this may be a dumb question

Its actually a 4 part question.  I see people saying they work out twice a day and it confuses me.  Here are my questions about it:

1) Why don't you just do the whole thing at once?
2) Are you doing different types of work outs during your two workouts?
3) How long is each workout?
4) How the heck do you find time to work out more than once a day?

I am perplexed.  I love running and intense workouts, but when I'm done I'm done.  I can't imagine doing it twice a day.

 When I was working out twice a day I was doing cardio in the am and weights after work - the reason I did it 2X a day was becasue I do weight class at the college and the gym was only open limited hours

Now I do only work out after work but miss my morning workouts to be honest.

I would usually do an hour each workout session and to squeeze in that am workout I would get up early but I suffered from severe insomnia at the time so it wasn't really an issue waking up @ 4:30

I usually work out twice a day--I like it!  Sometimes I do the same thing, other times I switch it up.  I do DVD's, treadmil and elipitical.  It keeps my body guessing!  I usually work out at least 30min, usually 45-55--and I do not work outside my home-I am a stay at home mom!  I get up around 4:30am to do my first workout, then I usually do another one either when my little guy is napping (around 1:00), or I do it at night when my kids are sleeping!  (my hubby works odd and long hours 6pm-11am, 6 days a week!) so making time for him is not an issue!!!  Our time is usually Sat pm's!  Then I skip my 2nd workout!  I used to do the whole 1 to 1.5 hours at one time, but sometimes, especially at night, it just feels good to move again!  It might not be as instense, but around a 3 mile walk/jog in about 40 min.  Gets my blood flowing, and I'm currently trying to schedule a date to quit smoking, so, it helps with that!  Hope I don't sound too crazy!!!

Actually, there are very few people that work out twice a day. Most people only go once. If your just starting then stick with once a day. If you get really motivated then try twice if you want.

When people work out twice a day that means that they do cardio in the morning. Apparently it is best to do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach to burn more fat calories. I say that an extra 50 calories is worth a lot less than an hour of sleep.

tommy - I'm not just starting out and i'm not contemplating doing this.  I think its excessive and would be a waste of my time to have to go to the gym 2 times in one day.   Plus, working out in the morning is not my thing. At all.  I was just curious about the reasoning behind it.  Plus I think if people are doing cardio twice a day it might be unsafe depending on how long the workouts are.

the reasoning behind it must vary person to person. the one guy i know that used to work out 2x a day did so because he jogged a short run in the morning (2km) and they ended at the gym... so... he would stop in and do weights. his run after work was far longer.

the only time i worked out 2x a day was cardio at lunch (or weights if all the machines were busy) then the opposite in the evening after work. sometimes i would go to the gym in the morning and do ab work in the evening.

~

i think it depends on lifestyle. i have no real obligations, live very stress free and am self managed... working out more than one a day, or for 3+ hours a day is not wrong, just different.

think of instructors. many instructors i know would only count their private routine as their 'workout' and be up and at em all day long. that is way more than 2x a day~ 

I spent 6 years working for a local gym.  I saw many people that worked out twice a day, but in most cases they were either marathon runners or stay at home moms that had to keep their figures and wanted to use the daycare for some time away from their kids.  The biggest thing I saw of most people that tried twice a day is they ended up hitting burn out and quiting all together. Which is obviously worse in the long run.

twice a day isn't for everyone, and I don't think most of us do it every day.... I guess I just enjoy it, and if I end up with some extra energy and some extra time, I head out for a run or possibly do some lifting for my second.  I do see better results when I do cardio twice a day, but one workout is usually significantly harder than the other.  I may do the ellipse for 45 min in the AM, and then I may meet my running group for an EASY 35-40 min run. (and then we drink beer----)  When you are training for something (triathlons, marathons, etc) many people opt for twice a days just for time... if you have a job, sometimes that's the only way you can get it in....plus it stops me from eating in the evenings - - -  but I agree with you, if you can get it all in at once, go for it!

Remember also, that some people are training for things and when you are trying to work and train for a competitive event, sometimes you only have the time before and after work.

I'm not doing it right now, but I spent many years training twice a day (3x while in HS), swimming and adding in extra dryland (strength and conditioning) time during the week.  You simply can't beat the endurance value.

People that are training for triathlons may swim in the morning and run/bike in the evening (or vice versa).  They may do a cardio every morning, and then split the evenings with another cardio or strength training.

It works for some people -- it definitely doesn't work for all.  People who were very athletic while young may find it easier to do than those who started exercising later in life.  You do have to be smart about it.  You have to know your body -- it is easy to over train which can lead to injuries and burn out.

You also have to have the life which allows it -- you must have the time (which may mean time away from family/friends), you have to have the money (if you participate in a cost-bearing exercise program), and you must have the determination.

To be honest, if I thought I could get away with it (I know I can't), I would swim 2x day, four to five times a week --splitting workouts between different energy systems and strokes.  But that's me, and I'm working on having no life at all, anyway