Is there such thing as too much exercise?
 

Just curious, because I've been trying to walk 3-4 miles a day on the treadmill and today I actually walked 5 miles. This was quite an accomplishment but it took me 1.5 hours. Is this too much?

I have to believe that a person can do too much exercise. For myself, I don't think 1.5 hours is it but it may have to factor in for each individual person and their own level of fitness. Again, I am not positive, this is just what I think.

Yes you can exercise too much. Five miles is probably not too much, but only YOU know that for sure.

How did you feel when you were done? Any pulled/strained muscles? Were you out of breath? Did you have trouble recovering from the exertion? How long did it take?

Your body will tell you if you have overdone it. Pay attention to what it tells you :)

Yes, there definitely is, but it isn't 5 miles. A good rule of thumb is to assess whether your exercise is disturbing other aspects of your life - if you're not socialising or missing deadlines or other priorities, it's probably too much.

Also, if you're exercising despite illness or injury, it's maybe worth thinking about whether you're doing too much.

I work out around 2-3 hours a day, and some of my friends say I do too much. However, it's my hobby and my passion, and it is what I love to do.

The 10,000 steps-a-day philosophy is based on about five miles per day (2,000 steps equals about 1 mile). From a google search:
"Is it really five miles? Yes. That's using the estimate that 2000 steps equals about one mile, or 5280 feet." (source: http://www.peertrainer.com/LoungeCom...ThreadID=14310)

I'm 5'4" and my pedometer says about 10,000 when I've walked about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of total walking. This will be about 5 miles or 10,000. I use Mapmywalk.com to help me with measuring my regular routes.

We live in a very urban place that is extremely walkable so it's great for people like my husband and me (with two elementary kids) who don't own a car. We walk or bike only so I actually don't consider my walks when I count exercise. I only count my early morning workouts at home: dvds and HIIT.

As for too much exercise, I workout five times a week (at home with dvds and doing HIIT). Around town, I get in about 1 hour walking in a day with probably five or more hours of biking in a week (3 seasons of year--except Boston's been very rainy for months).

I've built up to this level and can tell if I put in too much because over the next couple days I'll be a bit more tired and need to go to bed early. I try to automatically sleep early if I've over done it and make sure I'm thorough with yoga and stretching.

I totally am careful to get plenty of sleep knowing that I need to personally watch out for the delicate balance of stress maintainence, enough sleep, and good nutrition that will allow me to find the planned for benefits from exercise.

On the past season of the Biggest Loser, one of the contestants was always suffering from no weight loss even though she worked-out so much and didn't eat much. So, I'm really nervous and hyper-aware of getting enough sleep, etc.

x2 on the 10,000 steps = 5 miles thing I was just going to point out the same until I saw the reply.

5 miles is definately not too much as long as you feel your body if comfortable with doing that. (For example I would not recommend someone jumping off the sofa at 300lbs and walking 5 miles your first day) A your weight you should be perfectly fine.

What is too much or not is very subjective. I do 1-3 hours a day which some here may say is too much, but honestly it's just leading a healthy lifestyle training for triathlons like thousands of other people do. I follow a training plan that was specifically written out to balance harder and easier days to give the body time to recover. To someone who never exercises a 3 hour day sounds insane. To someone training for endurance races it sounds like a fairly moderate good workout day.

As long as you're letting your body rest and aren't too drained throughout the day there is nothing wrong with 90 mins of walking it's probably one of the more gentle ways to exercise your body. Listen to what your body tells you don't overdo it too quickly and pretty soon 5 miles is going to feel like nothing. :)