Obsessed with total workout time??

L

LisaMarie

Cathlete
Over the past few years, I've somehow told myself that I must work out no less than 8hrs/week. I think it started back when I had a less physically/mentally demanding job. For the past 6 months or so it has been more like 6-7 hrs/week. By "normal" standards, that amount of time is acceptable, yet I keep thinking I'm being a slug by not putting in that extra hour or two. I can't honestly say it's a complete lack of time (just a FT job, 1/2 hr. commute, no children, no committees/clubs, etc). There are many people on this forum who have far busier lives but still put in just as much (and often more) exercise time than I.

Does anyone else set a number and then beat herself/himself up when the number isn't achieved??

lisa
 
My number has always been associated more with "day per week" than hours per week. I have always devoted time to exercise at least 5 days per week (usually one hour per day for me). More recently (last year or so), I devote usually 6 days per week.

I think the key is to spend the amount of time that your body feels good. There are plenty of weeks when I don't get my 6 workouts in and I have come to a peace with myself that this is ok! If you are maintaining and feel good with the amount that you are devoting now, stick with it.
 
The question I have is can you see the difference physicially? Or does it just bother you that you haven't worked out 8 hours/week?

You should work out as much as you feel up to without over doing it. People work out more than others for various reasons. The key is not to compare yourself to someone else unless your circumstances are similar to theirs.

If you are okay with how your body looks now and if you don't have any specific goals you are trying to reach. Just keep doing what you are doing unless and until you realize that you are not where you want to be.


~Marietta
FITXME
http://www.picturetrail.com/fitxme
 
No, don't be obsessed about the total amount of time you workout. Exercise is supposed to be something you enjoy so the more 'limits' you set up for yourself, the more negative your attitude is going to be towards working out.

Everyone's goal should be to exercise every day. Now, that could be a 3 hour hike on mountain trails, a Cathe IMAX, a weight training day or simply...a 30 minute walk with your dog.

I have finally gotten in the habit of planning my workouts for a month at a time but I often change a workout if I don't feel like doing what's on the schedule that day. I could have planned a Dvd workout and then it turns into a beautiful day outside so I take my workout outside. It does help to keep your goals in mind if you make a monthly plan because at my age...weight training is very important so I want to make sure I get 2-3 days a week of weight training/weight bearing exercise in.

Relax, stop fretting about time constraints, and just enjoy exercise for the benefits your body is getting from it. And keeping the behind tight is just a bonus!;)
 
I agree with Marietta. If it's working for you and you are seeing good results, than it is enough. It's setting yourself up for failure if you are saying that you must do X hours a week. Plus I do think hanging on this forum at times can make anyone feel sorta slug like ;) It's really okay!


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"


Debbie
 
I've noticed I have an obsession with calories burned. I found myself avoiding workouts that didn't burn 300 calories even if they were workouts I actually enjoyed. Even on strength training days I pushed myself to get in cardio.

Recently, I've realized this and noticed it hasn't made a significant difference so now I'm trying to be a little more relaxed about it. Who cares if I don't burn 300 calories? If I focus on eating better, I think I can maintain my fitness level & weight. I'm trying.....
 
Like another poster said, I w/o a certain number of days/week and don't concentrate too much on the length of each individual w/o. I don't see how it can be healthy when you're stressed just trying to fit it all in.

I reached a point where I had to seriously sit down and define my goals. It became clear that I had to STOP all the obsessive w/o, diet, calorie counting behavior because it made me unhappy. Truly, I've had greater success just going by how I feel. I'm 50 years old now and my goal is to be fit and healthy. I want to be able to get through the day without a lot aches and pains (I have a little arthritis). It may sound dumb, but I know women my age that can't get up from a seated position on the floor! If I can maintain my flexibility, strength, and stamina I'll be happy and content, and I can do that with an investment of 45 to 50 minutes 5 days a week.

Michele
 
I couldn't agree with you more, Michele! Sadly, as most people (men and women) age, staying fit and healthy fall by the wayside and are replaced with the t.v. remote control and a cocktail in the evening. Yesterday I was doing the Hardcore Stretch dvd, segment one, and as I was doing those final stretches towards the end where you have one foot in your groin, one leg outstretched behind you and your arms outstretched in front of you...I happened to wonder about how many woman my age are flexible enough to even do those poses. Because like you said, I too know women my age who can't even sit cross legged on the floor anymore.

It's easy enough to stay in shape in your 20's and 30's because you have youth on your side. But after 40 it becomes more challenging because you're fighting against a biological clock that wants you to slow down, that wants you to gain a few pounds around the middle, that wants your joints to start showing their age and wear and tear and wants to replace that hard earned muscle with fat.

So, any form of exercise is great as long as you keep moving. The length of time or the calories burned don't really matter. Just get off your butt and keep exercising. That's for everyone! }(
 
Thank you all for your words of wisdom! I keep trying to remind myself that exercise is a life long commitment, and if I can only fit in 45-60 minutes a day, that's ok. I think I really need to focus on the food-factor. I rarely binge on unhealthy foods, but as we all know, eating lots of healthy food can put on the pounds, too. I'm determined to not let exercise stress me out.

Have a great day!

Lisa
 
Lisa:

Your picture is AWESOME - I would kill to have the physique you do!

Don't be so hard on yourself - keep up the great work!

Take care,
Marcia ;)
 
Lisa you look awesome!

It's really true at some point its the law of diminishing returns. A lot of folks have gotten better results when not working out as much. Strange but true.
 
There was a time I was obsessed with numbers such as total workout time, but over the years I've come to realize what really counts in the LONG RUN and what is better for my overall health - physical AND mental, is simply focusing on making working out part of a LIFESTYLE change - not an end in and of itself. What I eat makes more of a difference in my body over time anyway. The workouts have their benefits of course, but they are only one part of the entire picture.

I have a full time job that often has me working more than 8 hours a day, and a daughter who is now in high school and has a very busy schedule herself, and that is why I'm up most school mornings at 4:15 AM to workout - I would never do it if I didn't just get up and get to it that early. But if I miss a day the world does not stop spinning, I do not gain 20 pounds overnight, and my hair does not fall out. Life is too short to fixate on numbers or time.

I make up my own rotations and schedule them in advance for no more than four weeks because usually after that I'm bored with what I wanted to do anyway, and I print them out or I'd forget what I wrote to begin with - LOL!! If I skip a day for whatever reason, then so be it. I schedule one rest day a week because I have learned that, for my body anyway, attempting to workout seven days a week leads to overtraining. Everyone is unique. You have to find what works for YOU and then stay with it, modifying it as needed for your lifestyle, your schedule, your particular needs at that time in your life, etc. There are no workout police. It's supposed to be enjoyable, not guilt-ridden, and it if you find it is causing you angst or guilt, then something is wrong, IMHO.

Carol
:)
 
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