I am maintaining my weight and have been told by several that I am obsessive about working out. I am curious how much you work out, what you do, and how often--cardio, weight lifting, walking ,etc.
I try to work out 5 days a week with about 30-45 minutes of cardio and then about 30 minutes to lift weights. I also teach fitness classes. Presently, I am teaching water aerobics 2 nights a week, but starting next week, I'll be teaching a Zumba class 2 nights a week, too. So the fitness classes are exercise, but they are on top of what I do for myself in the morning.
Part of me is nervous about cutting back on exercise as I think it had a lot to do with my weight loss and definitely had and has a lot to do with my shape (size of my body).
What do you do? How often? Do you enjoy exercising?

I usually work out between 5 - 7 days a week purely because I enjoy it so much!

I do about 40-60 mins (sometimes more) cardio 5-7 days a week and light weights (pump class - 60 mins) 2-3 times a week

People who know me don't think it obsessive - they know that it is just ME and thats what I like to do as a hobby.

I work out an average of 110 minutes a day (cardio 7 days - strength training 3 days a week). I still track all exercise and calories. And yes, I also get told I'm obsessive. I'm 52 years old, peri-menopausal, and hypothyroid. I want to stay the weight and fitness level I am now so I work out to maintain it. I truly enjoy working out and I have a hunch you do too.

Just ease into your new schedule and modify your morning workout if you need to.

Hashi!

Ah, the old "obsession" bit -- I think we've all had that accusation hurled at us one time or another. I've ranted and raved about it here before ( Choices, Obsession, And Dedication) and it all comes down to one memorable phrase:

Obsessed is what the weak and the lazy call the dedicated.

Please do not ever doubt what you are doing for your health and fitness because someone else decides to stigmatize it as "obsessed"! Their word choice speaks volumes about themselves, not you! Smile and tell them that you're dedicated to your health and fitness, thankyouverymuch, and then you can go work out while they park their butts in front of the TV.

I'm sure that I don't need to convince any of our maintainers of the myriad of reasons why exercise is so good for us, mentally and physically, and why it's essential to those of us looking to maintain weight losses. Study after study has shown that exercise is the biggest predictor of maintenance success (Anne Fletcher discusses this and cites several studies in Thin For Life). So how much sense does it make for any of us to cut back on one of our most powerful tools for long-term success?

Most maintainers choose to add back a few calories in food intake and keep their exercise routines the same once they're ready to maintain their weight. If you opted to cut back on exercise, I imagine you'd have to adjust your calories downward to compensate for your reduced calorie burn. Personally, I'd rather eat more!

Ah, forgive my ranting, but I really get annoyed by these kind of comments!

To answer your question, I exercise every day. I do cardio every day, either a half hour of high-intensity intervals or an hour of steady state, and I lift weights five days a week. I don't like cardio much and do it out of necessity, but I love lifting weights and would probably do it every day if I could find more muscle groups to work out. I always feel better when I start my day with exercise (I joke that it's my drug of choice ) and my eating is always better controlled when I exercise.

Bottom line: do what's right for YOU, not what people think you should do.

I do cardio (intervals or steady state) for 45 minutes 5 days a week and lift 5-6 days per week for 30-40 minutes most days and 1 hour and a bit on Saturdays. I very rarely miss a day and feel foggy and never quite awake if I miss my workout. It keeps me sane and strong. Even with eating clean, it's the only way I can maintain the size and shape body that I want to maintain.

I do take one rest day- but it's usually spent cleaning, gardening, biking, skiing, more cleaning, "power shopping" or working on our endless home renovation projects. So rest day is really pretty active, just not structured.

I've heard the obsessed comments too...who cares? I'd rather be obsessed with exercise and being healthy than sitting in front of the TV or other activities I consider a waste of time and money.

Mel

Well, I obsessed my way down 80+ pounds, so they can obsess about my "obsessing" all they want. And I agree, Mel, I know a few people that are so obsessed with being able to eat fast food and obsessed with making sure they catch 5 hours of tv a night. Pick your obsessed.

I am not so "obsessed" anymore as I am "regular". I aim for 45-1 hour of cardio 5-6 days a week with strength training 3 days a week with various activites thrown in (did my first hike of the season yesterday! woo hoo!). I do get sort of anxious when I'm away from home and don't have as much control over my food (going to relatives, for example). I NEED to find a time and place to exercise because I need to a) balance out my change in diet and b) maintain my sanity (families have that effect...).

Simply put, I just get really uncomfortable and unhappy without a regular exercise routine in place.

Perhaps shamefully, I make it to one hour-long aerobics class per week, rarely two. Work gets in the way...when I didn't work as much I exercised more, but once per week has been the average for the last year.

It's often enough to keep my cardiovascular fitness level from sliding, which is what I want to avoid. I don't like that feeling of being "out of shape" and like you can't keep up in the class because you're getting tired. I remember when I started exercising again after taking a year off of workouts a few years ago -- it took a while to build the stamina back up.

I'd probably work out more if I worked less hours.

I guess my lucky because most of my friends know I exercise seven days a week and no one ever tells my I'm obsessed. They all seem very impressed with my dedication. Maybe it's because I live in CA and that sort of behavior is more normal out here.

For me, it's just easier if exercise is something I do every day, no exceptions. I'm afraid that one rest day will lead to two rest days, which will lead to whole rest weeks, then rests months... you get the idea.

