Doyenne of 20-minute workouts says exercise for an hour

BerryH

This is on Jillian Michael's newsletter today:

You may have heard the U.S. Surgeon General's recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (and that breaks down to just 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week). What's important to understand is that this is intended for people who want to maintain the most basic level of fitness — but not for people who want to lose weight. But if you want to drop those pounds, you're going to have to be prepared for a bit more work.

I much prefer the World Health Organization's recommendation of 60 minutes at a time as a starting point for my clients — an hour is ideal to get the most out of your workout and see significant results. Your 60-minute workout sessions should always include a 5-minute warm-up, followed by 50 minutes of your primary cardio or strength-training exercises, followed by at least 5 minutes of cooling down and stretching.

Of course, putting in more time will get you more results — but there's a limit. Excessive intense physical activity releases stress hormones, such as cortisol, into the body. This can actually inhibit weight loss, causing your body to react by storing fat and retaining water out of self-protection. So, to reach your goal, I recommend limiting intense exercise to no more than two hours.

An intriguing standpoint for someone who made her name selling 20-minute weight-loss workouts, but I do get the point if you are relying more on your exercise than a calorie reduction.

However, advice like this puts people off trying altogether - if it only "works" if I work out for an hour why bother doing the 30 minutes I have the time/energy/fitness level for? And as Jillian herself says in her DVDs, circuits and high-intensity cardio or resistance workouts can make a difference, as evidenced by several success stories here on MFP.

Martucha123

the thing is people do 30 day shred every day, and do nothing else

she was also reccomending in one of her videos to do shred every other day (like you wpould do circuit training)

and cardio every other day

that additional 40 minutes (to reach 60 total per day) can be walking, does not have to be exercising.

i dont recall her saying ever that if you do 30 day shred every day and do nothing else you will get results...

BerryH

i dont recall her saying ever that if you do 30 day shred every day and do nothing else you will get results...

She does actually say in the DVD "If you want to see results in 20 minutes you've got to work hard."

Martucha123

ok but does it mean you can eat like a pig and sit on the couch whole day as long as you do 30 day shred or...
people just want her to mean that?

2manyhats

People just want her to mean that. LOL! I can add "activity" that burns calories all day long, but unless I put in the time really raising my heart rate, I know that I will not lose anything.

Barbellsandthimbles

Exactly right. She's good at marketing and knows if people had to choose between a workout DVD that was 40 mins and one that was 20, they'd go with the 20 every time.

HeidiMightyRawr

Exactly right. She's good at marketing and knows if people had to choose between a workout DVD that was 40 mins and one that was 20, they'd go with the 20 every time.

This. It's all about what will sell.

However, 20 minutes is surely better than nothing at all. If you are losing weight with a calorie controlled diet, the 30DS can give you 150-200+ extra calories a day (Great for people who like their food!) Plus they are increasing their fitness levels, even if only to the most basic standard.

Laoch_Cailin

She does say on the DVD if you want to see results in 20mins you have to work hard and she does mention a good calorie count diet too.

skinnyinnotime

I do think 20 mins a day is a whole lot better than 0 mins a day!

Pisc2749

Jillian is all about making money, in my opinion. Selling a 30 minute workout to people is much easier than selling them a 60 minute workout. She is full of contradictions, selling supplements and diet pills? I don't think she has a lot of integrity. I don't respect anyone who leads people to believe there is an easier, faster way to get in shape and lose weight. There isn't! It takes hard, hard work, dedication, and time. I wish it only took 20-30 minutes a day!

Bob Harper on the other hand, is straight forward about what it takes to get in shape. He says so in several of his DVD's (which are awesome and $5 - an amazing deal!). You can't get a great body in 10 minutes, or 30 minutes a day. It takes an hour of your time - it's hard but you get results. He tells it like it is, you have to work hard and be in a pool of sweat 4-6 times a week. I can't recommend him enough, it doesn't seem like many people on this board use his workouts which I find hard to understand.

I think people have the misconception that because Jillian was the bada$$ on Biggest Loser that her workouts have to be tough - wrong! Bob is a much better trainer.

apriltrainer

Well I think it depends on intensity. I see ppl at my gym reading a book on curls the eliptical or talking on the cellphone while doing bicep curls. That type of exercised better be in the gym longer. I think if intensity is high 20 to 30 is fine.

