How much exercise is enough?

rachelnielson

Hi everyone, I have a couple questions. (1) Have you noticed an impact in your weight loss from going over or under on the sugar goal that MFP sets? (2) I’ve read that 30 min 5 times a week is a good amount of exercise for being healthy, but is this enough for weight loss? It’s really hard to find the time for 30 minutes, and I don’t think that I can stand going for longer than that on the long term. I’m going for 30 minutes 6 days a week right now.

Here’s a little extra info if this helps: I’m 29 and have about 30 to 40 pounds to loose. I use a heart rate monitor when I exercise, so I know that I’m typically burning from 200 to 300 calories when I exercise. I’m using the elliptical about 4 to 5 days a week for 30 minutes on 15 to max resistance. I use the treadmill 1-2 days a week to speed walk on at an incline. Some days I’ll lift weights for 5-15 minutes after cardio. My daily calorie allotment (estimated by MFP is 1,200). I always keep my net calories within 100 of this amount, but sometimes go over on my sugar due to eating fruit.

Any advice?

vypeters

Just for weight loss, the simple calories in and calories out equation applies. What you eat is going to be 80% of the picture and how many calories your exercise burns will depend on what you're doing and at what intensity.

For fitness, maybe consider adding in a couple of days of lifting/resistance?

BigGuy47

Focus on fine tuning the diet. Use exercise for the benefit of fitness.