The 1 hour run
 

So I've been running 1 hour per day on the treadmill at my local gym everyday and the results are starting to get good.
Some things:

1. If you are Obese it is going to take some serious effort to change your body structure. running for 1 hour a day is tedious and hard but is a great way to change your life.

2. Bringing an Ipod makes the time pass faster.

3. I find that making sure u run EVERYDAY is crucial even if you don't get a great workout when ur feeling tired or whatever because it's all about forming a habit. Habits are hard to break but taking 1 day off makes it ez to take the next day off etc etc.

4. If you are obese like I am (or rather getting away from) you will find that running everyday puts alot of strain on your muscles/joints (knees especiall).
Even worse can be the irration of your skin from repeated movements and sweaty clothing.
I'm just saying this so u know ahead of time. The fact of that matter is that unless you have a real clinical injury you should try to maintain your workout EVERYDAY. Fighting through the pain is hard and tests your resolve.

In the end, i think it comes down to the fact that you have to pay the price for your unhealthy decisions that sometimes accumulate into a huge weight problem over the years.

On the brightside, putting in the effort everyday, you will see an improvement everday and can eventually achieve ur goal!!!

Re: The 1 hour run
 

you could do the same workout in 10 minutes with none of the knee/skin irritation issues.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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you could do the same workout in 10 minutes with none of the knee/skin irritation issues.

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elaborate.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

instead of running at x pace for 60 minutes, run at 6x pace for 10 minutes.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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instead of running at x pace for 60 minutes, run at 6x pace for 10 minutes.

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Not the best idea for someone who's obese and out of shape, but yes that should be the goal.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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3. I find that making sure u run EVERYDAY is crucial even if you don't get a great workout when ur feeling tired or whatever because it's all about forming a habit. Habits are hard to break but taking 1 day off makes it ez to take the next day off etc etc.

4. If you are obese like I am (or rather getting away from) you will find that running everyday puts alot of strain on your muscles/joints (knees especiall).
Even worse can be the irration of your skin from repeated movements and sweaty clothing.


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Sounds like you are seeing results and realize that working out can become part of your lifestyle which is critical to sustaining success.

Re: sweating clothes (chafing)--I'm an expert, as I am a sweaty bastard. Fairly simple solution: Embrace the microfiber technology!!!! (ie, Under Armour, etc). You can find shirts/shorts at Target for $10-20 all the time. Look for microfiber underwear (boxer briefs help protect your legs from chafing).

Lose the cotton!!! Microfiber also lasts forever (years) even after weekly washings.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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1. If you are Obese it is going to take some serious effort to change your body structure. running for 1 hour a day is tedious and hard but is a great way to change your life.

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Effective tedious and hard solutions are everywhere for changing your life and getting unfat. The fact that they are tedious and hard is why so many people stay obese.

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3. I find that making sure u run EVERYDAY is crucial even if you don't get a great workout when ur feeling tired or whatever because it's all about forming a habit. Habits are hard to break but taking 1 day off makes it ez to take the next day off etc etc.

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Going everyday is good for habit forming but not good for your body. You need to rest and recover at some point or you'll break down. It's amazing that you haven't hurt yourself yet. If you took 5 days off I guarantee you'd be amazed at how fast and fresh you feel.

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4. If you are obese like I am (or rather getting away from) you will find that running everyday puts alot of strain on your muscles/joints (knees especiall).
Even worse can be the irration of your skin from repeated movements and sweaty clothing.


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The strain on muscles and joints is why you need rest. As far as the chafing, running clothes and Body Glide can virtually eliminate these problems. Make the investment.

Setting up a punishing and completely unsustainable workout program like you've done is exactly why so many people fail. Do you really plan on running an hour a day for the next 20 years? Most likely you'll keep on slogging through it for as long as you can hold on, maybe reach some intermediate goal and then completely fall off the wagon.

I'd recommend working on coming up with a more sustainable routine. You should enjoy your workouts. It's fine to put yourself through a grueling session from time to time for a mental as well as physical challenge. But start building towards eating and exercise habits that can continue for the rest of your life. Reaching a goal is easy, it's maintaining that level afterwards that is so difficult.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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1. If you are Obese it is going to take some serious effort to change your body structure. running for 1 hour a day is tedious and hard but is a great way to change your life.

[/ QUOTE ]

Effective tedious and hard solutions are everywhere for changing your life and getting unfat. The fact that they are tedious and hard is why so many people stay obese.

