Glamour on a budget - Mattie Roberts

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Can You Get Too Much Exercise?
August 5, 2006

The other day my father and I went for a walk. I was encouraging him to get out and walk four or five times a week...he's a very dynamic 70-year old. He said he didn't want to over exercise because it can be dangerous. I explained that there's no danger in a healthy man (his doctor had given him a clean bill of health) walking four or five times a week for 45 minutes to and hour. He's well within the recommended amount.

But then I began to wonder just how much is too much? We've all heard stories of athletes (and regular exercise-obsessed folks) who get so run down they get sick and injured from over working their bodies.

According to the University of Pennsylvania, there is a point after which exercise becomes detrimental. They suggest that you burn 2000-3500 calories a week with cardiovasular exercise for good health. That means 30-60 minutes of excercise 4-5 times a week.

Beyond that you may start to compromise your immune system and tissue regeneration may be slowed. Over-exercise can lead to injury, fatigue and the release of free radicals which is linked to cancer and other disease. But you really have to be in serious, hard-core training over a long period of time to see those negative effects. Moderate to fairly vigorous activity is still the goal most days of the week...and most people are nowhere near what they need for good health.

Most people are not in dangerous over-exercise territory. They are like my dad and need a little cajoling to get them to stick to a moderate program. Go get 'em, Pa!