2 workouts a day- good or bad??

[stellart]

this may sound weird. but what does everyone think about doing two workouts a day. like cardio in the morning and then again at night. does that seem obsessive. i just have that much time on my hands, and i feel like you can't really do too much cardio.

anyone's thoughts??

[oldpjams]

Splitting your workouts is fine as long as you get adequate rest and nutrition...if you do then there is plenty of upside.

[Jeanniemae]

It depends on how long and intense each workout is. Could you post what you cardio plans are (i.e brisk walk for 20 min in the am, 15 minutes on the stair climber, 15 minutes on the bike and 20 minutes of swimming at night).
My opinion is that you can workout upto 1.5 hours per day, but it should not be intense for the entire time (i.e. 45 minutes intense and 45 minutes of mild to moderate). If you would like to break that up to 2 workouts a day, I think it would be okay.
By the way, intense, moderate and mild are relative terms based on your fitness level.

[oldpjams]

That's based on what? Lots of people train for a sport several hours a day or more. My shortest days are 1.5 hours. Some of my long days are 5-6 hours. Sometimes that's a single workout, other times it's two workouts. If you get adequate rest and nutrition, and your program is periodized properly, there is no reason for concern.

[Jeanniemae]

Okay, I guess I was just giving general advise. My coaches and doctors have always advised me not to overdo it, and to keep everyday workouts to around 1.5 hours. My opinion is that if you are going above that you should talk with your doctor.

Yes, there are people that go above that, but I am sure they took a long time to workup to that. However, I have several friends that are marathon runners or competetive bikers that do not workout for more then 1.5 hours everyday, but do have 1 or 2 long workout days per week. These friends, in addition to my doctors have always told me that working out for too long everyday leads to increased injury.

I am glad that you are able to workout for extended periods every day, but I don't think it would be good advise to tell anyone they could or should do the same.

[stellart]

ahhh ok, good responses. thank you to all.

basically, i have enough time in my day that i could work out for hours on end. i just dont have that kind of energy or fitness level yet.



but in the morning, i am doing a hard workout. intense, to my level, that i am sweating profusely, breathing hard, and working til exhaustion. i do between 45 mins to an hour on the exercise bike. i start at a harder resistance, and by the time im done, ive had to take it to the easiest resistance level because my legs simply can't move any more.


but tonight, i decided to do another 45 minutes on the bike. only this was more or a casual ride. i was able to keep the resistance up higher and for longer, bc i wasn't pedaling nearly as hard as i do in the mornings. also, i was only mildly sweating.

i think i had this idea in my head that two workouts in one day is some eating disorder behavior. but i just have time, so why not.

[oldpjams]

Okay, I guess I was just giving general advise. My coaches and doctors have always advised me not to overdo it, and to keep everyday workouts to around 1.5 hours. My opinion is that if you are going above that you should talk with your doctor.

Yes, there are people that go above that, but I am sure they took a long time to workup to that. However, I have several friends that are marathon runners or competetive bikers that do not workout for more then 1.5 hours everyday, but do have 1 or 2 long workout days per week. These friends, in addition to my doctors have always told me that working out for too long everyday leads to increased injury.

I am glad that you are able to workout for extended periods every day, but I don't think it would be good advise to tell anyone they could or should do the same.

I did not advise that. I advised that splitting your workouts is fine as long as you get adequate rest and nutrition. I simply took exception to your advice that you should keep aerobic exercise to less than 90min — which was a very arbitrary piece of advice considering that you know little or nothing about the original poster and her goals.

[Jeanniemae]

Stellart-I think you have a good plan. It is great that you are utilizing your time by working out! Your morning workout definitly sounds intense.

Pjams-I did not mean to imply that you suggested any workout plan, I was just defending my post. And I get that you took exception to my first post, but remember that I first asked for more information. I am sorry if you do not agree with my advise, but I stand by it. Even if Stellart came back saying she was in wonderful shape, and training for a competition, I would still not suggest over 1.5 hours. You call it an abitraury number, and it might be, but it is the number that all my coaches and doctors have advised (including my father who has placed 3rd in the nationals for Greco-Roman wrestling in addition to coaching several all americans). If she had stated that she was training for competition I would have then suggested more varied workouts, and include short and long days throughout the week, but I would stick with no more then 2 days per week over 1.5 hours.

[oldpjams]

Again, that's specific advice and may be sound advice for you, or for Greco-Roman wrestlers. They wrestle for six minutes? When I was fencing at a national level the workouts were fairly short, because bouts are fairly short. For racing (bicycles) I work with one of the top coaching groups in the US. During road season my average training load is ~15hrs week. That's based on the length of my races and the fact that I have a wife and kid. They'd love to have me on the bike 20hrs a week. Or more.

People complain regularly that the way SBD is written is too vague. It has to be that way — everyone's individual needs are somewhat unique. The same is true of exercise. It irks me to no end when people give specific advice to the masses.

What if the OP went to work for UPS? That would be 8hrs a day of aerobic exercise.

[Jeanniemae]

We might just have to agree to disagree here. I understand where you are coming from, but I stand by my advise. I believe my advise is sound for the general population.

[bec]

I think it very much depends on way too many variables to really say. Sure, it is possible to over train. But, that isn't really so much about just time. It's about intensity, repetition (are you working the same muscle groups, over and over, and over?).

When I'm running (recovering from an injury. No, having nothing to do with over training), I will often have runs that are right around 70-90 minutes. I will sometimes do some weight work afterwards, as well. Different muscle groups. Not hurting myself.

Today (and yes, it was a big day), I took an hour walk in the morning. This evening, I had a strength class. It was 2 hours. But, again, we're talking 60 minutes of cardio. Not even close to the same thing as strength training.

Anyway, my point is that it just depends.

[Peony]

I think you have to be concerned about injury. I have seen a few people in real life get gung-ho about a new workout regime only to be injured early on.

If you are splitting up a regular workout then it is fine but since you say your fitness level is not high you really need to be mindful of overuse. We need a good balance of exercise and rest, or high energy and lower energy activities.