Is too much a of a break in exercise a waste?

capriqueen
capriqueen Posts: 976 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was on an empty stomach yesterday and did my workout in the evening. I had to take a ton of breaks in between and finished in 20 minutes more than I should have! Would this have made me burn lesser calories or rendered my workout ineffective?

Replies

  • capriqueen
    capriqueen Posts: 976 Member
    Bump?
  • Ejourneys
    Ejourneys Posts: 1,603 Member
    I'm not a medical or fitness professional, but IMHO:
    1. Every workout is effective, unless you are over-training, in which case it is better to rest.
    2. Fuel your body before you work out. Don't starve yourself.
    3. It's one workout. Move on and take each day, each meal, each workout as it comes. Patience and perseverance.
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    weight loss is about calorie deficit. not about your workout.
  • capriqueen
    capriqueen Posts: 976 Member
    weight loss is about calorie deficit. not about your workout.

    I understand that. But I did not ask if I would stop losing weight if I took breaks, I only asked if I would not burn calories.
  • ImrahnS
    ImrahnS Posts: 1
    Hi CQ,

    I think the reason for recommending minimal rest between workouts is to keep your heart rate elevated throughout the entire workout session so that calorie burns would be a tad higher than the opposite case. Also, this would keep the muscles under tension for the entire duration of the workouts, which might help more growth(?) and thus, more calorie burn in the long run as well.

    So, basically, to answer your query, it is NEVER EVER A WASTE working out, just that it would be better to keep the sessions short and intense rather than long and well, less-intense. :)

    This is just IMHO and would wait for more reputed members to comment on the matter.

    Regards
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I assume you mean you were doing weight lifting but taking longer-than-normal rest periods? If so, then no it doesn't matter. I sometimes take over 10 mins between sets (on my maximal sets usually). You burn minimal calories lifting weights anyway so even if it did affect the calorie burn, it wouldn't be changing much. In other words, don't worry about it.
  • manda1978
    manda1978 Posts: 525 Member
    It would depend on what training you were doing. If it was cardio then yes your breaks are buring less calories as your heart rate would drop. If its strength its not as much of an issue if you lifted the same as usual.

    I cannot train on an empty stomach. I feel weak and my effort is reduced considerably. Even at my 5am sessions I get up at 4.30am to eat a banana first.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    It would depend on what training you were doing. If it was cardio then yes your breaks are buring less calories as your heart rate would drop.

    This is incorrect, assuming she was doing the same amount and intensity of cardio overall it would burn the same amount of calories.
  • capriqueen
    capriqueen Posts: 976 Member
    Thanks everybody, @Imrahn and @DopeIt I was doing a kind of interval workout by Jillian, a mix of plyometrics, toning and squats/lunges. I completed the whole exercise, same number of reps and everything but couldn't do it continuously. This scares me as I might not be able to see the "difference" everyone talks about???
  • Fit_Lean_Priya
    Fit_Lean_Priya Posts: 164 Member
    in my opinion it burns little less calories, so you will see the difference but you will take longer time as compare to people who don't take breaks
    but remember every thing counts, your workout with breaks will show results and is better than not doing anything
  • ajkees
    ajkees Posts: 7
    Where you doing 30 Day Shred? I believe she says that you can only rest for 5 seconds. Since its so high-intensity at short periods, you really have to make it worth it to see a difference in 30 days.

    But I had times when my internet connection wouldnt load, or had to run off and take care of something, so i ended up with a long break at times too. Don't stress about it, it's just one day, the next time you workout try to go through with it (if its cardio, with strength longer breaks are ok) and make sure you are running on some form of fuel!

    Good luck :D

Categories