[ QUOTE ]
3. I find that making sure u run EVERYDAY is crucial even if you don't get a great workout when ur feeling tired or whatever because it's all about forming a habit. Habits are hard to break but taking 1 day off makes it ez to take the next day off etc etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Going everyday is good for habit forming but not good for your body. You need to rest and recover at some point or you'll break down. It's amazing that you haven't hurt yourself yet. If you took 5 days off I guarantee you'd be amazed at how fast and fresh you feel.

[ QUOTE ]
4. If you are obese like I am (or rather getting away from) you will find that running everyday puts alot of strain on your muscles/joints (knees especiall).
Even worse can be the irration of your skin from repeated movements and sweaty clothing.


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The strain on muscles and joints is why you need rest. As far as the chafing, running clothes and Body Glide can virtually eliminate these problems. Make the investment.

Setting up a punishing and completely unsustainable workout program like you've done is exactly why so many people fail. Do you really plan on running an hour a day for the next 20 years? Most likely you'll keep on slogging through it for as long as you can hold on, maybe reach some intermediate goal and then completely fall off the wagon.

I'd recommend working on coming up with a more sustainable routine. You should enjoy your workouts. It's fine to put yourself through a grueling session from time to time for a mental as well as physical challenge. But start building towards eating and exercise habits that can continue for the rest of your life. Reaching a goal is easy, it's maintaining that level afterwards that is so difficult.

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while i agree with you in principle, i kind of feel like this is working for me and yes it is in some sense "grueling", but I'm finding it's getting easier as I go along. Also, If I am in pain I will often set the pace down as low as 4.0m/h.
THe point is that I don't think this is necessarily unsustainable and it works. You suggest taking "5 days off"
I don't think that would work for me.
I think I could do this for 20 years straight and I know that is a big statement but I like to think big. Running can actually be enjoyable and be a great physical and mental boost. If i am hurting, I will slow down to an easy enjoyable pace.

-g.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

hey genius,
do you ever mix it up?

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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hey genius,
do you ever mix it up?

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Lol, at first I thought you were busting his balls. Then I realized it really is his nick [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].

Re: The 1 hour run
 

I'm a big guy too, and I've been trying to stay off my feet as much as I can as I play rugby on a sturday and that more than enough impact for one week.

If your joints or back or whatever is hurting everyday, and you keep doing it, you will do yourself a very serious injury. I'm talking permanant knee or back damage that could prevent you from excersising properly or even walking.

Get on a rowing machine, or a cross trainer, or go for a swim, or something. If you want to, keep up the hour a day, but make sure you are doing different things every day.

That said, I think you should take at least one day off a week, and ideally two.

It sounds like you are really motivated and thats great, but you need to train a bit smarter or you will wind up hurting yourself.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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3. I find that making sure u run EVERYDAY is crucial even if you don't get a great workout when ur feeling tired or whatever because it's all about forming a habit. Habits are hard to break but taking 1 day off makes it ez to take the next day off etc etc.

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Going everyday is good for habit forming but not good for your body. You need to rest and recover at some point or you'll break down. It's amazing that you haven't hurt yourself yet. If you took 5 days off I guarantee you'd be amazed at how fast and fresh you feel.

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Most experts recommend days off to rest. Also do not do the same workout everyday.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

Hey guys.
So i wanted to speak a bit more about this. I agree that overextending your body with the same grueling workout everyday is not really sustainable. But I think this idea is more about transitioning from Obesity to a good BMI range which i am currently on a very nice track of achieving.

So if I achieve a healthy BMI, (perhaps u don't even think i will get that far), but if i do, your suggesting that I will be unable to sustain 1 hour run everyday over the long term correct?

Hmmm... it's going so well, but i guess i could see myself falling off track at some point if were to suffer a real injury or something. I'll let u guys know how it goes and just test out some ideas such as mixing up some other cardio
machines maybe playing some basketball instead.

g

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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So if I achieve a healthy BMI, (perhaps u don't even think i will get that far), but if i do, your suggesting that I will be unable to sustain 1 hour run everyday over the long term correct?


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Yes, your knees, ankles and feet will be slowly injured. Twisted ankles suck, runner's knee sucks, deteriorating cartilage in the knee sucks, etc. Your joints need rest, or else the weakest links in the chain never get to recuperate, fail, and cause injury. You should definitely mix it up somehow, and have a rest day or lower volume day. Perhaps go for a shorter jog (1o minutes) if you feel like a complete rest day will sidetrack you.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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instead of running at x pace for 60 minutes, run at 6x pace for 10 minutes.

