What's your total exercise time per day?

[Jane2011]

A lot of these threads are about how we all exercise; I want to know your total time.

 

Mine is actually high. But I've been this way for a long time.

 

I exercise, total, two and a half hours per day. Usually, it's 1 hour, 30 minutes (usually my 3 mile run), and then another hour. I don't do 2.5 hours all at once.

 

I multi-task, also. I often read while working out.

[KR10N]

Same here. I manage to do 1.5 hours easily. 2.5 is usually my stopping point. Have gone 3 hours before.

[futuregopher]

my shoulder tricep workout. all sets are 8 reps, until failure last set

 

superset 1

 

- dumbbell shoulder press 4 sets 55lb

- upright rows 3 sets 80 lbs

- lateral raises, then immediately front raises

 

superset 2

military press 3 sets 100lb

close grip bench press 3 sets 100lb

reverse pec dec rear delt 3 sets 110lb

 

superset 3

smith machine military press 4 sets 135lb

tricep extension 3 sets 25lb

reverse pec dec rear delt 3 sets 120lb

 

superset 4

skull crushers 3 sets 65 lbs

dumbbell bicep curls 4 sets 35lbs

rear delt pec dec 3 sets 120lbs

 

superset 5

straight bar bicep curl 80lbs 4 sets

lateral raises, then to the side 15 lbs 3 sets

 

I try to get this done in 75 minutes but if I have to wait for machines it usually adds about 15 more minutes to my workout. I try to not stay at the gym for more than 90 minutes

[FitChick]

Half an hour to an hour usually. Half hour walking, hour weights DVDs. On weekends I often do both, walking as a warm up to my workout.

[SunandMoon]

About 30 miniutes; spread over miniture workouts, I suppose, is the best way to describe it.

[Titanwolf]

About 1 hour and a half a day. 30 minutes training (one bodypart a day) and 1 hour training clients. Weekends included.

[HHC]

I try and do an hour a day. I do a cross section of weights and cardio

[Emilia]

 

I multi-task, also. I often read while working out.

 

That most likely renders your workout useless. If it's not high enough intensity there is no point in doing it.

 

I box 2-3 x a week and that's an hour each time as it's at least 60% anaerobic exercise executed in rounds (3 mins on, 1 min rest including warm up)

 

I run/weight train 2-3x a week (depending on how much boxing I do) and that's up to 2 hours when running and weights are on the same day

 

So it's 5 days a week, 1-2 hours a day with such intensity that I need 2,500-3,000 calories a day.

 

I'm going rowing this Sunday, it will be probably 2 hours but that's recreational stuff, won't be high intensity so almost doesn't count. I have a sailing race coming up next Sunday, it will be all day exercise but again low intensity. I walk to and from work every day, 40 mins in total but I don't really think walking should be counted as exercise unless your life is completely sedentary.

Edited July 5, 2012 by Emilia

[fucpcg]

1.5 - 2 hours per day lifting - 4 days a week

2 - 4 hours volleyball - 2 to 3 days a week

2 - 6 hours softball - 1 day a week

1 hour rollerblading - 4 to 7 days a week

1 - 2 hours hiking - 7 days a week

 

Then misc like tennis, swimming, kayaking...

[xxoo]

30-40 min of running, 4 days a week.

 

4-6 additional miles of walking per day, and another 30-60 min per day outside moving in some capacity with my kids.

[Manimal]

Roughly 2 hours per day. If I swim, perhaps a bit longer.

[Jane2011]

That most likely renders your workout useless. If it's not high enough intensity there is no point in doing it.

 

It's not useless, really. I do free weights and a step bench and can read while doing it. I have my book or article propped up on this 'stand' of sorts, so I don't have to hold the book/article. I definitely am sweating during and after the workout. Oh, and when I'm doing the step bench, I'm holding the book. It's kind of strange, and I'm sure I look funny doing it, but no one's seeing me, so I don't worry. The point is, I'm sweating for sure. I can't have phone conversations either. Or rather, I can, but I sound breathless. I know because I've tried to talk on the phone while doing the step bench, and the person always asks why I sound like I'm exerting myself.

