I've always been what I call a "suicidal exerciser" with exercises I enjoy. When my partner would run one mile each night as his daily routine, I would push another lap and another lap and when I was ready to pass out, so long as my foot would take itself over the start I'd force myself to do another one....and at one time I was able to do up to 7.5 miles outdoors with this type of motivation.

I used to ride a mountain bike, 20 miles three times a week and 40 miles round trip on the towpath in Ohio on Sundays. I'd do the asphalt trail, but every opportunity I had I'd go off the trail along the horsepaths, cornfields, etc., and I loved it after a light rain. I always figured it didn't matter how tired I was so long as I got half the distance done, because I'd be forced to return the other half back in order to reach my car. (Soul Asylum on my Walkman helped me a lot too!)

All that didn't help me lose much weight, but sure toned me up really nicely. I was eating relatively healthy so weight wasn't an issue at the time.

I've had a broken my 2nd, 3rd, 4th metatarsals in June, and was on a cast all summer. I put on a lot of weight, and have been generally out of shape whereas exercise is concerned for the past several years due to hysterectomy and a previous foot surgery.

Finally, I'm no longer limping from broken metatarsals that , and have finally started on my treadmill, which has been waiting patiently for me. I am sooooo excited!!

The first night, Friday, I only did 1/2 hour working my way up from 2.0 to 3.5 mph and down again. Last night, I did 50 minutes, mostly between 3.0/3.5 warming up and cooling down with about a quarter lap at 2.5. Boy did that feel great (although I had to compress and ice my foot afterwards...it's fine today) I'm sure that speed and time isn't much for many of you, but for me, after being out of shape for so long, limping around in a cast all summer, and weeks of physical therapy, it was great to do it and I'm really motivated now to do more.

There is something very boring to me about simply doing something like that for a set amount of time...(my bike is awaiting spring!) but I don't know if healthwise pushing myself to my absolute limits is good for me. Also, I can't get up early to do it, but do it around 6-7 in the evening before eating, having had lunch around noon. (I have decided not to permit myself dinner until the exercise is done. It's a motivator for me.)

It FEELS great, but could I be harming myself in terms of diet or muscles or something? Is it better to do this every day or every other day? Also, how much water should I consume? I work up a lot of perspiration...but don't feel thirsty.

I'd appreciate comments or any advice you can offer.