realistic exercise goals??
 

Since I've only been on my "routine" for a little over two weeks, I'm wondering... am I doing enough? I've read through a lot of posts and listened to a lot of people so now I'm not quite so proud of what I thought I could be proud of. I had been doing 30 mins at Curves 6 days a week in the morning and either walking :running: or riding my bike :ebike: a mile every afternoon, I just started adding swimming :swim: into the afternoon rotation. Is my afternoon exercise enough? My sister walks 3 miles a day but has been doing this for a while and isn't my size. I've watched "the biggest loser" on tv and those people are like going AT it.... so... What is realistic and reasonable?

Enough for what?

It sounds to me like you're doing great, especially for a beginner! 30 mins in the morning plus some afternoon stuff is really good. (Is that another 30 mins in the afternoon?) I don't know how Curves works, but eventually I think you'd want to work up to 45 mins of cardio and then maybe even 60 mins of cardio, plus strength training, but 30 mins is a great start.

It's also important to remember that 'enough' is really as much as you can possibly do and STICK with. You could work out 8 hours a day like the Biggest Losers, but you'd burn out in no time and you just wouldn't be able to sustain it. Give yourself credit where credit is due and set yourself reasonable but ambitious goals :)

It sounds like you are doing great. That definitely sounds like enough exercise to me--and something to be proud of, for that matter. :goodvibes

The folks on the "biggest loser" show are following specialized programs with highly specialized diets tailored to their level of activity and everything they do is overseen by a professional. It's not realistic or even smart for most people to follow that kind of exercise program.

Hey Teacher,

Yes, you're doing fine! BlueToBlue is right about Biggest Loser--those folks do nothing but work out all day. Don't forget, that show is a contest, not real life.

The amount of time I exercise is pretty much set by the other things in my life. I can afford 1-1/2 to 2 hours a day to do some exercise--so I walk in the morning for 40 minutes and go to the YMCA in the afternoon for about 45 minutes or so--and the rest is my drive time to and from the Y. I walk every day, and I go to the YMCA 5 or 6 times a week.

I used to belong to Curves but I don't anymore--I "graduated" to the Y. But it was a good place to start out.

Good luck!
Jay

By enough I meant enough to make a difference, to do me some good. Thanks Blue and Baffled. The afternoon is a mile so not quite 30 minutes if I walk but a good 30 if I swim.

I agree you are doing great! :bike: :swim: You have variety in there and are being consistent. Keep up the good work!! I do agree that eventually adding some cardio would be a good idea.

I think you are doing terrific! You can easily do a great workout in an hour a day - and splitting it up into morning & afternoon is actually better for you b/c you get the "afterburn" effect twice. Just be aware of your body & start to up the intensity if it gets too easy.

You should always feel proud of yourself for working out. So many people don't do any physical activity. Doing something is always better than doing nothing. And it sounds like you're doing fabulous. :) Once your workouts start to seem easier, don't forget to up the intensity/time!