Is a short period of intense exercise better than long/easy

toripiv

Hey everyone

I alternate exercising at about 9 P.M. most days, if I don't "exercise" I at least go ride my horse, so I pretty much get some exercise every day. The 2 main exercises that I do: 40-50 minutes of kickboxing that leave me feeling slightly sore the next day, but not completely exhausted afterward (there's a lot of gap time in this, so your heart rate slows and speeds up during the workout), and 15 minutes of intense nonstop cardio that leave me exhausted and sore depending on which muscle I'm focusing on (l do stuff like jumping squats and dead rows, push ups, and burpees, stuff like that).

So, my question, is one of these preferable, and could I do the intense 15 minutes every day without adverse effects?

Thanks!

shelbym87

Bump. Also like to know. I also do short intense workouts similar to yours. And other days do long runs.

paxetamore

Hey everyone

I alternate exercising at about 9 P.M. most days, if I don't "exercise" I at least go ride my horse, so I pretty much get some exercise every day. The 2 main exercises that I do: 40-50 minutes of kickboxing that leave me feeling slightly sore the next day, but not completely exhausted afterward (there's a lot of gap time in this, so your heart rate slows and speeds up during the workout), and 15 minutes of intense nonstop cardio that leave me exhausted and sore depending on which muscle I'm focusing on (l do stuff like jumping squats and dead rows, push ups, and burpees, stuff like that).

So, my question, is one of these preferable, and could I do the intense 15 minutes every day without adverse effects?

Thanks!

I recently read an article about this very topic! The research concluded that short bursts of exercise, and even doing weight training at a very slow pace, reaps the same benefits of a knockout workout. Wish I could remember which magazine this article was in to steer you to the source, but alas, I have been neglecting my memory exercises

blazergrad

Someone actually wrote a blog on this just a couple of days ago ...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BiglewM/view/the-trick-to-make-every-workout-count-145246

lkhornes

I've been doing cardio circuit training (like pushups, burpees, abdominal exercises) and along with monitoring my food intake, I've lost 15lbs in 1 month. I think it depends on how intense it is and whether or not we actually workout vigorously all 20 minutes of the 20 minute workout.

One of my favorites is The 30 Day Cardio Challenge by a personal trainer out of Atlanta, GA. Check out his website: http://www.mrshutupandtrain.com

I also favor Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shread for a quick, effective 20 minute workout.

Acg67

here is some reading material on the subject

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/steady-state-versus-intervals-and-epoc-practical-application.html

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/stead-state-versus-intervals-finally-a-conclusion.html

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/steady-state-vs-interval-training-coda.html