Is Working Out Less Sometimes More?

[upperwests]

I am a First Grade teacher and September is always crazy for me. I've been very consistent with working out about 5 to 6 times a week, even during the summer....except for one week. Well, I decided to lighten up my workout schedule since the beginning of Sept. because I really couldn't keep it up without going insane. So to make a long story short, I've been working out about 3 to 4 times a week and am actually seeing better results. I have drastically reduced my cardio sessions and am focusing much more on weights. I was reading an article by Tosca Reno (spelling?) and she said that if you don't have a lot of time to workout....to concentrate more on weights than cardio.So I am only doing cardio about once a week! My eating has stayed basically the same. I also never do more than an hour a day. So for some strange reason working out less is giving me more results.
Anyone else experience this?

 

[lainiefig]

I haven't done this intentionally, but with a recent ankle injury I wasn't able to do my usual cardio or even much of the usual lower body stuff. I have been doing upper body workouts instead, 3 days a week. I also try to do at least 2-3 other days a week of gentle low weight lower body or whatever I can manage. I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I've gone down in clothing sizes and just feel trimmer in general.

Of course, I'm dying to get back to doing more cardio anyway, just because I enjoy it and I know it's good for my heart.

[font face="comic sans ms" font color=teal]***Lainie***

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"The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself." -- Mark Twain[/font]

 

[Clarissa]

I would agree with you. I definitely am trimmer now that I have added weight training (heavy and moderate). I focus on it more during the week, still do circuit cardio a few days per week and run now only once. Cutting out the running really had a positive effect on my body in general, but that's just me. Yes, I believe that this could be possible for you. Good luck! Hope the ankle heals soon!
Clarissa

 

[kimyenchu]

Hello,

My experience is that weight training is better if you want to achieve a good looking body. I started doing heavier weight training using the Pyramids and S&H with cardio twice a week:I want to do 3 times but can't seem to fit it in some weeks. I try to do interval cardios as well as this is better if you are doing less. I am noticing that I do look a little slimmer (I hope). However, cardio is important to build energy and keeps the heart strong. I am finding that the cardios are tougher when I do do them. It's important not to lose that part of your fitness.


Yen

 

[tneah]

I have been rehabing from a recent (July) hip surgery, and lost 10 pounds.

I have given up wine, but my exercise routine was just walking and doing the "Squeeze" workout. I ate less though, because I was not as hungry as when I really hit the weights and cardio hard.
So now, I am trying to find the perfect formula, I think more circuit type training is probably my best bet, I am muscular already and want to keep the 10 pounds off!

 

[kkshedevil]

This thread is so interesting to me! I broke my leg in February, and lost 8 pounds. Until this thread, I hadn't come across other people who lost weight under similar circumstances. I expected I would gain weight due to being so sedentary. My eating didn't change that much--maybe slightly less due to a reduced appetite. Obviously some of it was muscle--my leg was positively withered, but no way did I lose 8 pounds of muscle. I'm doing short workouts--mostly walking, floorwork to rehab the injured leg, abs, etc. I also walk about a mile to work to and from my car.

 

[andtckrtoo]

I've done an experiment where I've given up weight training while I trained for my half marathon. All I do is running, cycling and yoga/pilates. And no where near as long as I used to - except for one long run a week. Besides the incredible flexibility I've been acheiving, I've noticed I'm not as hungry, and am more able to resist the treats that I normally have a tough time avoiding. And, I can stop more easily even if the food is really good.

I've come to the conclusion that weight training was making me very hungry. For some, I think cardio does the same thing. It makes sense that if you cut back, and your eating falls into better control, you'll see better results. It's working for me - I lost 10 pounds without really trying! I'm stoked!

 

[CollinsMom]

I have to agree with the above posters. I have not taken any sort of extended rest lately, but a few times I have backed off of the workouts a bit due to sickness or overtraining symptoms.

Just this past week, I was really really sore due to trying a new workout and using really really bad form. Add to that not sleeping well at night and a lot of "female-issues" pain, and I really really was not up to getting up early to work out. I cut back to about every other day, and I knocked the intensity back a bit, and I felt and looked great. Scale went down a little too!

I need to find a good balance between high-intensity weeks and more laid back weeks. If I can stay disciplined with the eating, then I should be fine!

 

[jodijodi]

I am glad to hear this. I have been cutting back a bit lately, partly due to some joint issues, and partly because of scheduling (my youngest kid has given up her naps, and she can't seem to occupy herself for a full hour while I'm working out.)

So I was thinking about going to an every-other-day type of schedule, and I'm happy to hear that rather than fearing the worst, maybe this will actually turn out to be a good thing! My appetite has been crazy lately, so hopefully it will calm down a bit with this new schedule.

 

[singinggoddess]

I always lose weight when I stop working out so hard. I tend to binge when I workout a lot, thinking that I am burning it all off. Or, if I am due to take a rest day and I have overeaten the night before, I workout anyway to get rid of some of the calories. I am a lot more balanced all around when I take the intensity down and the frequency. I love working out everyday though, so it is hard for me to cut back. I agree with Christine though, weights definitley make me eat a lot more. It is so interesting that sometimes we sabotage our effort with too much of anything Interesting post.

Susan