Little bursts of different exercises or one big cardio sesh?

queenhiphop

Up until last week in the gym I'd do a 30min session on one machine..usually treadmill..but predictably I got ultra bored.

Last week I tried 10 mins treadmill, 10 mins cross trainer and 10 mins bike. Yesterday I did 10 mins treadmill and 10 mins bike followed by some strength training.

Which sort of routine is going to be more beneficial all round for me?? Please bear in mind that I can only really do at the VERY maximum 45 mins in the gym as I go on my lunch break and don't want to take the piss out of work.

mowu

Which sort of routine is going to be more beneficial all round for me?? Please bear in mind that I can only really do at the VERY maximum 45 mins in the gym as I go on my lunch break and don't want to take the piss out of work.

My take: Whichever sort of routine that keeps you exercising at the highest intensity for the amount of time you have available and keeps you coming back - if you need to switch it up to stay interested then switch it up.....as long as you keep going

dr3wman

As long as your HR stays about the same and your exercising for the same amount of time, you will see similar results. Its always fun to change it up though, keeps you interested in what your doing.

queenhiphop

So there's no 'rule' about variation or anything? That's good .. .. .. I prefer the little bursts of intensity as it gives me a moment to chill out in between each session. This afternoon I aim to do 3x10 minutes of cardio and then a little strength though not too much as my muscles are sore from yesterday.

16bluediamonds

Yes it is better - I train like it:

1. By mixing up exercises you trick the body and your energy systems, so you could burn more kcals - almost like interval training.
2. Obviously you'll avoid boredom, far more.
3. Most important, you'll target different muscles, so have reduced chances of overuse injuries and a more muscle balanced body.
4. If you can also add proper intervals into at least one of the stations, then you'll be laughing on your way to exceptional health and physique. An example will be 4 sets of 30 seconds all out cycle sprints with 30 seconds rest in between - these are tough so you need a base level of fitness first - its also easy to work 'hard'...but you know deep down you can work harder, you must go all out!

Studies have shown that these types of interval sprints on a bike can improve fitness beyond most, and this methodology can be applied to any station, x-training, treadmill, stepper etc.

queenhiphop

Hmmm I may give the interval training a go when I go gym (in about 10 mins!) - although I'm not that fit.....if I just do it as hard as I can would it be ok?!

16bluediamonds

Hi. Sure just go for it...intensity is a feeling that's relative only to you as an individual. If you think you worked really hard and you honestly believed you could not have worked harder, then you have done proper hardcore intervals. But the only way to truly know if you are working hard enough is by doing blood lactate tests - you need a sport scientist to do this and its messy - the gym police would not be happy. So the next method would be using a heart rate monitor, this will tell you if you are working intensely enough...we often find that people 'think' they are working hard, but their heart is telling another story, therefore it is all in the mind and you could push your self harder.

you can get cheap heart rate monitors and more expensive ones that you can upload the data on to your computer and thus monitor your fitness.... over time your heat rate should beat less for the same exercise/ recover back to resting rates faster. it makes training less boring too.

how did the session go, did you enjoy it?