Does it matter if you do the same cardio every day??

leah9985

Hi everyone!

Just wondered if anyone had any advice on cardio sessions....I carry out cardio on most of my workouts but I absolutely hate the treadmill, I'm just not one who enjoys running so I tend to mostly always do the stepper on the highest possible level as this seems to burn the most amount of calories. I know he calories aren't completely correct on the machines, but for example, this morning I done the stepper for 40 minutes and burnt 1000 cals!

I guess my questions is, does it matter if my only form of cardio comes from the stepper, or should I switch it up and do different cardio sessions? The only other one I enjoy is the cross trainer but I never burn anywhere as many calories as I do if I use the stepper which I enjoy!

Your thoughts would be appreciated xx

Lost_Zen

You might want to mix it up so you don't just work the same areas. Less chance of injuries.

My 2 cents...:flowerforyou:

sijomial

.... I know he calories aren't completely correct on the machines, but for example, this morning I done the stepper for 40 minutes and burnt 1000 cals!

Sorry but that calorie burn is fanciful. I think you have managed to find a piece of equipment that massively over estimates.
If you are equally tired on the cross trainer and stepper for the same duration then chances are the calorie burns are similar.

Do something you enjoy and can sustain rather than chasing calorie burns.

mishtery

I adjust my cardio sessions. I like the treadmill, i always alter the speeds, the inclines and as I want to get back into running I use that also the days we are not outside walking. I spend an hour some days just on the treadmill. Other days I use the cross trainer, treadmill and the rower and bike. The bike is the same, do intervals of 1 min slow and 1 min fast and hard.
I am finding my fitness is improving also by this.

I also don't go totally by the calories the machines say. I drop calories off them when I add to my database. Treadmill you can burn more calories if you up your incline. A good mix is good if your aiming to lose weight. Body adjusts to set routines after awhile.

Hell_Flower

I tend to do the same as well, and it's great for losing weight. For fitness, you will need to switch it up levels.

I hate the treadmill as well! I usually do 20 minutes elliptical, 20 minutes stepper and 20-30 minutes rowing.

Rowing, whilst much harder work and harder to get into, gives a good calorie burn payoff as well as abs. It took me a month to start enjoying it, but I wouldn't be without it now.

For a 60 minute vigorous work out, I usually burn between 700 - 900 calories, although the stepper does give the heighest calorie-burn payoff.

In terms of doing the same thing everyday - I wouldn't worry about this. You might plateau a bit in weightloss, but swtiching up the order/length of time on the machines will help that. And yes, it does sometimes get boring, but at the same time - routine. Putting cardio into your routine can only be a good thing and I find that if I know basically what I'm going to do at the gym everytime I go, I don't need to think too much about what I'm doing, what's next etc.

darrensurrey

As someone mentioned, the only issue is injuries. If you're injured, you need a plan B so you don't take a day off. For instance, if I have shin splints, I can't run but I can do other forms of exercise.

Another issue could be boredom. I'd probably get fed up of doing the same thing everyday. That's why I resort to sports (socially rather than competitively although it can get quite heated) rather than abstract exercise these days.

Pinkranger626

One more issue that no one has touched on is burning less calories over time. If you do the same exercise at the same intensity for the same amount of time day in and day out your body will become more efficient at completing the exercise... what that means is that you then have to expend less energy to complete the action, which equals less calories burned overall. That's why you'll see a plateau in your fitness goals and/or weight loss eventually.

I hate the treadmill too and I'm a runner. Try and take your workout outside if you can, running outside is a totally different experience than the treadmill. You can also do stair workouts on real stairs rather than the stepper for something totally different too. I wouldn't eliminate your stepper if you like it. Maybe make that something you do 3 times a week and find two other forms of cardio that you can enjoy for the other days. I've found I see results when I keep with the same routine for about 6 weeks and then change things up again.

asciiqwerty

things that affect how many calories you burn for given excercise: weight(yours) - intensity - efficiency - duration - conditions (temp/altitude)

if you do the same excercise at a fixed intensity for the same time then with practice your efficiency may improve lowering your burn, if you are also loosing weight then your burn for hte same duration and intensity will also drop

i wouldn't want to do the same cardio everyday - i'd get bored
injury is also a problem,
i find my enthusuasm is better when i change it up and race my previous PB

I swim/cycle/walk for cardio - but you need to try out a variety and find hte mix that suits you best: if you enjoy it you'll put more effort in HAVE FUN!

eldamiano

I know he calories aren't completely correct on the machines, but for example, this morning I done the stepper for 40 minutes and burnt 1000 cals!

This is another reason why treadmills, steppers, etc are a waste of time. You will not burn such calories from this exercise. Or did you leave out a 1?

Steff46

If your gym offers other cardio equipment I would recommend using a different machine for each workout (rotate machines). Taking your workout outside is a wonderful idea too! I always burn more calories running outdoors and if you can find a nice set of steps outside you will find out that the stair stepper machine is no where near as hard as taking real steps. (I like to run the steps at my local high school's football stadium). I also recommend a heart rate monitor. It will give you a more accurate reading of the calories you burn than the cardio machines.

LKArgh

Unless you are very overweight (or extremely tall and muscular) you cannot burn 1000 calories in 40 minutes. I doubt you can burn half this.

Kr1ptonite

When I was losing weight I pretty much done the same cardio everyday. Just got on the treadmill and walked. I would stay on the same speed and incline for weeks. The only time I would increase is when my weight loss slowed right down

froeschli

I alternate running and cycling, to keep from overdoing the running (planning not to injure myself this year).
Now I've never run on a treadmill, and stationery bikes are booooring. So I choose the great outdoors.
At a gym, I'd probably skip around between cycling and rowing etc to keep the boredom factor down...

Azdak

One more issue that no one has touched on is burning less calories over time. If you do the same exercise at the same intensity for the same amount of time day in and day out your body will become more efficient at completing the exercise... what that means is that you then have to expend less energy to complete the action, which equals less calories burned overall. That's why you'll see a plateau in your fitness goals and/or weight loss eventually.

I hate the treadmill too and I'm a runner. Try and take your workout outside if you can, running outside is a totally different experience than the treadmill. You can also do stair workouts on real stairs rather than the stepper for something totally different too. I wouldn't eliminate your stepper if you like it. Maybe make that something you do 3 times a week and find two other forms of cardio that you can enjoy for the other days. I've found I see results when I keep with the same routine for about 6 weeks and then change things up again.

Except that it doesn't (burn fewer calories over time). Someone will "plateau" in their fitness gains if they do the same thing over and over,but that is different than burning fewer calories. Weight loss plateaus definitely occur, but "mechanical efficiency" is not the reason.

There are good reasons for including variety in a workout routine, and I believe the OP is falling into a different trap -- ie using inflated machine calorie numbers to drive a routine with too little variety. But the concept you describe is not really a factor-- it comes from a misinterpretation of HRM "data", which itself is inconsistent to begin with.