OT: girlfriend works out twice a day (overtraining)

[Zarati]

My girl suffers from self body image to the point she works out twice a day, an hour each session. It's kickboxing and cardio like exercises, maybe two three HIT exercises a week that she does at a gym.
She also eats one real meal a day and that's dinner. Maybe 1000 calories a day and a lot of coffee. Her sleep is also no good, maybe 4-5 hours
How can I help her understand that, that sort of fitness lifestyle does actually more harm than good, overtraining could gain weight.
She says she needs to do all that in order to feel good, if she doesn't exercise she'll feel bad mentally.

 

[thethinker48]

A therapist might help more than a bodybuilding forum (where majority also have body dysmorphia)

 

[Muay Thai]

start it off with " i love you and this is coming from a place of concern"
@OuchThatHurts would know best

 

[Klax]

I mean, honestly, what you described doesn’t sound too crazy. Two hours of working out per day, and 1,000 cals could be appropriate for her depending on her weight.

At least she’s not a sloppy couch potato, right?

Edit: Also, doubtful she’ll “gain weight” from overtraining.

 

[Zarati]

I mean, honestly, what you described doesn’t sound too crazy. Two hours of working out per day, and 1,000 cals could be appropriate for her depending on her weight.

At least she’s not a sloppy couch potato, right?

Edit: Also, doubtful she’ll “gain weight” from overtraining.

She eats a big salad, pita bread with a veggie burger at night and a small bowl of low sugar ice cream.

I don't think that's enough nutritions

 

[Blazed_Noob]

If it was me I would consider a few things

Does it make her happy? Is it effecting your relationship?

Reverse the role and ask yourself if you would stop something that brings you happiness or mental clarity

 

[qbkilla]

I'd be more concerned with the 1 meal per day than hitting the gym twice

It's not like she's benching and squatting 300 lbs, so overtraining and frying her CNS isn't an issue, she's just doing girly stuff

It's good she's active and not overweight because a healthy fat person doesn't exist, so give her props for that.

I'd work on the diet. Malnourishment could be a concern. I know girls and even dudes in person who starve themselves and can't lose weight I've seen people on forums who starve themselves. Imo a good metabolism is a sign of good health. Anyone eating their bodyweight by 12 or less year round...yikes.

Does she track her calories?

 

[Performance Based]

Most definitely would not consider this overtraining mate. Even if so her nervous system will adapt. She is not causing intense damage to herself requiring days at a time to heal. Light rabdo will kick in long before anything else more serious.

 

[fisther69]

Herschel walker?

 

[blmcgee81]

She eats a big salad, pita bread with a veggie burger at night and a small bowl of low sugar ice cream.

I don't think that's enough nutritions

I doubt that’s even close to 1000 cal.

What is her stats? She might only need to be eating 1800 cal if she is small like my wife.

 

[Zarati]

I doubt that’s even close to 1000 cal.

What is her stats? She might only need to be eating 1800 cal if she is small like my wife.

5'9
135 lbs

 

[Zarati]

If it was me I would consider a few things

Does it make her happy? Is it effecting your relationship?

Reverse the role and ask yourself if you would stop something that brings you happiness or mental clarity

I'm simply looking out for her

 

[Zarati]

I'd be more concerned with the 1 meal per day than hitting the gym twice

It's not like she's benching and squatting 300 lbs, so overtraining and frying her CNS isn't an issue, she's just doing girly stuff

It's good she's active and not overweight because a healthy fat person doesn't exist, so give her props for that.

I'd work on the diet. Malnourishment could be a concern. I know girls and even dudes in person who starve themselves and can't lose weight I've seen people on forums who starve themselves. Imo a good metabolism is a sign of good health. Anyone eating their bodyweight by 12 or less year round...yikes.

Does she track her calories?

Good concerns, she does not!

 

[blmcgee81]

5'9
135 lbs

She should probably be around 2200 calories. Is she actively losing weight?

 

[Zarati]

She should probably be around 2200 calories. Is she actively losing weight?

She's been hovering around 135 for a long time. She's girly fit, not hard fitness chick fit

 

[blmcgee81]

If she isn’t loosing weight and she seems ok then she probably is fine. Sleep is. Affected by the caffeine and low carb intake I would suspect

 

[BigGame]

Does this mean she is taking a pre-workout supplement twice a day?

 

[krman]

I wouldn't say it's super extreme. It's something that you might want to keep an eye on, but sometimes it really does help people's mental health to workout like that. I would just encourage her and maybe lend some nutrition advice here and there. Sounds like she's a hard worker. Probably a good one to hold onto. Just support her and try to give her loving evidence based advice. Overall, I think she will be fine.

 

[ripriot]

My girl suffers from self body image to the point she works out twice a day, an hour each session. It's kickboxing and cardio like exercises, maybe two three HIT exercises a week that she does at a gym.
She also eats one real meal a day and that's dinner. Maybe 1000 calories a day and a lot of coffee. Her sleep is also no good, maybe 4-5 hours
How can I help her understand that, that sort of fitness lifestyle does actually more harm than good, overtraining could gain weight.
She says she needs to do all that in order to feel good, if she doesn't exercise she'll feel bad mentally.

Get thorough blood work. If it’s fine then no worries. Let her live her life. If it shows deficiencies then make changes accordingly.

 

[FrancisK]

This is going to sound extra faggy but how often do you compliment her and tell her how highly you think of her? If you don’t want to take the honey approach and would rather go with vinegar then tell her you love what she looks like already so who exactly is she trying to look good for?

Yea I know that’s just mind games but with girls these days a lot of times that’s what needs to be done…