My goal is to burn at least 1000 calories..

[solobiker]

Hi solobiker. Everyone here has given you really good input. I just wanted to add that there is some good research out there to indicate that once or caloric intake drops below 80% of caloric expenditure, you run the risk of messing up your metabolic hormone levels. You and I are about the same size. I usually shoot for a 400 to 500 Cal deficit, and that done consistently over a period of a couple of months seems to get me on the weight loss track, without being that hungry our feeling too tired. But it does take time to kick in. About 4 weeks for me before I actually start to lose weight.

I don't worry as much about caloric balance on the weekends. Since I'm out doing a lot. In fact I eat more to make sure I don't fall too far bellow the 80% guideline.

Thanks for your input! I don''t worry too much about calories on weekends either since I am always doing long fairly intesive carido activities. Maybe I will try to go for a less ambitious goal then 1000. We will see...I do have a hard time just kicking back and relaxing.

[Susan]

I was listening to a podcast not long ago, where a fitness coach mentioned something along the lines of "if you don't compete in a sport, it makes much more sense to try to minimize your trainingtime, rather than to maximize it". He said that trying to balance things out, so that you do enough to stay as fit as you want to be, and do all the things you want to do, but as little as possible in terms of time invested and "exercise load" on your body, is actually much more beneficial than trying to maximize exercise time.

This thought was very enlightening for me, as I was always striving to "exercise enough", without thinking about negative effects too much training could actually have. But as ever, more isn't always better


Maybe a goal outside of "training time" would be better? Like doing x pushups or pullups or climbing that steep hill or whatever it might be for you

[solobiker]

I was listening to a podcast not long ago, where a fitness coach mentioned something along the lines of "if you don't compete in a sport, it makes much more sense to try to minimize your trainingtime, rather than to maximize it". He said that trying to balance things out, so that you do enough to stay as fit as you want to be, and do all the things you want to do, but as little as possible in terms of time invested and "exercise load" on your body, is actually much more beneficial than trying to maximize exercise time.

This thought was very enlightening for me, as I was always striving to "exercise enough", without thinking about negative effects too much training could actually have. But as ever, more isn't always better


Maybe a goal outside of "training time" would be better? Like doing x pushups or pullups or climbing that steep hill or whatever it might be for you

Thanks! This was very insightful. Since reading everyone's posts I have thought quite a bit about my goal. I think I will change the focus of it because I am sure it will start to feel like a job and I will not enjoy doing it anymore. Plus I have so many other hobbies that I would not be able to do if I was spending all my time trying to achieve some #. I always tend to put a lot of pressure on myself both at work and at home to achieve fairly high standards...which I sometimes can't achieve. Drives my DH and my co-workers crazy sometimes. Oh well...I am still happy with my decision to back it down a bit and change my focus to more quality vs quantity which would be more beneficial and decrease my risk of overuse injuries.

Once again, thanks for all of your input. It is nice to come to my TE friends to bounce ideas off of. I always get great advice!!