20 minutes of exercise a day enough?

stephaniewedge
stephaniewedge Posts: 12 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am up at 6 for my 2 hour commute to work and then I'm not home until 8. When i get home its a case of dinner then getting everything ready for the next day then I'm off to bed. not even time for my favourite tv programs!

I was thinking about getting up half an hour earlier to get some exercise in before my day. I do alot of walking during the day to and from stations so that helps.

I need to know if 20 minutes a day will be enough along with my diet to help me shed a few pounds?

Replies

  • Anonycatgirl
    Anonycatgirl Posts: 502 Member
    MFP's built-in calorie deficit alone should let you lose weight. Exercise is just a good thing overall--and if 20 minutes a day plus a relatively active job is what you can squeeze in ATM, it's better than nothing.
  • _MG_
    _MG_ Posts: 453 Member
    Any exercise is better than no exercise.

    Track your workouts, weigh and track your foods and maintain a calorie deficit. Any exercise helps get that deficit.
  • SavinnaMarie
    SavinnaMarie Posts: 108 Member
    yes! it is better than trying to lose weight by just dieting. I suggest you try doing HIIT workouts every other day. they're really short, kinda hard but really effective in burning fat. a lot of people suggest that you do not do HIIT everyday cause you're probably gonna lose some muscle. if you plan on doing it every day you have to recover properly by eating meals high in protein or having a few scoops of protein powder and other recovery formulas
  • keepongoingnmw
    keepongoingnmw Posts: 371 Member
    20 minutes a day consistently is great.
  • xilka
    xilka Posts: 308 Member
    The walking definitely counts.
    Then if you could do a 20-min intensive HIIT routine, that should do the trick.
    Maybe get some extra in on the weekend?
  • MB2MN
    MB2MN Posts: 334 Member
    It depends what your goals are and what the exercise is. If you want to lose weight you don't HAVE to exercise, just eat at a deficit. To improve your cardiovascular health, 20 minutes a day of walking or jogging or whatever is just fine and it gives you a few more calories to eat and maintain a deficit. If you eventually have more muscle building and strength goals it would be hard to keep it to 20 minutes but I'm guessing you are in the majority on this site of just trying to reach a healthy weight?
  • DeterminedFee201426
    DeterminedFee201426 Posts: 859 Member
    personally I think 20 minutes is too less . I think you should bump it up to 35 minutes
  • skyfall91
    skyfall91 Posts: 74
    This is what I aim for but usually I hit 30-60mins. I need short workouts with two young kids to look after so I just do whatever is the best short workout I can find. T25 workouts or high incline walking on the treadmill are my go to workouts. If thats what you can do then go for it. As long as you stick to your calories you will lose weight, exercise is more for fitness

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