I am about to begin the rigorous 3 hour 45min, per day, routine that Jillian has on The Biggest Loser website. I could really use a buddy with this. Let's help keep each other in check!

I don't know that any of us are attempting that, but several of us are following Jillian's workout program in her book. It's a good group, you can check it out under the biggest loser heading. Good luck with your workout, I ache just hearing that you're going to do it.

Ok, I feel a little ridiculous. . I saw this on the home page and replied to it without looking where you posted it. Good luck again!

Wow! Good for you to commit almost 4 hrs a day to exercise!! I know I don't have that kind of time!

Thank you ladies for your support. Luckily enough I work at night and have the entire day free. I think at this time in my life where I have no children, not married and really nothing holding me to dire commitments, that I need to make the most out of it.

Wow that's great if you can do it! I have my entire day to myself and I'm lucky if I get an hour workout in. There's no way I could do 4 hours.

Monique...just some questions.

How much exercise are you doing NOW (I mean BEFORE you take on 4 hours of exercise?). If you're going from very little exercise to doing 3-4 hours a day of very taxing physical exercise you will very likely cause yourself injury, especially if you are very overweight/obese.

Keep in mind that the contestants were constantly supervised and had onsite medical supervision, not to mention two fulltime trainers. Even with that, go back to week 2, when Kathryn was eliminated - she sustained a foot injury that pretty much guaranteed that she was a goner that week (not only that but Matt sustained a quad muscle injury in the same episode).

Not to mention that foot injuries can be VERY painful - back when I was still around 200 lbs I gave myself plantar fascitis (sp) and I'm telling you, that was a ***** to say the least...I could barely walk...

Be careful.

A little background about me, I am 26, former championship cheerleader/gymnast, ice skater and volleyball player. I currently weigh 189 on a 5'3" frame. I currently do about 2 hours of exercise 4-5 days a week (been doing that for 2 weeks). I don't think the extra cardio will be such a stretch but I am worried that it is too much with the weights and my muscles won't recover, any thoughts on that?

What caused the plantar fascitis? I know it's an inflammation of the foot, but what caused it?

Thanks a bunch for your help.

The weights part is easy. To give your muscle groups time to recover, just split up the different muscle groups. You can find a lot of different weight training splits on the Internet, or mosey on down to the Ladies who Lift forum here - Meg and Mel (both extremely knowledgable personal trainers) can give you some tips (or you can read the old threads there).

Oh the PF...at the time I had lost down to a shade under 200 lbs - this was back in late 90-early 91 (don't remember exact date). I was doing a LOT of exercise - including somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-7 Jazzercise classes a week, lots of hillwalking, and bike riding. I just overdid it...my Jazzercise instructor was really great, and showed modified versions of the dance moves but I pushed myself too much for my weight.

Here's some more info on plantar fasciitis (for those who don't know what it is I'm talking about). Trust me...you DON'T want this. It's been 15 years since I've had it, and I still remember how PAINFUL it was to walk!!! Yeeowie! As you can see by the link above, the cause for this is as follows:

I know that the exercises in Jillian's book includes a lot of pylometric exercises - the above is important to keep in mind when you attempt them.

PS...Incidentally, I frequently work out for 3 hours in a day, just not every day (my average is usually around 1 1/2 - 2 hours).

Hi Monique Yvette -
IMO - that's a lot of exercise!! I'm a big fan of exercise as a help to weight loss, but I have a couple of questions for you.
Are you just exercising and not changing the way you are nurishing yourself? (I only ask because you didn't mention it). I think what you put in your body is even more important than excerise...Jillian reccommends counting calories and keeping track of carb/fat/protein percentages in her book Winning by Losing. Have you read her book? I recommend it! She goes over how to figure out how many calories are right for you, a lot of mental stuff about why you gained the weight in the first place...and some kick butt workout routines. The workout routines are an hour a day 5 days a week...your body needs rest days for your muscles to recover from the workouts. (My rest days include light cardio - walking...but they definately feel like rest days after one of Jillian's workouts)
One more thing - then I'll get off my soapbox...
It seems like you are in kind of a hurry to lose the weight. I understand this, but I think it might be better if you take it a little slower. You need to build habits that you will keep for the rest of your life. If you go too fast you might burn yourself out and just gain the weight back.
Anyhoo - welcome to 3FC - let us know how it all goes?

Thanks Mrs. Jim.

Gina, I am following Michael Thurmond's 6 week body makeover eating plan and with it I do count calories, regulate my c/f/p and sodium intake. I am young, but i'm damn near a pro at this. And yes, I am in a hurry to lose it...but then again, I have been trying to lose it slowly for 20 years, it's time to shake things up.

I have informed my doctor, so you ladies needn't worry that i am just going out there blindly. My father is a personal trainer and I am also a massage therapist. I say this because in massage school we had to take anatomy and physiology, so I am very familiar with plantar fascitis, all the other -itis's and which muscles,tendons and so forth are what....which also makes me very aware of my body and any unusual discomfort.

More power to ya then! Sounds like we could learn a thing or two from you. I must say I admire your motivation. You go, girl!! Feel free to post in the Winning by Losing exercise forum...