This is a good question. One I have been pondering a lot lately. As I was saying to my husband, Mr. Balancing Act, just yesterday, this is a question that you don't even consider when you are young. In my 20's and even through my 30's, I never thought I could exercise too much. I was able to teach 3-4 classes back to back without batting an eyelash. Six hour dance rehearsals were the norm. Then I'd walk 50 blocks and take another couple of dance classes. Ah, youth...
But back to reality.
Today, I start each day with a long walk with the dogs. This is not something I consider exercise, but for a sedentary person, it would definitely qualify. In fact, this is the kind of exercise that everyone should be doing a lot of, every single day. If we were all to get up off the couch, or the office chair, or the chaise lounge, and move around instead, we would burn more calories and experience less aches and pains. If we look at our ancestors who hunted and foraged for their food, this was their main form of activity: a fairly slow, sustainable walk. Populations today who continue a lifestyle that includes many hours of walking per day, such a sheepherders in the mountains of Sardinia, are among the healthiest and most disease-free people. So get up and walk, or move around at a comfortable pace, as much as possible!
And what else? Well, on occasion our ancestors would have to sprint. If you were hunting a large animal, you might spend hours walking slowly and quietly, sneaking up on that deer or elk, but once you got close enough, you might need to run at it with your spear. OR, if the large animal was sneaking up on YOU, you might have to run fast and then climb a tree. Or leap over some rocks. And then heave a bunch of those heavy rocks at it. Most of these movements are skills we have left behind long ago. When was the last time you ran as fast as you can? Climbed a tree or anything similar to a tree? Leapt over a log or anything like a log? Picked up a heavy rock and heaved it? These are natural, simple movements that don't require any "training" but most adults, heck! most teenagers, even, never ever perform any of these functions which our bodies were designed for. Basically, this adds up to bodies that lose the ability to perform such simple functions. And bodies that hurt.
But these are not activities that you need to perform daily. Maybe if you are training for the Olympics, you might need to practice your javelin throw every day. But if you are just trying to get or stay in shape, these kinds of stressful actions, like sprinting or lifting heavy objects, should be practiced maybe twice per week. But when you do them, you should push yourself at least to about 80% of your capacity. If you can have a conversation while you are running or lifting, then you are nowhere near 80%! Enjoy a conversation AFTER your workout!
Overall, your fitness regimen should be making your body feel stronger, lighter, more energized, faster, and better. You should gradually be looking more toned, sculpted, and healthy. If your fitness plan is leaving you feeling depleted, exhausted (even after a day of rest), sick, in pain, or otherwise unhappy, then a change is needed. It is possible that you need to exercise LESS! Maybe less frequently, but put more into your workouts. Maybe your workouts should be shorter, but more intense. This way you actually accomplish MORE of those fitness goals, in less hours, with better results. Take stock, and let me know what you discover!
But back to reality.
Today, I start each day with a long walk with the dogs. This is not something I consider exercise, but for a sedentary person, it would definitely qualify. In fact, this is the kind of exercise that everyone should be doing a lot of, every single day. If we were all to get up off the couch, or the office chair, or the chaise lounge, and move around instead, we would burn more calories and experience less aches and pains. If we look at our ancestors who hunted and foraged for their food, this was their main form of activity: a fairly slow, sustainable walk. Populations today who continue a lifestyle that includes many hours of walking per day, such a sheepherders in the mountains of Sardinia, are among the healthiest and most disease-free people. So get up and walk, or move around at a comfortable pace, as much as possible!
And what else? Well, on occasion our ancestors would have to sprint. If you were hunting a large animal, you might spend hours walking slowly and quietly, sneaking up on that deer or elk, but once you got close enough, you might need to run at it with your spear. OR, if the large animal was sneaking up on YOU, you might have to run fast and then climb a tree. Or leap over some rocks. And then heave a bunch of those heavy rocks at it. Most of these movements are skills we have left behind long ago. When was the last time you ran as fast as you can? Climbed a tree or anything similar to a tree? Leapt over a log or anything like a log? Picked up a heavy rock and heaved it? These are natural, simple movements that don't require any "training" but most adults, heck! most teenagers, even, never ever perform any of these functions which our bodies were designed for. Basically, this adds up to bodies that lose the ability to perform such simple functions. And bodies that hurt.
But these are not activities that you need to perform daily. Maybe if you are training for the Olympics, you might need to practice your javelin throw every day. But if you are just trying to get or stay in shape, these kinds of stressful actions, like sprinting or lifting heavy objects, should be practiced maybe twice per week. But when you do them, you should push yourself at least to about 80% of your capacity. If you can have a conversation while you are running or lifting, then you are nowhere near 80%! Enjoy a conversation AFTER your workout!
Overall, your fitness regimen should be making your body feel stronger, lighter, more energized, faster, and better. You should gradually be looking more toned, sculpted, and healthy. If your fitness plan is leaving you feeling depleted, exhausted (even after a day of rest), sick, in pain, or otherwise unhappy, then a change is needed. It is possible that you need to exercise LESS! Maybe less frequently, but put more into your workouts. Maybe your workouts should be shorter, but more intense. This way you actually accomplish MORE of those fitness goals, in less hours, with better results. Take stock, and let me know what you discover!
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