so heres the deal. i only workout 5 days a week, monday thru friday, for no more than 1 hr doing cardio and weights. My workouts are pretty intense. I find that i'm always fatigued most likely do to having a hard time eating more calories to sustain my workouts though i'm at 1500cals a day i should probably be eating more. So the common thought is to do more but i was thinking of doing less since i don't want to increase my cals. i was going to do 3 days of full body weights and tack on 3 HITT sessions at the end of my weight training sessions on monday, wednesday, and firday. this would leave me with tuesday, thursday, sat, and sun off. I wonder if i would feel better and even have better results giving my body more rest time. However, other than working out my life is pretty sedentary since i'm a graduate student and spend most of my days sitting on my butt in lectures and studying. So my question is what do you think of this and have any of you experimented with cutting back? By the way, my diet is really good.
more isn't better
- Thread starter kariev
- Start date
Carol_is_fit
Cathlete
Why don't you want to increase your cals? Just curious. 1500 isn't much. You're probably not eating enough to fuel your workouts. I average 1700 to 1900 a day, and I workout five and a half hours a week. I'm losing weight, inches, and bodyfat at a nice steady rate. Also, are you hydrating yourself before, during and after your workouts? Are you working out on an empty stomach? I find I have a lot more endurance and strength when I sip a protein shake starting about 15 minutes before my workout (and I workout at 5:00 AM!), and then finish the shake during it. Just some thoughts here ...
Carol
Carol
i find that mentally its just hard for me to eat more. plus i'm not hungry at all on 1500 cals so i find it easier just to stay there. i'm working out on an empty stomach and have for almost 10 yrs. i don't do well with anything in my stomach first thing in the morning. I have tried the whole protein shake and stuff but i'm best with my tummy empty.
LaughingWater
Cathlete
My boring answer: The only way you'll know if it works for you is if you try it.
Prior to finding Cathe, I was doing a lot of cardio 5 days a week. When I started doing a 3 day split with Cathe, I cut my cardio down to 10-15 minutes (3 days a week), which was just a fraction of what I was doing before. I lost weight.
Now, there are other factors at play ~ like starting weight training, eating better ~ but I was pretty nervous about shaving my cardio time like that. The first couple of weeks required serious faith.
Personally, I like the idea of changing things up. I plan on doing something like what you mentioned some day...after I get through a few rotations I've been anxious to try. At first, the idea of rotations and change was so foreign to me. Now that I've had a taste of it, I don't want to do it any other way.
Prior to finding Cathe, I was doing a lot of cardio 5 days a week. When I started doing a 3 day split with Cathe, I cut my cardio down to 10-15 minutes (3 days a week), which was just a fraction of what I was doing before. I lost weight.
Now, there are other factors at play ~ like starting weight training, eating better ~ but I was pretty nervous about shaving my cardio time like that. The first couple of weeks required serious faith.
Personally, I like the idea of changing things up. I plan on doing something like what you mentioned some day...after I get through a few rotations I've been anxious to try. At first, the idea of rotations and change was so foreign to me. Now that I've had a taste of it, I don't want to do it any other way.
thank you for your reply. you are right, i'm afraid of eating more b/c i don't want to gain weight but in the same breath i eat 1500 cals for about 3 weeks then i will binge on food for 1 days b/c i get so darn hungry. So in attempt to elliminate my monthly binge i'm going to increase my food intake and keep my workouts 5 days per week. i think i will increase it 200-300 cals. Its such a mental game (diet).
Beavs
Cathlete
The problem is that the "diet" should not be a mental game. You need to change your relationship with food and eating to a positive one. Food is not the enemy, it's how you think about it that is causing the problems. Women tend seem to think of eating as a competition...those who are spartan seem to be admired for eating saw dust every day, counting every calorie, carb, protein they put in their mouths. IMHO this is simply no way to live. Even figure competitors can sustain that hard core take on food for only so long.
