Can you exercise too much?

[Mike 03]

I have had too much time on my hands the past five months and have been using a rowing machine, rowing my ass off. There have been some lean muscle mass improvements, but nowhere near what I would have hoped given the number of hours I am rowing every day. I am trying to keep my diet to protein, and doing a lot of jogging and hiking.

Is this failed genes, age, or just being a pathetic person==lol.

I am 46 I used to run five miles a night but my knees are just hurting. I feel like my pathetic body is breaking down or something. I laugh about it, but it is also kind of depressing.

[jp11]

1. From what I've read yes,

I'm sure it depends on the exercise etc. but you overdue it and don't let your body/muscles recover. Some of what you might be dealing with is your genes, some people are naturally more bulky others more lean and our basic body types tend to stay as they are, unless of course you juice up.

[gvstn]

2. Years ago about age 25 or so

I noticed I was getting a bit of a gut so I started a stationary bike aiming for about 45 minutes a day. I actually got into it and did it everyday rather than a few times a week. Of course the gut is the last to go and after 2-3 mos. I noticed my wrists were really skinny so I decided to cut back. Well, I had lost so much weight (about 20 lbs. going from 180 to 160 on a 6'2" frame) that I decided I had better quit altogether. Over the next month or so I still lost another 10lbs. without exercise; I guess because of a higher metabolism. So I always consider that a warning that you can exercise too much if you don't eat properly to compensate.

More recently, age 40 I was doing 45 minutes on an elliptical and 30 minutes on weight machines( 3-4 times a week) for over a year and a half and never saw my weight vary by more than a pound or two. (The fitness guys said "you gained muscle"--yeah right--that is the party line to keep you coming in LOL) So, maybe age does have something to do with how quickly you notice results. All you can do is keep at it and be quietly proud of your accomplishments. ;)

[david13]

3. My friend says yes. We are around 60. He regularly exercises,

but his son took him out on the bicycle all thru' the hills for a long and strenuous ride; he was huffing and puffing; and had a heart attack.
Angioplasty and a stent. And Monday, three days later he was back in the office.
He thinks he overdid it.
dc

[SocialistLez]

4. VERY possible

It's good to allow your body some periods of rest and to know your tolerance level.

[flvegan]

5. Okay, hold on.

Is the question "can you exercise too much?" or is it really "can you exercise too much which forces you to not gain a lot of lean muscle mass?"

If rowing for "hours a day" built a lot of lean muscle mass, rowing team boats would sink from the 275 lb bodybuilder-looking members of the crew. Marathon runners would look like Arnold is his prime years.

Keep in mind that if you want to build lean muscle mass, you need resistance training and a proper diet. If you want to burn calories like a madman, row until your arms fall off. But then also keep in mind, if you start to burn calories you're not taking in, and you have no fat to burn, muscle will be next. And technically, depending on when your body hits calorie zero, you may start burning muscle first.

[rug]

6. Ye

[bif]

7. I'm doing the same thing

I was never much into exercising. But about 4 months ago we bought a rowing machine. I use it almost ever day now. I think I'm addicted to it. I do 10k ever other day. In between I usually do 3 on 1 off for anywhere from a half hour to 40 minutes. And I try to ride my bike when I get a chance. Not sure if thats excessive or not. But I'm in the best shape I've been in since high school. I'm 55.

[Flipper999]

8. You can exercise too much,but...

I'm not sure that's the problem. As flvegan pointed out, resistance exercises are necessary for gaining any more muscle mass. Even just a little more muscle mass. Right now, your body has just enough muscle mass to perform the aerobic exercise you're currently doing. Since it doesn't need more muscle, it won't build more muscle.

Some different body weight exercises (push ups, pull ups, crunches, etc.) might help a bit in the short term. However,, if you really want to start seeing results, it's time to pump that iron.