Excessive exercise or not

[annem]

Is what we do every day considered excessive exercise or a fast-paced job? I walk quite fast, with lots of stairs on my walk and steep hills. I probably do about 22,000 steps in a 4-hour timeframe. Only stopping when driving from one place to the other or to take a sip of water.
I always thought walking was a low-intensity exercise.
However, I've had an out-of-range blood test showing high prolactin and the only explanation for it is stress and excessive exercise.
Does anyone else on here suffer from high prolactin?
Thanks.

[Haditup]

I wouldn’t say delivering mail is excessive but if you are new to the job and previously had a sedated job it may give your body a shock.
The Other things to consider is wether if you have had Covid which may cause upset (inflammation) with the Pituitary Gland.

[annem]

Would it not be considered 'excessive' when it's 5 days a week walking every week with only two days off, but only one rest day in a row (occasionally 3 rest days in a row). The body needs time to recover and it doesn't get the chance in this job. Would that not be considered 'stress' on the body?
I haven't had covid and the blood test results go back to normal after two weeks holiday from this job. So there is a definite correlation.
Some athletes have even reported high prolactin. I just wonder if any other posties have it?
Also, does anyone find it hard to stay hydrated? I drink at least a liter of water containing electrolytes, but am still dehydrated by the end of my shift???????

[clashcityrocker]

I had never heard of prolactin.
Why were they testing your blood for it?

Given that I have worked with triathletes, any number of distance runners and a whole heap of gym bunnies it seems unlikely that it is the work that is causing your high prolactin levels. (Unless they all had high levels as well)

[norris9]

It's definitely excessive. We walk 10 miles a day, 5 days a week. It's actually crazy.

Any average joe who went out and walked 10 miles right now having never done it before would come back home and fall asleep absolutely knackered.


Some Posties apparently finish an hour early everyday, so those are probably the ones that say what they do isn't excessive.

[sindba]

I actually asked my doc if I was getting ENOUGH exercise.

Brisk 50 miles or so walking a week, but never any strenuous, out-of-breath cardio like running (because I'm always too knackered).

[mjd24]

I actually asked my doc if I was getting ENOUGH exercise.

Brisk 50 miles or so walking a week, but never any strenuous, out-of-breath cardio like running (because I'm always too knackered).

Clearly not many hills and stairs/steps where you deliver!

[guardianangel]

The days of brisk walking are long gone as soon as we went to 5hr delivery we slowed right down and got the trolleys out,its a lot easier and more relaxed,if you cant finish in your time just tell the boss "you made the rules and the duties here's a couple bags back"don't be a wally take your trolley.

[hawkeye622]

I personally wouldn't class what we do as excessive but I do understand why people do. I'm not sure if the walking aspect of the job is what's causing your issue but if the job stresses you out that may be the avenue you need to rectify.

I run 6 days a week outside of work and find with a good diet and taking supplements I can manage okay. Obviously I'm tired but that's to be expected

You're right about hydration.... thats a tough one with our job. Unless you're on a duty with a toilet always nearby (I'm not ffs) it's a toss up between being dehydrated or your bladder bursting all day - not exactly ideal.

I hope you get some answers though!

[1617mel]

Hawkeye you run 6 days a week , on top of your delivery duty , are you a super athlete , or training for the Olympics! Us normal guys who walk the distances per day, to complete our work for royal mail, we are shattered when we get home, in bed early it's a very hard slog daily and if you open your eyes and look around you can see this is a fact, what we do per day , needs addressing fast or this will result as I've seen in more absenteeism , through physical injuries caused by the slog the ruthless bosses make us do Dailly, what's next 6 hr deliveries!

[Chelseablue]

30,000 steps a day, every day just about for a lot of years does take a toll on your body , if not youre lucky . Get home fall asleep, tea then bed , repeat , repeat. Struggling with a few things now , no long to go now though till im outta there .

[Graham21]

It all depends on the person , 20.000 steps for some is nothing whereas for others it’s a strain .. main thing to focus on is if your heart rate is racing or yourself struggling for breathe when out delivering not to mention any physical injury’s or pains you may have. If so then I’d say for yourself that it would be excessive

[Wolf91]

Depends. On a town walk in mine your looking at 65-70 miles walking in a week? Who else does that. It’s insane if you think about it.
I don’t personally find it difficult, but I’m only 30 and fit. God knows what my body would be like in 20-30 years time

[mags999]

i will tell you now to save you waiting you will be falling to bits especially if you get arthritis along the way

[Ad_bee]

I can't give the specific reply I'd like to for fear of outing my avatar but over decades I've experimented and researched this very question.

In the end, it seems (for me on my multi-surface 6 hour rural) that it comes down to being a medium/low level athletic endeavour.

As such it helped me to treat it as such re: stretches (warm-ups), proper diet, attitude (don't negatively stress mind or body) and proper rest.

So, having paid attention to that stuff it went from being hard work to reasonable work with better endurance and stamina (and no, it was not simply a question of getting used to it over time because 10 years in, before researching it = half-dead but now as an oldie = better than my 30 year old self).

I don't think its excessive since over millions of years we've evolved to do something like this every day as in...go out in the morning and hunt and find food for most of the day.