How much is too much exercise?

So, I'm trying to figure out how much is too much exercise.  When I've been going to the gym lately I've been doing 2-3 hours of working out.  I usually spend a 1/2 hour on weights and than the rest on cardio.  I'm trying to speed up my results.  Do you think this is overkill?

Hi, watchmeshine:

I would highly recommend starting to lift heavier weights. I'm not sure if you have access to a gym (if you do dance at a studio, and own an elliptical) but it sounds like you do, so get on over to the iron! I say this because you're going to burn a lot more fat challenging yourself with lifting heavier weights. I would think that, for the most part, the 3-5 pounds that you're doing is either too easy for you now, or it will become too easy very soon. In my own experience, I lost about 10 pounds just doing cardio and eating in a deficit, but then I too was bored and plateaued as well. I decided to start lifting weights and I've been very happy with the progress - not only am I losing fat, I'm gaining muscle and changing my body - now I don't care anymore about the weight, I'm just addicted to the lifting, and my body is adapting in positive ways. The best part (for me at least) is that there are always different exercises that you can do, while on the elliptical you can really just adjust the resistance, and even that gets boring after a while.

Why don't you consider keeping up with the dance classes (they sound really fun) and then swapping the swimming/elliptical for some weights? It can be intimidating at first but I read your profile and you mentioned being 'self-educated' so it sounds like you'd be willing to do some research to find out what to do. There are some links that have already been posted on this thread, but you might also consider getting a women's weightlifting guide such as the Body Sculpting Bible for Women or The New Rules of Lifting for Women, both of which offer good advice on technique and programs to work through.

There are a lot of people on this forum (men and women) into weightlifting so you can always ask for advice or if you need answers to other questions.

Just some thoughts, hope you'll consider them!

watchmeshine

First of all congratulations, you've lost a lot of weight so far and that is really inspiring.

I agree with yeeha. The best exercise you can do is the exercise you love and if you look forward to those classes then absolutely keep on with them.

That said even though I'm a cardio addict, I believe the fastest way to fitness is through strength training. If you try to incorporate two days of strength training a week you will see results. I find it a bit boring so I do the classes at my gym but find what works for you. It's a real motivator when you realize that you actually need to add more weight because you've gotten stronger.

hey guys!  thanks!  does anyone have any recommendations about the number of days and hours adding in the weights?  should i do it on my "non-dance" days which are thursdays and sundays (or more?)  also, going alongside this thread's theme, would adding in elliptical, the stationary bike or swimming be overkill? 

also, what about adding in more activities LIKE dance that i also enjoy that happen to be good for my health (for example, i tend to swim at a leisurly pace , i have a friend who wants to take up tennis again this summer, i love horseback riding, and i was thinking about buying a bike to bike along the lake come the spring).

here's my current routine:

monday - 1 hour tango, 1 hour dance aerobics

tuesday - 1 hour salsa

wednesday - 1 hour salsa

friday - 1 hour swing

saturday- 1 hour dance aerobics, 1 hour salsa

Well the days when you have double dance classes are probably out.  I would say whatever is most convenient for you except that if you are going to do a full body workout w/ weights, you want at least a day of rest in between.  It is actually on this day of rest when your muscles are repairing themselves and getting stronger.  I would actually recommend maybe tuesday and thursday or thurs. / sat. so that you can take sunday off.

Anyone?

I'm still not sure how many hours of weights I'm supposed to be doing....  And, is adding in more fitness activities that I enjoy (like swimming) a bad thing/overdoing it?  I don't want to injure myself but I definitely enjoy swimming and dancing and am not as wiped out as I am after an hour or two on the elliptical!

Add a spinning class once a week.  It will kick your butt. It works your whole entire body.  I went to my first one last night and woo wee.  We did arm exercises, it works your abs and your butt and legs. Incredible workout.  I worked much hard spinning than I ever do on weights.

Weights vs. spinning is totally different.  If cardio is what you're after then add in more cardio.  Cardio alone has been doing NOTHING for me so I just recently started adding in 3 days of full body weight training.  I THINK I am finally losing some inches.  Can't quite tell yet.  We'll see.

As far as "time" it's as much time as it takes you to complete a weight program.  There is no set time really. I thought that cc's exercise page had some good weight training programs that could be done anywhere including at home with bar bells.  Start w/ maybe 2-3 sets of 15 repetitions, resting 30 seconds to 1 minute in between sets.  Just go through each session you want to do.  I don't really know how to explain it.  Melkor and others on the fitness forum may be able to help you more with that.  Sorry I can't be more help.

Original Post by jerichocheyenne:

We did arm exercises, it works your abs and your butt and legs. Incredible workout. I worked much hard spinning than I ever do on weights.

:( You're doing something wrong when you do weights