How much is too much

[jorvik]

This is a question that was prompted by Madonna .............I was talking to my wife and she said that Madonna did 4 hours of cardio a day
now I argued with her and said that I thought that this was just hype/exageration etc and that it would be pretty much impossible to do that on a day to day basis.........from my perspective I'm used to guys standing around in the gym and lifting a weight every 20 minutes or so and saying that they train for 4 hours a day ....so what is a feasible amount of cardio? and by cardio I include karate training i.e. punching and kicking.basics if you like and should you do it daily

[TSDguy]

Four hours is definitely not too much if you a) have that kind of time b) are physically capable and c) want to do it. In college I used to do 1.5 hours of TSD straight into 2 hours of judo, and maybe play some tennis or something in my "free time". It was fun, so I did it.

Pro athletes that have the time to train all day... train all day. I don't know if you get Spike, but they have some "meet the fighter" type stuff on UFC fighters, and in the months before a fight, they have pretty crazy schedules. I think this kind of training was highlighted for the whole world during the Olympics. We certainly saw plenty about Phelps' schedule here in the US.

As for Madonna, she is completely ripped and her livelihood depends on her looking better than everyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if 4 hours was accurate.

[jorvik]

To be honest that was the kind of responce I was hoping for ........if I had the time I would do it all the time, as it is, my schedule is a bit lazy compared to what I used to do..........all the guys I know who are good work their arses off to get good, some of the stuff my old KSW teacher did was unbelievable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri2nov9mqiQ

and that is a poor display of his talents

[Bill Glasheen]

Whether one can do something and it is optimal training are two entirely different things.

Madonna spends a lot of time on dancing. If you want to call that "cardio", well... no. She's doing technique work.

Even marathon runners don't train a marathon. At most they will have a day a week of extreme distance (20 miles) training.

The intensity of the exercise is key here. Even in a martial arts class or say a football game, there's a lot of standing around (resting) in-between periods of explosive action.

Bill

[IJ]

Another way to look at this is by outcome.

It's too much (or, at least, done the wrong way) if you develop overuse injuries, such as bursitis, tendonitis, rotator cuff strains. It WAS too much if you have jacked up knees from running on concrete with bad shoes for 10-20 years, but then, it's also too late.

Personally I think it's also too much if you're on the elliptical 6 hours a day (with nothing but a ricecake reward) for your anorexia / body dysmorphic disorder and people are grimacing as they walk by you, no matter how you think you feel.

[jorvik]

Well I wanted advice on this from the medicos................and all is appreciated...I really don't have the smarts to choose either way, to me overtraining is easier than being a fat podgey,huffer-puffer doing half arsed kicks to a grateful reciever............I'd much rather follow the other route of overtraining ............I think there is a middle way, there are fat-uinfit martial artists who are competant.......so I guess you don't need to be superfit.......although all the guys who I respected were e.g. Bill Wallace, Chuck Norris etc

[IJ]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I have some friends who can't cook dinner without a recipe because the difference between 1/2 tsp and 1 tsp of cumin might make the dish explode... I guess? There isn't one exact right regimen and obese sloth on one side and permanent self inflicted damage on the other side. People (not counting those with health problems or middle aged couch potatoes who might have silent coronary artery disease, blah blah blah disclaimer blah blah don't kill yourself and see your physician first blah blah) who gradually work up to vigorous balanced exercise and who watch their diet will maintain a healthy weight, a good level of fitness, and look and feel good/better. If you want to be that much stronger or have that much more endurance or be a wee bit more flexible then you work a little harder.

[JimHawkins]

Although I still can't quite believe it Madonna just turned 50..

A very special person, a brilliant business woman, talented performer and of course lovely..

She's someone who will always be a part of my late teen years and a heart throb growing up with MTV and what was the Material Girl phenomenon...

A special time..

Many of the lovelies in high school were influenced by her style of dress and her attitude.. She was everywhere..

To put it another way Madonna's the bomb..

Happy Birthday Madonna..!

You'll always be 20 something to me..



MTV--Lucky Star Video--Extended Mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TqkeLPwndY

One of her best, if controversial, videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5polQtPrBw

Her First MTV Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2b9_NZow60

Megamix Tribute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiGVIsAlDCw

[Jason Rees]

Like a Prayer, Papa don't Preach, and This used to be my Playground have been favorites of mine for a long time. I just wish she'd stick to what she's good at, and stay out of politics.

Mad love from a fellow Michigander!