Hey Alfonso,

Quick question, longer background: What are your thoughts about exercising EVERY DAY?

December of 2008 I was about 40 pounds overweight, inactive with some health issues that had my cardiologist saying “lose weight and exercise!”

I had an elliptical and stationary bike and started to use them 16 minutes each per day (my wife was doing 15, so the competitive side of me said “16!”). I have not missed a day since 1/1/2009. I increase 1 minute every other month, so now I am up to 27 minutes on each per day.

I also bought a Bowflex and do strength training 5 times per week. Now I am looking for a personal trainer to “fine tune”. Honestly, I am concerned about a let down if I take a day off…so I don’t. Oh, today I am 6’0″, 179 pounds, resting pulse in the mid 40s, 48 years old.

So, back to the original question – what are your thoughts on exercise EVERY DAY? Thanks!

-Robert

Robert, my man, way to go!

No, you are not a type A personality at all are you? Clothes folded super neat? Have a 1980 car in the driveway that looks immaculate? You didn’t mention your wife’s success, I hope she has seen the results that you have, although I’m guessing she’s still a few minutes behind you? You started at a very manageable amount of exercise time and slowly increased it. This is a perfect example of planned progression, so I am tipping my hat to you. You planned to do bette , something that most exercise hopefuls don’t know how to employ, and you did do better, awesome!.

The same exact way you progressed up in exercise time, those same incremental changes, you can use that same strategy to also reduce your exercise program and see if you notice a reduction in your fitness level, or yikes, a gain in weight. Everyday is just too much.

Your 15-minute everyday starter program was a perfect jump-start to get you into a rhythm but as duration and hopefully intensity went up, the frequency should have come down. You can work out  long or hard – but you can’t do both, the intensity will suffer.  You improve your level of fitness when you are resting and recovering, not during exercise.

I would start cutting back, but don’t be afraid. You married your wife – you don’t want to be married to a daily exercise plan as well. We have been conditioned by the industry to separate weights from cardio, that’s nonsense and time consuming. I would drop your training sessions down to 5 days a week, 4 of them being a circuit of Bowflex and cardio combined, and the fifth day a cardio only blast, short and intense. See my Cardio Confusion article for more on this.

There’s a saying Robert, the best program is the one you’re not on, meaning your body is highly adaptable to the training you put it through. Your best program is waiting for you, so have no fear. You should be very proud of your results and now you know planning is everything, especially in fitness.

Keep me posted – and if you’d like a longer consultation with me – just drop me a line via the How To Book button on the site.

And if you have a question for me – please just click here. I’d love to help you!

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