Spanaval

Jillian is all about making money, in my opinion. Selling a 30 minute workout to people is much easier than selling them a 60 minute workout. She is full of contradictions, selling supplements and diet pills? I don't think she has a lot of integrity. I don't respect anyone who leads people to believe there is an easier, faster way to get in shape and lose weight. There isn't! It takes hard, hard work, dedication, and time. I wish it only took 20-30 minutes a day!

Bob Harper on the other hand, is straight forward about what it takes to get in shape. He says so in several of his DVD's (which are awesome and $5 - an amazing deal!). You can't get a great body in 10 minutes, or 30 minutes a day. It takes an hour of your time - it's hard but you get results. He tells it like it is, you have to work hard and be in a pool of sweat 4-6 times a week. I can't recommend him enough, it doesn't seem like many people on this board use his workouts which I find hard to understand.

I think people have the misconception that because Jillian was the bada$$ on Biggest Loser that her workouts have to be tough - wrong! Bob is a much better trainer.

Agreed in its entirety. For what it is, JM's workouts are good. But, if the people doing the workouts are still smiling, it ain't hard enough. I have quibbles with Bob too (he slacks on form, pushes speed over form, etc.), but his workouts are awesome.

myfitnessnmhoy

Well I think it depends on intensity. I see ppl at my gym reading a book on curls the eliptical or talking on the cellphone while doing bicep curls. That type of exercised better be in the gym longer. I think if intensity is high 20 to 30 is fine.

^^^ :flowerforyou:

Intensity is key. Do as much as you can do, and as much intensity as you can handle.

An hour a day is great. 20 minutes a day is good. Don't skip the 20 minutes just because someone else told you it wasn't as beneficial, 20 minutes of working out is better than 20 minutes of sitting on your *kitten* because someone told you that 20 minutes wasn't worthwhile.

40 minutes would be better, 60 even better, but 20 is better than zero.

apriltrainer

I just realized I had way too many typos when I posted above..(I Hate typos!) Still not used to typing on my kindle fire! Lesson to self...wait until I am home at my computer to go on message boards!

Anyways...speaking of the hour debate. I work out at a university gym. A student was walking on the treadmill doing his THESIS paper.I doubt any serious workout was going on.

Oishii

Most days my fitbit reckons I get over 60 mins at a high level of activity and way more at a moderate level. I probably fit the WHO's definition, but not JM's.

Vivijeanne

I agree 20 minutes is better than nothing and a great start .Some intense workouts can be done in 20 minutes

But even if its a gentle workout if you have been doing nothing then you will start losing weight and maybe even workout more as you get fitter !

I applaud anyone who makes it to the gym even if they seem to be wasting time to you hardcore guys and gals .

I have had my own experiance of being looked down on by fit ladies when I was in the gym and it totally put me off going for years .

Please just never put down a large person trying to do something about their weight and fitness !!

apriltrainer

I agree 20 minutes is better than nothing and a great start .Some intense workouts can be done in 20 minutes

But even if its a gentle workout if you have been doing nothing then you will start losing weight and maybe even workout more as you get fitter !

I applaud anyone who makes it to the gym even if they seem to be wasting time to you hardcore guys and gals .

I have had my own experiance of being looked down on by fit ladies when I was in the gym and it totally put me off going for years .

Please just never put down a large person trying to do something about their weight and fitness !!

No one is going to look down on you! Now if you are doing a thesis paper on the treadmill or reading a book while on the hip adductor machine then yes...I shall!

The people I do look down on were actually skinny college students who were doing weird stuff.

Ok, I did see one lady my age talking on her cell phone while one arm was doing a shoulder press.

Not good.

No wonder she was in the gym from the time I got there until after I had did my own workout, took my shower, and trained one of my own clients!(I'm a personal trainer)

People who waste their time in the gym need to be in the gym longer....

But if you just come in and get it done no matter your size...much respect!

jo_marnes

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Now if you are doing a thesis paper on the treadmill or reading a book while on the hip adductor machine then yes...I shall!

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I actually get this. I've started studying this year and I can't believe how much time I sit on my butt! It's awful. If I could study while moving that would be awesome. I'm not going for a workout here, but just to be active would be fantastic. I've sat on my butt for 6 hours studying this weekend and it sucks