30 minutes a day?

lostinwebspace
lostinwebspace Posts: 99 Member
edited November 14 in Fitness and Exercise
So the general norm now is adults are urged to exercise 30 minutes a day. I exercise for about an hour a day 5 days a week (two half-hour runs and the rest is weight training) and the other two days, usually Friday and Sunday. I need rest days. My body needs rest days. My muscles need rest days.

But we're to exercise every day for 30 minutes at least? Doesn't that conflict with the advice we've been given about giving our bodies rest on some days?

Replies

  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    Not all days have to be intense...
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    I think the "30 mins a day" also includes things like walking. It is not a good idea to be completely sedentary all day long. I think it is also easier for people to wrap their minds around 30 mins every day rather than 1 hour every other day. They can make the 30 mins a part of their daily routine.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    Josalinn wrote: »
    I think the "30 mins a day" also includes things like walking. It is not a good idea to be completely sedentary all day long. I think it is also easier for people to wrap their minds around 30 mins every day rather than 1 hour every other day. They can make the 30 mins a part of their daily routine.
    +1
  • lostinwebspace
    lostinwebspace Posts: 99 Member
    Gotcha. So as long as I'm doing basically 3.5 hours a week, I'm good. Awesome!
  • Charliegottheruns
    Charliegottheruns Posts: 286 Member
    lostinwebspace wrote: »
    So the general norm now is adults are urged to exercise 30 minutes a day. I exercise for about an hour a day 5 days a week (two half-hour runs and the rest is weight training) and the other two days, usually Friday and Sunday. I need rest days. My body needs rest days. My muscles need rest days.

    But we're to exercise every day for 30 minutes at least? Doesn't that conflict with the advice we've been given about giving our bodies rest on some days?

    The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week or a combination of the two.
  • troytroy11
    troytroy11 Posts: 180 Member
    The 30 minute a day routine has worked quite well for me. It is easier for me NOT to skip days. The trick is to vary the routine and intensity of what you do enough so that one group of muscles do not get overworked or especially injured. Mentally it is easier as well because I know that it is going to be only 30 minutes. It is never dreaded or put off, in fact I look forward to it way more than when I would work out longer for less days. I can always squeeze it in somehow even when things are otherwise hectic.
  • lostinwebspace
    lostinwebspace Posts: 99 Member
    troytroy11 wrote: »
    The 30 minute a day routine has worked quite well for me. It is easier for me NOT to skip days. The trick is to vary the routine and intensity of what you do enough so that one group of muscles do not get overworked or especially injured. Mentally it is easier as well because I know that it is going to be only 30 minutes. It is never dreaded or put off, in fact I look forward to it way more than when I would work out longer for less days. I can always squeeze it in somehow even when things are otherwise hectic.

    So that switch--when you went from working out longer for fewer days vs. when you worked out shorter for more days--how did that affect your muscle growth/weight maintenance/etc? Or what did you have to do to compensate (other than reschedule your week)?
  • mrsmammahunter
    mrsmammahunter Posts: 221 Member
    I have 1 rest day a week 3-4 days a week i do 2 hours of cardio a day then 2 days of 1 hour sessions. You have to follow your own body i feel great on my schedule and im not sore every day. I think lifting is different though you have to take rest days but i dont know much about that.
  • mrsmammahunter
    mrsmammahunter Posts: 221 Member
    I know a woman who is in her 50 she does 2 hours of intense cardio 5 times a week and she feels great for HER body.. .that would kill me but for her thats what she needs to do to maintain... everyone has a different norm.
  • troytroy11
    troytroy11 Posts: 180 Member
    edited March 2015
    lostinwebspace wrote: »
    So that switch--when you went from working out longer for fewer days vs. when you worked out shorter for more days--how did that affect your muscle growth/weight maintenance/etc? Or what did you have to do to compensate (other than reschedule your week)?
    It affected my weight maintenance positively by keeping me on track. Since there were no more excuses to miss days, my total calorie burn ended up being more (400x7=2800 with daily routine up from (700x3=2100) over the course of a week. My waist size decreased by two inches in a two month period after using the 30 minute daily technique vs one inch in three months, and my body fat percentage went down from 17% to 14.5% using two different methods of measurement.
    It is also important to note that because I am exercising daily, I am more mindful of the total calorie intake, both the quality and quantity.
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