quick question, does it make a difference doing 1 long workout ir multiple small ones?

alipie420

Just wondering if it makes a difference if I were to do 3 ten minute workouts throughout the day compared to one 30 minute workout a day? I figure it'd still burn the same number of calories, but is one better than the other for weightloss?

janejellyroll

My understanding is that the very act of having your heart rate up for longer will result in more of a calorie burn than several shorter blocks. So you would burn more calories in the longer workout . . . but if the choice is between doing 3 ten minute workouts and nothing at all, the 3 workouts would be better.

At the end of the day, whatever it takes to get more activity!

brb_2013

I've been reading about the recommendations for activities, as long as you get 10 minutes at a time, three 10 min sessions are cardiovascularly the same as one 30 min.

The idea is ANYTHING is better than nothing, but 10 mins of sustained heart rate elevation is the key.

Cherimoose

If you're able to do 3 sessions of 10 minutes, i'd go with that. Your effort level is likely to be higher near the end, plus you'll have less hunger afterwards, and more energy (= greater activity level). The studies on the topic found that multiple short sessions were equal or better than long ones.

patesq

The reading I've done says it's the total that counts so three 10 minute workouts is as good as one 30 minute workout in a day. Personally, I prefer to spread mine out; I do 2 workouts - cardio in the morning and weights (with a short cardio warm up and cool down) at night. I feel like it gets my heart rate up twice a day and I have more energy for each workout than I would if I did it all at once.

SonyaCele

i have always done small increments of cardio and added them up because i hate long term cardio and i feel better overall when i get heart rate up periodically throughout the day.