 

That said, what really gets the shaft is the quality of my reading. The concentration on the book or article isn't as good as it is when I'm just sitting still and reading. But...I purposefully choose easier reading for multi-tasking with workouts. Save the difficult reading for when I'm just relaxing with a book.

Edited July 5, 2012 by Jane2011

[Jane2011]

That most likely renders your workout useless. If it's not high enough intensity there is no point in doing it.

 

Besides, if it were useless or ineffective, I wouldn't be thin...but I am.

[StarlaStardust]

I workout 1 hr every weekday morning before work. It's high intensity with a trainer, mostly crossfit stuff, MMA, etc. I'm actually going to go for a second session today, because I feel up to it, and am getting really into this fitness stuff.

 

On weekends, I run at least a mile a day on the treadmill. I know a mile's not much, but it keeps my body moving. I'm also car-less, so I get some exercise that way.

 

I'd like to be working out more. Don't know where you all find the time, when people ask me where *I* find the time, hehe.

[USMCHokie]

That most likely renders your workout useless. If it's not high enough intensity there is no point in doing it.

 

Oh come now...how do you define "intensity"...?

 

I usually am at the gym no more than an hour...but as far as actual physical exertion, I might put it at no more than 10 minutes.

 

I find it unfortunate that so many folks believe that you need to be completely smoked in order to have an effective workout...

[StarlaStardust]

 

I find it unfortunate that so many folks believe that you need to be completely smoked in order to have an effective workout...

 

I've been operating under the assumption that total soreness = muscle is building aka effective.

 

Can you elaborate? I feel really interested in what you're saying.

[USMCHokie]

I've been operating under the assumption that total soreness = muscle is building aka effective.

 

Can you elaborate? I feel really interested in what you're saying.

 

Soreness is not necessarily what I'm talking about, as soreness usually occurs on days following a workout...you can be sore without thrashing your body...

 

Those who workout every day to the point of complete body exhaustion and fatigue are doing their bodies a disservice...but modern bro science certainly encourages people to finish their workouts drenched in sweat and barely able to walk or even stand...

 

But to each their own. I don't like sweating.

[StarlaStardust]

Soreness is not necessarily what I'm talking about, as soreness usually occurs on days following a workout...you can be sore without thrashing your body...

 

Those who workout every day to the point of complete body exhaustion and fatigue are doing their bodies a disservice...but modern bro science certainly encourages people to finish their workouts drenched in sweat and barely able to walk or even stand...

 

But to each their own. I don't like sweating.

 

Thank you for explaining. What do you suggest instead?

[USMCHokie]

Thank you for explaining. What do you suggest instead?

 

The only suggestion I can make here is that you need to be aware of your body...and be aware of the feedback it's giving you...

[StarlaStardust]

The only suggestion I can make here is that you need to be aware of your body...and be aware of the feedback it's giving you...

 

Pretty vague or maybe I'm not gettin it I feel appreciative that you are trying to explain this to me, though Thank you!

[tman666]

Pretty vague or maybe I'm not gettin it I feel appreciative that you are trying to explain this to me, though Thank you!

 

He's saying that running yourself into the ground with too much exercise/not enough recovery is just as unproductive as not training hard enough. There's a lot of people lately that seem to pride themselves on being able to mutilate themselves and their clients.

 

Anyone can train themselves into the ground. It takes intelligence, experience in the trenches, and a long term view of things to train optimally.

[StarlaStardust]

He's saying that running yourself into the ground with too much exercise/not enough recovery is just as unproductive as not training hard enough. There's a lot of people lately that seem to pride themselves on being able to mutilate themselves and their clients.

 

Anyone can train themselves into the ground. It takes intelligence, experience in the trenches, and a long term view of things to train optimally.

 

Thanks, tman666 \m/. I am understanding this total concept, but I guess I'm looking for more specific stuff, like what this would look like. How do you know when to stop and when you're just being lazy and quitting prematurely?

