How often do you work out? How does your body feel?

Question

So I'm wondering, how long have you been working out?
Do you do exclusively cardio or weight training, or something else, or a combo?
For how long every day?
If you lift, high reps or high weight?
Ever gone any significant time since starting without working out?
Wear and tear on your body - how do you feel generally, especially your joints and back?
Do you ever feel like you're wearing your body out by working out and you'd last longer if you didn't do it at all, or not much?

I'm not asking because I want to get started. I'm asking because I don't want to overdo it and burn my body out too young. I'm 28 and been working out for 16 years and looking for a way to pace myself.

Answer 1

First of all, your diet will play a huge part in your overall health. There's a wealth of knowledge out there on that subject so we don't need to cover that here.
So what you really want to know is how to stay fit longterm without destroying your joints. Before you do any type of exercise you must do a thorough warm-up.
Cardio: low or zero impact cardio such as swimming, biking, eliptical machines, etc.
Weight Training: ALWAYS focus on good form - no cheating or partial reps. Avoid one rep max sets as they are more about perfect technique rather than fitness. One rep max sets pose too much potential for the type of injury you're trying to avoid. If you want a "heavy day" stick to the 4-6 rep range.
Circuit training is aslo a great way to make fitness gains without too much risk for injury and done the right way actually will bring up your cardio as well.
Stretching: You should set up your own stretching routine or adopt someone else's (yoga, pilates, etc.) To keep your joints young you need to stay flexibile! This is probably one of the most neglected aspects of overall fitness.
Variety: Without trying new things for fitness such as a new sport, exercise routine, training partner/s, etc. it will be easy to get burned out and allow yourself to fade away from staying fit. So shake it up and have fun!
Good luck and train safe!!

Answer 2

i work out daily but i'm constantly varying the intensity of my resistance and cardiovasular training. I use resistance 4 days and cardio/abs for 3. counting warming up and down my resistance training sessions are 1.5 hours and cardio sessions typically less than 20 minutes as I use HIIT. I took the summer of 2005 off due to a pulled groin from running sprints when I knew I was too heavy, my bad. no wear and tear after over 25 years in the iron game. just turned 39 most take me for late 20's to early 30's. at almost 250 lbs with single digit body fat I have no regrets about the lifestyle that I lead. I haven't been sick since I got the chicken pox in 1983 and have never had a prescription for anything in my life. I was blessed with great genetics from an athletic mother (collegiate track star) and father who's an ex-NFL full back and am taking full advantage of them.

Answer 3

First time I really worked out was because of football. Now I just lift mons, weds, and fridays. I usually do 3-12 reps around there depending on what im doing. When im done I usually take a long jog. If u want to build muscle high weights low reps. If u want to make u body lean high reps low weights. usually ur body is tired after working ou but nothing too seriouslyt. Right now its proven that working is healthier than do nothing at all. But u wont get good results without eating healty.(not that I eat healthy though :). Id say start slow and try building ur endurance because no one really needs to bulk up unless they have to. Also dont do it unless u want to, if u lift weights and hate ur routine change it up so u enjoy it. Final advice go to gym and ask some one who usually goes there for advice most people will gladdly help u out. Dont work out every day and take days off. If u do lift weights for awhile and stop for awhile start slow because theirs no way to regain what u had.

Answer 4

Its a combination.
Of cardio 4x a week, weight training 2-3x (always with a break in between) and Karate 2x a week. Plus I take the stairs!!

If I do take a break, it's for a short while maybe for a week and a half..because I'm busy with school and work.

Wear and tear...I feel that exercise energizes me, I kind of use it as a pick me up. If I do feel bad, it's because I haven't worked out for a while or I didn't stretch. Stretching = important!! Also, if I didn't hydrate properly...

I'm younger, so my joints haven't pained me yet, but my father is 45.. he wears braces for knee and ankle... His back, mostly just tries not to strain and doesn't over do it.

As far as wearing out, moderate exercise prolongs life!

Answer 5

I exercise about 4-5 times a week at the gym. I do the ellpitical, ab strengthening, and arm strengthening. =)
I stay at the gym for 1-1.5 hours. I FEEL GOOD!