How much time should I spend excercising?

So I posted this same question in my journal and got some great feedback... just wanted to hear any other opinions out there. With 2007 into gear I decided to step up to my fitness plate. I want to work out on average about 120 minutes, 5 days a week. Last night i did high intensity cardio for about 105 minutes, and I am in pain today. Is that too much? The consensus is that I am over doing it, (while feeling the pain in my leggs) I agree. At the beginning of last year when i stayed faithfully with CC, I lost about 15# (half my goal) in 2 months and only excercised about 30 minutes a day 4-5 days a week. I was very strict with myself on calories and it seemed to do the trick. This time around (and the last time around cause I will succeed) I want to be more into getting good nutritional grades, with better protein intakes so I thought I needed more excercise. What do ya'll think? I agree that 120 minutes may be over doing it, so what's the average?

Thanks KJ

120 minutes a day seem rather long to work out, especially if you're drastically cutting your calories. Plus, you don't want to burn yourself out.

Personally, I work out about 1 hour, 5 days a week. I also make sure I eat enough to fuel my workout. I'm 5'7" and I currently weigh 152. I easily eat 2000 calories per day, and I'm losing weight.

Thanks Amanda that really helps! Were you a runner before you decided to loose weight, or did you gradually become one? Nearly 30 miles a week, huh, yikes!

Two hours every day is pretty severe unless you're an elite athelete who's been at it for years.   I've been working out for a few years, and have cranked it up over the last few months, and I average between 7 and 9 hours a week.  I'm also very conscious of eating enough food, especially the good stuff (fruits and veg, EFAs, protein,etc). 

I'm a big fan of losing weight with exercise rather than just dieting, but be careful not to overdo it in the beginning.  Too much too soon doesn't make for better faster results; it's a great way to burn out and/or get injured. 

Fifteen pounds in two months was a great accomplishment, and done at a sensible rate. Your body isn't going to lose fat much faster than that.  Why don't you go back to what worked for you last year?

Kina, I gradually became a runner. I quit smoking last March and immediately joined the gym. I started walking and within a month and a half, I started jogging. I just keep adding distance to my runs. It's completely taken me by surprise, as I never was a runner before, and I always voiced my dislike for it. BUT now I see all the wonderful benefits, and can't get enough.

About 13 years ago, I was eating far more and working out about 2 hours a day. I lost weight rather quickly because of what I was doing thoughout the day. I never, ever was sore though. This is a a good indication that you are over working your body.

I am going to try the same type of plan now. I gained a lot of weight after getting divorced and losing both parents all within a year. I have put off getting back into shape, simply because I failed to see what I really looked like.

Now I at the highest weight I have ever been, and want to be sexy at 40. So my goal for the year is to start over and take off the weight I have gained. I know that the same plan will most likely not work, but I will use the same methods that I learned then and apply them now.

My only advice to anyone is listen to your body, if you are sore, then you are doing too much too soon. There is no need to do what you are doing if you are able to do less and get the same benefits. it is never worth over working your body, as your body needs time to heal. If you are only doing aerobics that long, then why are you doing that?

I have been working out for over 2 years and I still don't do 2 hours a day - except maybe a "leisure walk" but I wouldn't do intense cardio for more than an hour.  If you are doing some weights in this time then maybe 2 hours as long as you are resting in between sets a good 30 - 60 seconds.  Personally I think you need to step it back.  Start out with just 30 - 45 minutes a day and then work up.  If you don't hurt yourself you will probably burn out real quick if you keep up the 2 hours day routine.

i workout 30- 45 minutes a day, eat about 1600 cals a day and am losing weight. Last jan I was 165, this Jan I am 152. I don't burn my self out and don't feel like a spent my whole life in the gym. 

Great advice folks. Dbacker, I surely will step it back to 30-45 mintues a day. And Idemmitt, you're right about listening to my body because I was definetly entirely too sore. And great for you aezell1, I began walking/running last year and actually liked it, so I think I will get back to that with the hopes of getting to where you're at.

45 minutes a day would be enough to get good calorie burning in but not burn you out mentally.

I typically do 55 minutes on stair-stepper or elliptical, lift weights for 20 minutes, and swim for 20 minutes to relax (floating is great for total muscle relaxation).  I have sore muscles occasionally, when I increase resistance or speed, but nothing really painful.

I go to my club 4-5 times a week.