Exercising/Running Everyday

I have been running on the treadmill for 40 mins everyday for the last week, and before that I was exercising every day at the gym on the elliptical and doing strength training every other day. I'm wondering if maybe Im doing too much. I read on the Learn to Run thread that I should be running only 4 days a week and giving my body a break between running days.

Is this true?? Am I exercising too much?? Or is what Im doing okay as long as Im not sore? Does anyone else try to exercise everyday?

Great question!!  I want to know too, and you beat me to the punch! 

I have stepped up my workout--30 minutes of elliptical everyday and once a week I add weights afterward,  I was doing 20 minutes every other day of elliptical or rowing or stationary bike for quite awhile.  I have done the new regime for almost 2 weeks.  My philosophy; babysteps to get healthy.

I hope we get some great feedback!!

That is about where i started 30 to 40 minutes of cardio 4 - 5 days a week and i would do weight training every other day. 

You should give yourself at least one day of rest a week.

On a side note , if you are not getting sore you might not be working yourself hard enough on the weights. That is , if you are trying to make muscle at all.

It depends on what your fitness goals are.  If your goal is overall general health and fitness, then what you're doing sounds good.  If your goal is to build muscle and burn more fat, you need to focus on more weight training.  I wouldn't think you should experience any soreness from the treadmill or elliptical.  

Original Post by pam632:

It depends on what your fitness goals are.  If your goal is overall general health and fitness, then what you're doing sounds good.  If your goal is to build muscle and burn more fat, you need to focus on more weight training.  I wouldn't think you should experience any soreness from the treadmill or elliptical.  

 So then its okay to not have a rest day between cardio?? I like to continue doing cardio along with strength training because it lets me have more leeway with calories.

Even very high level runners (ie serious competitive athletes) usually take one day off a week. It allows your body to recover from the stress and strain of running. If you push yourself too much everyday, you may end up sick or with an overuse injury. Be careful!!

Depends on what you're doing, your personal work capacity, your nutrition and more. In general, it's more problematical with weight-bearing exercise (running 5 days a week gives you a miniscule increase in VoMax and a huge increase in orthopedic problems compared to running 3xweekly, for example).

 If I were you, I'd alternate activities - Weights and elliptical one day, treadmill run the next, weights and spin bike the day after, and so on, unless you have sports-specific performance goals (competitive mountain biking, winning your next swim meet or bake-off) that dicatate a particular training program to reach that goal, in which case you'll try to fit the other activities in around that.

 And get your rest days in, they're important!

Original Post by melkor:

Depends on what you're doing, your personal work capacity, your nutrition and more. In general, it's more problematical with weight-bearing exercise (running 5 days a week gives you a miniscule increase in VoMax and a huge increase in orthopedic problems compared to running 3xweekly, for example).

 If I were you, I'd alternate activities - Weights and elliptical one day, treadmill run the next, weights and spin bike the day after, and so on, unless you have sports-specific performance goals (competitive mountain biking, winning your next swim meet or bake-off) that dicatate a particular training program to reach that goal, in which case you'll try to fit the other activities in around that.

 And get your rest days in, they're important!

 Thanks. Very helpful. I did end up taking today as a rest day!

From everything I've ever read, there are people on both sides of the fence for this one.  The idea behind the rest days is that when you run, your muscles actually tear and when you let them rest, they can repair themselves and grow back tighter and stronger.  If you're continually working out, then they don't really have time to repair themselves and eventually you may get injured.

With that being said, lots of serious runners and knowledgable runners run every day.  The trick for them is that they have easy days.  So instead of running a long or fast run, they run an easy, shorter run.  For example, they run 3 miles instead of 7.  Since they're not actually pushing themselves at all, it's pretty much like a rest day.

Hi,

I feel your pain...I was working out 4 to 5 days a week, 2 days is an hour weights, 1 day is an hour spinning, the other days are 30 to 40 minutes on the elptical ansd I was even going one day to Zumba for an hour. I am 49 and 148 pouinds..I fell I look great for my age and I am toned but my belly area and the fat under my armpit is what I need to lose and that is because of weight gain. I have put on 8 pounds in the last 2 years..that is a lot for my height of 5'2. I got discouraged and I have not worked out this week because of no weight loss. I am giving this calorie count a chance and will resume my workout next week. I dont think you are doing to much but you do need a day of rest in between

Original Post by keb1984:

Original Post by melkor:

Depends on what you're doing, your personal work capacity, your nutrition and more. In general, it's more problematical with weight-bearing exercise (running 5 days a week gives you a miniscule increase in VoMax and a huge increase in orthopedic problems compared to running 3xweekly, for example).

If I were you, I'd alternate activities - Weights and elliptical one day, treadmill run the next, weights and spin bike the day after, and so on, unless you have sports-specific performance goals (competitive mountain biking, winning your next swim meet or bake-off) that dicatate a particular training program to reach that goal, in which case you'll try to fit the other activities in around that.

And get your rest days in, they're important!

Thanks. Very helpful. I did end up taking today as a rest day!

I usually do about 30 minutes of stretching on my rest days...just food for thought =)