[tman666]

Thanks, tman666 \m/. I am understanding this total concept, but I guess I'm looking for more specific stuff, like what this would look like. How do you know when to stop and when you're just being lazy and quitting prematurely?

 

Hahaha, well that's the big question. I guess the answer to that question can be different for each person. Most people who are serious about their goals and training generally are trying to train as hard as they can because the greater the stimulus (i.e. training), the greater the results up to a certain point.

 

There are scientific ways of observing this point, but for practical purposes, it comes down to simply being experienced and knowing what your limits are in terms of recovery. For example, I learned long ago that I can lift maximal-range weights on the "big lifts" (squat, bench, deadlift) 3 days per week and still feel good/make progress. Beyond that, my joints start hurting and I start regressing in my progress. Of course, I still exercise more than 3 days per week, but other days might be devoted to lighter loads or on muscle groups that don't stress the central nervous system as much (arms, bodyweight only work, hiking, etc.).

 

The basic things you want to pay attention to to gauge your recovery are: 1) how do you feel? Do your joints hurt? Are you excited to train, or just "ho hum" about getting in the gym?

2) how are you sleeping? If you find that you're needing progressively more and more sleep each night in order to function, you might need to look at how hard you're training. Likewise, restless sleep can be a side effect of overtraining.

3) Are you getting sick more often?

4) Are you finding it harder and harder to recover from each training session?

5) Are you injured-this one may seem like a no-brainer, but you wouldn't believe all the people that train through injuries. This method leads to more injuries, more pain, and simply furthers the amount of time your training is going to suck and be less than productive.

 

There are surely other indicators that I have neglected, but the point is that you need to listen to your body. There's nothing wrong with pushing your limits (in fact, most people don't push theirs hard enough). On the other end of the spectrum, however, you have people who push too hard and see sub-optimal results from doing so. Just something to pay attention to, not necessarily worry too much about.

[StarlaStardust]

Hahaha, well that's the big question. I guess the answer to that question can be different for each person. Most people who are serious about their goals and training generally are trying to train as hard as they can because the greater the stimulus (i.e. training), the greater the results up to a certain point.

 

There are scientific ways of observing this point, but for practical purposes, it comes down to simply being experienced and knowing what your limits are in terms of recovery. For example, I learned long ago that I can lift maximal-range weights on the "big lifts" (squat, bench, deadlift) 3 days per week and still feel good/make progress. Beyond that, my joints start hurting and I start regressing in my progress. Of course, I still exercise more than 3 days per week, but other days might be devoted to lighter loads or on muscle groups that don't stress the central nervous system as much (arms, bodyweight only work, hiking, etc.).

 

The basic things you want to pay attention to to gauge your recovery are: 1) how do you feel? Do your joints hurt? Are you excited to train, or just "ho hum" about getting in the gym?

2) how are you sleeping? If you find that you're needing progressively more and more sleep each night in order to function, you might need to look at how hard you're training. Likewise, restless sleep can be a side effect of overtraining.

3) Are you getting sick more often?

4) Are you finding it harder and harder to recover from each training session?

5) Are you injured-this one may seem like a no-brainer, but you wouldn't believe all the people that train through injuries. This method leads to more injuries, more pain, and simply furthers the amount of time your training is going to suck and be less than productive.

 

There are surely other indicators that I have neglected, but the point is that you need to listen to your body. There's nothing wrong with pushing your limits (in fact, most people don't push theirs hard enough). On the other end of the spectrum, however, you have people who push too hard and see sub-optimal results from doing so. Just something to pay attention to, not necessarily worry too much about.

 

Ahh, my curiosity feels quite satisfactorily quenched now. Thank you!

[tman666]

Also, the "popular" thing I keep seeing on fitness message boards and blogs these days is that "overtraining is a myth created by pussies who aren't willing to stick with the pain long enough for their bodies to adapt".

 

While this method might work for some people, I've been injured too many times and for too long in the past to adopt this mindset for myself. I guess that mentality works for some people (and more power to them if it does), but I know it doesn't work for me.

 

Experience will tell you where your own limits are. When you find them, respect them.