Hi,
If you are thinking that some less intense workouts might be better then I think you should try that for a couple of weeks. Our bodies have a way of telling us what they need. I was feeling like you describe and decreased the intensity of my workouts and feel much better and even lost a couple of pounds. That is why I keep some low intensity DVDs and don't get rid of them. I know there will be times that my body need that type of workout. I keep my calorie intake at 1500 most days also.
Cindy
If you are thinking that some less intense workouts might be better then I think you should try that for a couple of weeks. Our bodies have a way of telling us what they need. I was feeling like you describe and decreased the intensity of my workouts and feel much better and even lost a couple of pounds. That is why I keep some low intensity DVDs and don't get rid of them. I know there will be times that my body need that type of workout. I keep my calorie intake at 1500 most days also.
Cindy
Beavs
Cathlete
I think someone who is mostly sedentary would benefit from doing "intense" workouts as well as adding walking/hiking into their day. I know I was mixing up my cardio and using walks on cardio days and it wasn't getting me where I wanted to go but as previously mentioned, every one is different and experimenting is good idea.
ITA with what Beavs posted about changing your attitude towards food.
I would suggest playing around with when you take rest days. Instead of 5 days on/2 days off, I'd try playing around with a 3on/1off/2on/1off or something like that.
In my experience, if I'm going hard and heavy for 3 straight days, my body does better overall with recovery on day 4. Just a thought...
I would suggest playing around with when you take rest days. Instead of 5 days on/2 days off, I'd try playing around with a 3on/1off/2on/1off or something like that.
In my experience, if I'm going hard and heavy for 3 straight days, my body does better overall with recovery on day 4. Just a thought...
janie1234
Cathlete
Great advice Beavs. I hate the word diet. I came to realize years ago that it is about a lifestyle change and doing what works for you and what is fun. For me if I'm constantly dreading, what I'm going to eat and when I'm going to workout I'm less likely to be consistent about keeping my weight and body healthy. I've noticed that recovery and mixing up my workouts helps best. I never count calories, I just make smart choices (with the ocassional treat). It was hard at first but I just put my mind into the "survivor man" mode and sat down, took time to chew my food and recognize when I was full. I told myself that it is okay not to finish everything in front of me, it can always be saved for another day. For me being in "survivor man" mode (if you haven't seen the show) is basically looking at whatever I have to eat as a blessing and I savor the fact that there are people out there that don't have much to eat. It has really given me an appreciation of how fortunate we are to have access to so much.
cendrine
Cathlete
3 workouts a week
Sticking to 3 workouts a week is what finally got me off the jojo excercising wagon. I used to start up full force only to burn out and not stick with it more than 3 months or so.
when I finally told myself to just do three a week but stick with it longterm, then I became consistent. I have been doing it that way for 4 years now and I have gotten great results.
I itch every once in a while to push myself more and I allow myself to do just that, but then when I feel fatigued, I also allow myself to get back to the basics and fully enjoy my rest days.
Something that has helped me tremendously is taking a high potency iron supplement. My hemoglobin is alway on the border, not really bad but also not great, and whenever I am on iron, I do much better and feel stronger in my workouts.
I would encourage you to try the 3 day a week when you feel fatigued but not to feel like anything is written in stone. Listening to my body has been the best thing I've ever done for my body.
Good luck,
Sticking to 3 workouts a week is what finally got me off the jojo excercising wagon. I used to start up full force only to burn out and not stick with it more than 3 months or so.
when I finally told myself to just do three a week but stick with it longterm, then I became consistent. I have been doing it that way for 4 years now and I have gotten great results.
I itch every once in a while to push myself more and I allow myself to do just that, but then when I feel fatigued, I also allow myself to get back to the basics and fully enjoy my rest days.
Something that has helped me tremendously is taking a high potency iron supplement. My hemoglobin is alway on the border, not really bad but also not great, and whenever I am on iron, I do much better and feel stronger in my workouts.
I would encourage you to try the 3 day a week when you feel fatigued but not to feel like anything is written in stone. Listening to my body has been the best thing I've ever done for my body.
Good luck,
I love Survivor Man! I wish they'd come out with some new episodes.