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I can't believe somebody on a poker form would think that this would work. I thought you people were smart.

First off, its near impossible for anybody to run at 6x the pace they were previously running for longer than a minute or two. Walking pace is 3-4 miles/hr. Second, for somebody that is looking to reduce weight and fat, prolonged periods of cardio is far superior than shorter periods of higher intensity. It has to do with the way your body supplies the muscles with energy. The body doesn't burn fat when you sprint.

Otherwise, good level.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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instead of running at x pace for 60 minutes, run at 6x pace for 10 minutes.

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I can't believe somebody on a poker form would think that this would work. I thought you people were smart.

First off, its near impossible for anybody to run at 6x the pace they were previously running for longer than a minute or two. Walking pace is 3-4 miles/hr. Second, for somebody that is looking to reduce weight and fat, prolonged periods of cardio is far superior than shorter periods of higher intensity. It has to do with the way your body supplies the muscles with energy. The body doesn't burn fat when you sprint.

Otherwise, good level.

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OMG, can... open... worms... everywhere!!

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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So if I achieve a healthy BMI, (perhaps u don't even think i will get that far), but if i do, your suggesting that I will be unable to sustain 1 hour run everyday over the long term correct?


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Yes, your knees, ankles and feet will be slowly injured. Twisted ankles suck, runner's knee sucks, deteriorating cartilage in the knee sucks, etc. Your joints need rest, or else the weakest links in the chain never get to recuperate, fail, and cause injury. You should definitely mix it up somehow, and have a rest day or lower volume day. Perhaps go for a shorter jog (1o minutes) if you feel like a complete rest day will sidetrack you.

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Not necessarily.
My stepfather played college hockey (35+ years ago) and after graduation slowly grew into obesity. In his late 20s he, like Genius, decided to finally do something about it.

He's 55 now and runs an hour a day. Has for ~30 years. And has only missed about a dozen days in all that time (he actually had one 8.5 year stretch where he did not miss a single day).

While I think that's extreme and I agree that balance and variance in your routine will be good for you (once the habit of health and fitness has been established), it can be dome.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

first off, good job getting some exercise into your life (seriously)

secondly, just straight up running and doing nothing else is probably not a great idea as eventually you will burn out of it(this will happen) and mixing in other exercises will prolong this from happening as well as challenging your body in other ways

thirdly, running EVERYDAY (i assume you actually do mean every single day with absolutely no days off) is pretty bad for your body (even if its only a few miles each day)... your body definitely needs at least 1 rest day per week (or at least 1 day of something less intensive... maybe just 1 hr of mild walking?)

fourth, have you considered adding weight lifting into your routine? I combined weight lifting with the exercise I got from my ultimate frisbee teams workouts and dropped about 60 lbs my freshman year of college (now a senior, have not gained the weight back)... lifting will build muscle (ldo) but also will help you tone and tighten your (soon to be) loose skin as well as adding even more variety (and in my case became something I really enjoy)

just some suggestions, but keep up the good work, it definitely WILL pay off if you keep committed to it

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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instead of running at x pace for 60 minutes, run at 6x pace for 10 minutes.

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I can't believe somebody on a poker form would think that this would work. I thought you people were smart.

First off, its near impossible for anybody to run at 6x the pace they were previously running for longer than a minute or two. Walking pace is 3-4 miles/hr. Second, for somebody that is looking to reduce weight and fat, prolonged periods of cardio is far superior than shorter periods of higher intensity. It has to do with the way your body supplies the muscles with energy. The body doesn't burn fat when you sprint.

Otherwise, good level.

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Oh boy... I'll just assume you are talking to yourself with the last sentence.

Re: The 1 hour run
 

great for you genius.

and i agree 100% with what jgunnip said. an hour run at a slower pace is infinitely better than sprinting for x minutes.

im not sure what your current weight is, but once you get it down manageable it really will be beneficial to you to vary your workouts. interval training, lifting weights, and long jogs like you are doing now should all be a part of your program.

not sure what your diet is also but always remember high protein and low carb is the way to go. gl...

G

Re: The 1 hour run
 

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great for you genius.

and i agree 100% with what jgunnip said. an hour run at a slower pace is infinitely better than sprinting for x minutes.

im not sure what your current weight is, but once you get it down manageable it really will be beneficial to you to vary your workouts. interval training, lifting weights, and long jogs like you are doing now should all be a part of your program.

not sure what your diet is also but always remember high protein and low carb is the way to go. gl...

G

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The prevailing opinion on this forum is HIIT >>> long, slow jogging for fat loss.