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Exercise routine, am i overdoing it?

I've got a routine of various cardio exercises i do at home. I started off slowly, doing say, 5 of each thing, to ease myself in. This then increased to 10, then 15, now i'm doing 15 in the morning, and 15 in the evening. I can feel it in my thighs and upper arms (chair dips kill me!) Should I slow down on it until they stop hurting, or carry on? I know that it's no pain, no gain, but I don't want to injure myself and not be able to do anything! Advice would be great thanks.

Update:

yeah, i do running, as well as resistance, sorry, hands work faster than brain when i type. it's a general kind of ache really, standing up sitting down etc, feel it in my legs. hurts a bit when i do the exercises, but think it's just because my muscles are tired? not that i'm doing them incorrectly, i hope! I've had sporting injuries before, and am keen to avoid them, as i overdid it in a gym - felt fine at the time - but suffered for a week afterwards!

also, how long is it, roughly speaking, before signs of toning appear, or does it vary on person to person?

12 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You do not mention rest days (as other have said), they are essential, as much as work days. 3 times a week of resistance training is enough for sure. (Two days a week are very good too).

    If you have an ache you are probably overdoing it. No pain no gain is false, no need to be in pain. What is the point? Tired, is different, that is what we want.

    You have two option from mi viewpoint:

    1) Give yourself a couple of days rest to reduce pain/fatigue and start again with your exercise plan, but doing 15 in the morning and 10 at night (or vice versa) for a week and then back to your 15 - 15.

    2) Reduce both morning and night from 15 to 10 and 10, and recuperate with the days of rest for a week, then slowly get back to your 15 - 15, always resting on alternate days.

    This way you will be up to par in no time.

    Be sure to warm up and cool down, stretching is highly recommended, it will only take a few minutes but will lessen fatigue, recuperation time, and injuries. It will also give you added flexibility.

    (Yes chair dips can kill anyone, he, he)

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Sorry, you say you are doing 15 of each 'cardio' exercises? Cardio is the stuff that gets your heart rate pumping like walking, running, cycling, stepping etc...

    You are actually doing resistance exercises which are working the muscles to increase strength/tone.

    15 of each twice a day will suffice for general toning. When you say it hurts, if you just mean it hurts a bit like aching or 'working' then it is fine, you are working hard enough. If you mean it is actually painful to do then you are probably doing it wrong and need to check this out before doing yourself some damage.

  • 1 decade ago

    Since you have come this far. Stay on the level you are at now and your fitness will increase and the pain will cease. ( providing you do not have any medical complications, and it is okay with your doctor ) But the pain will definitely end and you will be able to do more in maybe 6 weeks or so. Keep taking it slow though. Do not increase until you feel totally comfortable.

  • 1 decade ago

    You sound like you have a sensible plan of exercises to me so long as you do gentle warm up to start and wind down to finish. You will feel things tightening up so don't worry about that.

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  • kja63
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    You want to slightly tear the muscles. Then drink plenty of fluids (water) and rest the next day. This is how muscles repair and strengthen themselves. You need to push yourself to the limit -- can't life another weight, can't do another dip -- and then rest the following day.

    So it's strength training one day, cardio the next. Your body will thank you for it :-)

  • 5 years ago

    Take a lap around the grocery store before you begin shopping.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Paint your own toe-nails instead of sitting for a pedicure.

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    Host a party—the cleaning and prep work can keep you off the couch.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Place your stapler far enough away you need to stand up to get the idea.

  • 5 years ago

    Play fetch with your dog.

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