Anyway, here is my current exercise routine:
Mon: 1 hour strength training with personal trainer
Tues: (Alt. 1) 15 min steady state cardio on elliptical, 20 min intervals on treadmill, 15 min abs OR (Alt. 2) a one-hour spinning class and 15 min abs
Wed: 1 hour strength training with personal trainer
Thurs: 20 min running intervals on treadmill and a one-hour circuit training class (combo of cardio and light weights)
Fri: 1 hour strength training with personal trainer
Sat: 75 min swimming
Sun: (Alt. 1) 15 min steady state cardio on elliptical, 20 min intervals on treadmill, 15 min abs OR (Alt. 2) 30 min intervals on treadmill, 15 min steady state on treadmill, and 15 min abs

Hi. I love doing gym classes - it is my one and only sanity away from work and the kids/husband. Go figure! I do three pump classes a week, as a minimum and usually also fit in another two body combat classes. These are usually just b4 the pump class, so I get a double whammy at once - which I absolutely love! I dont care what others think anymore - it is about me now. I would love to be able to fit in the exercise you guys do. I am toying with the idea of starting to run, so that is next on my list! Cheers, Kerrie

Hi goal,

It doesn't sound to me as if you are working out unhealthy amounts. In fact, your workout routine sounds quite similar to mine. I strength train 3x a week at about an hour each session. I shoot for 5 days a week of cardio at 30 minutes (shorter cardio days usually fall on days I strength train too) to 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the activity, and I rotate elliptical, stairmaster, walking, running, and biking. I am also sitting at my desk some days where other days I'm doing marine science fieldwork, which involves moving heavy gear around, running around on boats, generally staying active, and at home I am the primary cleaner, chef, gardener, etc. etc.

I think the only caution is if you suspect you might be overtraining, especially if you do similar motion exercises over and over. e.g. Before I joined the gym I would run on pavement, and got up to 6-7 days, 30+ miles a week, and ended up with some knee pain. From your description it sounds like you do a lot of varied exercise and wouldn't have this problem.

To me it sounds like you're doing a great job. Keep up the good work! Whoever is calling you "obsessive" is just jealous of your rockin' bod and great health.

Obsessed? We've heard that one along with "You guys don't eat enough (really bad food)". I get 4-6 miles of hiking almost every night up some pretty steep grades so it's fairly aerobic. Plus a little stretching, exercise ball, and weight training in the morning (takes maybe 15 minutes). Honestly I like the hiking the best. It's an important part of what keeps us on track. The other stuff I do because I know I need to. But the hiking feels a lot less like work. And the dogs love it too! Almost forgot, we also do Tai Chi twice a week now. May not burn many calories, but we enjoy it.

I've found this to be true for me too. When I'm on a really good track with my exercise I seem to pay a lot better attention to my intake.

I think there are many good ways for people to live their lives in their own best interests and that it's a big enough world for them all to get along. Maybe the real obsession is people who want to make sure everybody lives much like they do. I would never presume to tell someone that they should live like me. I'd expect to be told to mind my own business!

I try to do an hour of cardio a day every day (I really like step, kickboxing, dance classes) and weights 3x or so a week, also in classes. Then I do some work on the elliptical a couple days a week, and swim a couple of times, both for 30 minutes or so. My favorite days are when I can do a weights and a cardio class one after the other. (As you can see I like doing classes - I like the social aspect of it and I feel I work a lot harder with the group.) I just like to exercise - straightens out my head. Some days I'll do my workout in the AM and go back to the fitness center with my husband at night - tonight, I plan to swim a little - maybe 1 mile - and then sit in the hot tub. (I know that's not exercise, but --- I just love it!) This is after 30 minutes on the elliptical and a cardio/weights combo class this AM.

I am familiar with obsession. It hurts. My choosing to spend this much time on exercise has only good effects, and I don't think I'm kidding myself when I see my weight, my bloodwork results for diabetes, and what my friends and family tell me. If you like to exercise and doing it is not causing problems in the rest of your life, then keep it up and don't worry about anyone else's opinon.

Now I want to know what "Zumba" is. I think I'd like to try it just from the name!!!

I work out almost every day, in some form, for an average of about an hour. I aim to burn at least 300-400 calories in activity every day. Most of my friends would consider me "very active", but I have a desk job and am sitting on my butt most of the rest of the day, so I consider this a minimal level for good health!

Here's my current routine: I am a runner, and run 4 days per week. 3 days are 4 - 6 mile days, with one day being focused more on speedwork. The 4th day is a long run, anywhere from 7 to 12 miles, depending on what I'm training for. (I participate in events up to half-marathon length) The other 3 days of the week are a combination of cardio and strength training for about an hour each day. One day on my own (30 min cardio plus weight machines -- high weight/low rep). Two days, I take classes at the gym -- Pilates, body sculpting, step N Sculpt intervals. I try to find that optimal combination of strength training, core training, cardio, running training, and flexibility/balance work for overall health and performance.

I mix things up too. I'm spending more time on lower body strengthening and step mill / stair master training right now, preparing for summer vacation hiking and backpacking. Sometimes I'll miss a day at the gym because of life scheduling, but I'll always try to work in alternate activities to get that 300 minimum calorie burn. Otherwise, I'll have to eat less to compensate!!

I love exercising, I love the way it feels, and I love the results. I don't think you're obsessive at all. I'd do more if I had more time for it. When my boys graduate and go off to college in a few years, I'll probably do just that. Exercise is an absolutely essential part of my weight loss and weight maintenance -- and stress management!

My general goal has been 30 minute workouts 5 days a week (three cardio, two half and half cardio/strength). When I was losing I mostly worked out three days a week for an hour each time, and at one point I was working out five days a week of running M/W, stairmaster F, circuit training T/Th.

Lately I've had activities restricted by my doctor, plus with the great spring weather it's hard to convince myself to go to the gym, so I've been going to the gym 2-3x/week (30 mins) and walking outside 1-2x/week. We just got a dog this weekend though so the schedule may change completely!