheat days" and I try not to overly obsess about food and exercising (I'm all for creating a stress-free lifestyle
).The key is finding what works for you, your lifestyle, and sticking with it!
Good luck & take care,
Natasha
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Thank you all! I'm feeling a little more comfortable about doing this after hearing from you all. Its just so hard to get the weight off in the first place that I work really hard not to put it back on so it seems counterintuitive to workout less although I really think that what I need to do - I have just been feeling so worn out ALL of the time and my legs are always tired!
Atompki1 - I hear you about feeling like you want to stay 'on schedule" thats a big part of it for me also!
PhyllisG- I am hoping for that to happen for me as well (I am hoping that working out less (or with less intensity) will help me to lose that extra layer of pudge that I have on my abs!
Wonderwoman - I am so glad to hear you are able to maintain (even with cheats) while working out 30 min/day...makes me hopeful that I can do this...
Mini-Natty - your schedule sounds about what I'm aiming for - just have to clean up my diet - I try to eat well most of the time - but I am very good at rationalizing "cheats" which is fine once in a while but sometimes I get in the habit and once-in-a-while becomes almost everyday - not good!
Thanks again all!
Atompki1 - I hear you about feeling like you want to stay 'on schedule" thats a big part of it for me also!
PhyllisG- I am hoping for that to happen for me as well (I am hoping that working out less (or with less intensity) will help me to lose that extra layer of pudge that I have on my abs!
Wonderwoman - I am so glad to hear you are able to maintain (even with cheats) while working out 30 min/day...makes me hopeful that I can do this...
Mini-Natty - your schedule sounds about what I'm aiming for - just have to clean up my diet - I try to eat well most of the time - but I am very good at rationalizing "cheats" which is fine once in a while but sometimes I get in the habit and once-in-a-while becomes almost everyday - not good!
Thanks again all!