Enough exercise? - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

nedflanders · 01-30-2007, 11:19 AM

Hey,
i wonna lose some weight, so iv just joined a gym and agreed to go swimming with a friend of mine, i will be doing about 2hours of swimming (in 1 go) once a week, and then two 2 hour sessions at the gym a week, i weigh 238pounds (17 stone), iv cut back on the food, i eat a lot more healthy now, do you think this is enough exercise to lose weight? or do i need more?

tattman · 01-30-2007, 03:45 PM

Just read what you want to do, and I now please remember this is only my opinion. I think that you are going to do too much too soon. I would try to make your swimming sessions in 1 hour stints and not all at once. And I have read that its better to do workouts in hour sessions as over the hour you start to go backwards rather than make gains. Now that part like I said I read it on a web page so thats not from me. But I think that you will find doing a 2 hour weight session you are really piushing yourself. The one thing I noticed that you never put down was any cardio and this is a good choice to do. As that gets your metabolism working better. So if I were you and I'm very close to your weight. I would only do 1 hours sessions and if you can even under them. But if your are unhappy with that try doing them to fatigue. But your way just may work for you and it really is each to their own as it might work for you. The Tattman

nedflanders · 01-30-2007, 04:43 PM

well when i say going to the gym, to start with i meant just using treadmills, exercise bikes and maybe the rowing machine. im not going to bother with weights until iv lost a fair bit of weight.

ktt · 01-30-2007, 05:26 PM

HI N,

For weight loss fitness trainers usually recommend no more than 60 min of cardio at least 5 days a week. If you go beyond 60, you get diminihing returns so you won't see significant effects beyond that point. This also prevents injury and burnout.

For intensity you want to keep your heart rate in a good aerobic zone. I do high intensity for short spurts on the treadmill (I tend to use incline more than speed so I will do 2 16 min sessions going from level 5 to the max incline then back down at a 15.47 pace which keeps me in a good aerobic zone) I will do 2 15 min ellipticals. at high intensity. I usually alternate between treadmill and elliptical to keep from being bored. That works for me. Good Luck.