I Want Feedback- You Mean Exercise is Not Magic?

Okay, so as most know, I am thin with a descent amount of muscle. Why on earth would I even think to change a thing as far as nutrition and workouts? Well, I recently read the book, French Women Don't Get Fat. It wasn't monumental or life altering really, just common sense.....except for her thoughts on work outs. I was shocked to read that she felt gyms were a waste and so were sports and that we need to just be active daily and exert ourselves cooking, cleaning, walking or doing whatever it is we do. I already do those things and exert myself on top of a difficult workout 5-6 mornings a week on top of a walk 5-6 evenings a week. My walks are usually 1-2 miles. I never considered that I worked out too much. I started researching online and came up with all these websites.......

cardio is for dummies!


http://wellnesshour.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3:cardio-is-for-dummies-how-too-much-exercise-can-make-you-fat-&catid=7:blogs&Itemid=85

Too much exercise can make you fat

http://www.lifeorganizers.com/Organize-Your-Wellness-/The-Organized-Good-Life/Too-much-exercise-can-make-you-fat.html

High-Intensity Cardio = High Cortisol = Stress

http://www.totalfitness.net/2007%20Mar%20Fitness%20Newsletter.htm

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin (Time Magazine, make sure to read all 4 pages)

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857-1,00.html

Cardio Bad for Fat Loss and Your Health?

http://www.traintosweatt.com/blog/2010/02/17/cardio-bad-for-fat-loss-and-your-health/

There are plenty more out there, but these just name a few I read. I have to admit at this time I think I had an AHA moment. I have battled chronic issues with low immune function(I get sick with fevers and weird stuff like A LOT......sometimes up to once a month) which has lead to testing for everything including LUPUS over the years(thankfully all were negative). I began having chronically low potassium and magnesium since 2003 when funny enough is the first year I began to really work on fitness. In 2006 I was diagnosed with SVT and began having terrible issues with PVCs in my heart. I have always done very prolonged cardio sessions assuming I was helping my health. No one has EVER told me nor have I ever read that workouts on top of a very active lifestyle such as my own could actually do harm. To boot, I eat more than my husband who by the way does NOT work out. I cannot believe I may have been overdoing it and hurting my body and probably not really doing much weight wise because I eat so much due to high hunger from so much activity. I have also battled insomnia on and off to which I assumed the cure would be.......MORE cardio haha! Same with anxiety. I ended up on buspirone 2 years ago trying to combat anxiety issues and the psych's recommendation......you guessed it, work out more! Strange little epiphany I am having. What are your thoughts? My life is very active. We LOVE to walk all over and hike as a family and do so 3-4 days a week, the other couple days I walk with kids while Nate's at work. I believe whole heartedly in strength training with light weights(heavy weights cause me too many PVCs in my heart) and I plan to continue a moderate 2X a week weight training regime, but starting 3 days ago I quit cardio beyond our walks or hikes. Its kind of an experiment to see what happens. Interestingly, my hunger issues have slowed down which is so nice. I hate walking through somewhere and hunger will be so intense I feel faint if I don't eat immediately. I also seem to have so much more energy during the day to care for the house and my mood is improved which is odd. I would think I would have slumped off into depression quitting cold turkey from so many intense workouts. I have more patience for the kids and the pregnancy and feel great. Guess we will see how it continues. All right, your turn, weigh in! haha no pun intended :)