Intermittent exercises

Tenoreo90

Due to my toddler not liking me working out for long periods (and, honestly, my ADD) I've taken on a bit of an intermittent exercise program...as in, jog in place 5 min here, maybe a DDR song there, a set of pushups later, etc...will this benefit me the same as doing it all together? Or does that matter?

Collinsky

You might want to look into METs (metabolic equivalennt tasks)- at rest, you expend 1 MET. A brisk walk is 2.5 METs, vigorous exercise takes you up to 6 or more METs. The idea is to expend a certain amount of "MET hours" each day/week.

You can try calculating your MET hours, and working to increase that. Here's a chart that gives some approximate METs for various activities, and at the bottom it has a formula for calculating MET hours: http://njms2.umdnj.edu/hwmedweb/archives/METsTbl.htm

Also look into NEAT - non-exercise activity thermogenesis. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2009-01-21-fidget-activity_N.htm is a USA Today piece on it, but of course there is more scholarly info available with just a quick search.

But, basically, the idea is that increasing your incidental, daily, everyday activity level *outside of regular, planned exercise* is not only helpful, it may play as much or more of a role than if you work out for 45 minutes and then sit on your couch for the other 23.25 hrs a day.

I think that doing short bursts of exercise type activities intermittently throughout the day was what I was doing, I would not count it in my exercise log as a calorie burn, but I'd consider that in my daily activities when determining my "activity level" in MFP for a healthy calorie amount while still losing (if that's your goal.)

With all that said, there are probably ways to work that regular, planned exercise into your life in ways that work with your lifestyle and attention span, and that has it's own benefits. Working out with children (especially the little ones) underfoot presents special challenges, to say the least, but it can be done with some finagling and trial-and-error. My goal is to continue with my planned workouts AND to increase my incidental, daily activity level, because IMO (which you should take with a grain of salt as I'm no expert on anything but working out with a toddler weaving around my legs) both types of activity are important components for overall health.

LittleMissAngi

It's better then not doing anything at all. Keep it up!

DenverKos

It's better then not doing anything at all. Keep it up!

Yes, it is! But for maximum benefits strive to get cardio in for at least 10 minutes, better if you can do 20 at a time. As for strength training, intermittent is fine - do the push ups and tricep dips for 5 mins, then do some squats and lunges an hour later, some crunches next, etc.

Can you put the toddler in a strolled and got for a brisk walk/jog? How old is the child? Maybe go to the backyard or park and play games, run around, hop skip jump! It's a lot of fun, is good weight bearing activities, and you won't look like an idiot since you'll have the kid! :happy: the child will also tire giving you some time to yourself when they go down for a nap or to sleep.

sweet110

I think it doesn't matter as much for calculations of pure "calorie burn", but it does make a difference in improving fitness, etc.

BUT, one step at a time. I think the biggest mistake we can make with weight loss is to fall into all or nothing thinking. If this is what you can do now, just do it! Weight loss is 85% diet, so you will be able to achieve a lot through diet and just trying to be more active.

Good for you for making a positive change!

Tenoreo90

It's better then not doing anything at all. Keep it up!

Yes, it is! But for maximum benefits strive to get cardio in for at least 10 minutes, better if you can do 20 at a time. As for strength training, intermittent is fine - do the push ups and tricep dips for 5 mins, then do some squats and lunges an hour later, some crunches next, etc.

Can you put the toddler in a strolled and got for a brisk walk/jog? How old is the child? Maybe go to the backyard or park and play games, run around, hop skip jump! It's a lot of fun, is good weight bearing activities, and you won't look like an idiot since you'll have the kid! :happy: the child will also tire giving you some time to yourself when they go down for a nap or to sleep.

Oh, yeah, we run around outside everyday for about 30-60 minutes a day...if I can't find time before it gets dark, I make a point to play chase in the apartment. I don't count this in MFP, I just put "lightly active" for my activity level. :]

heybales

Oh, yeah, we run around outside everyday for about 30-60 minutes a day...if I can't find time before it gets dark, I make a point to play chase in the apartment. I don't count this in MFP, I just put "lightly active" for my activity level. :]

It's that increased daily activity that actually gives you a safer range for losing more weight, potentially. Excellent way of doing it.

Many folks don't have 1000 calories worth of daily activity between their BMR and maintenance calories. So when you take 1000 off maintenance (if they have aggressive goal of 2lb/wk), it puts them below their BMR, which is good either because you body will just lower your real BMR to match what you are feeding it.

You may have such a case.

Use this site to calculate your activity level, and therefore maintenance calories. Don't include planned exercise time, but if you have good avg daily figures for those other activities, use them for sure.
If you use height, the BMR calc is same as MFP and most other sites.
If you know your body fat % use that instead, and get a more accurate BMR calc.
Combined with more accurate activity level, you may see you have plenty of space for 1000 cal drop and not go below your BMR, then again, you may not and want to remain safe.
Then you can manually change your MFP goals.

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html