exercise: every day or 2x as long every other day?

Hey all, so I'm not having huge success with my "exercise every day" plan right now (~20-30 minutes of running or swimming every day except rest 1 day of the week), so I'm considering changing it. I haven't really lost weight and it also makes me tired and kind of sore every day. Since some of you probably have way more experience than I do, do you think that doing 40-60 minutes of exercise every other day would be better? Or should I stick to the every day plan?

Thanks!

Mon. Jul 12, 4:24pm

It really doesn't matter, calorie wise over the course of the week you'll burn the same. Overall for weight loss, what really matters is the intensity of your workout, and above all, your food intake. 20-30 minutes of cardio a day might burn 100-300 cals (depending on what you're doing), and if you're eating more than you need, you won't lose. But don't give up on the exercise though, I find it's a lot easier to want to fuel my body with good food when I'm actually moving it! Don't give up!

Monday, July 12, 2010, 7:10 PM

Cut back on the amount of food you eat. Your weight is in equilibrium with your exercise and the amount of food you eat. To lose weight, you have to cut back on food or exercise more, or both.

Suggest you keep careful track of everything you eat and then cut back.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 2:45 PM

I do 20-30 twice a day. But I'm bipolar and it helps with the insomnia. Truth be told, its different for everyone. When I first started the 2x a day i thought I was going to die I was so sore. Keep at it. And remember, some folks would loooove to be tired and sleep well.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 12:26 AM

Echoing others...either is fine. Whatever works for your schedule is what works for you. The minutes and the level of activity are the same over 7 days, so I don't think it matters.

As you're new at this, I'll say, new people sometimes get stuck on finding the right "formula" for weight loss. But the best plan is the one you can stick too. Everyone will have advice for you...do this exercise...eat this...don't eat that...but really, if you eat a little less (or eat alot better) and exercise, there aren't very many people for whom that doesn't work...at least not until you get to the pure vanity stage...I'm guessing you're not there yet. If you're not losing weight...you honestly might look at what you're eating. I don't think changing the days on which you exercise is going to help with anything other than increasing your ability to complete it on a weekly basis.

But after saying there's no special formula...I will say that for many women, adding in some basic strength training can really help. If a woman isn't doing strength training, I'd say she's not maximizing her metabolism. And I'm not talking necessarily about grunting alongside the meat-heads who live next to the free weights (unless that's your thing.) I do good old-fashion squats, pushups, situps, etc. Things I can do anywhere. There. That's my advice for the day!

Thursday, July 15, 2010, 5:29 PM

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