Cardio Circuit VS Walking Help

Caper88
Caper88 Posts: 418 Member
I'm just curious about everyone opinion on cardio circuit vs walking? Bob Harper from the biggest loser has a 10min high intensity cardio circuit workout video. I was just wondering if it would benefit me more to do the workout or sticking to my normal walk. When I walk I can usually do 5km in an hr. I normally walk any wheres between 5-km to 8km, So I end up spending 1 to 1&1/2hrs walking a day, Could I possibly get the same benefit if not better in less time if I do the dvd instead. I did start Jillian Micheals cardio & strenght workout dvd. I'm not looking for something to replace Jillian Micheals, just something to replace the amount of time I spend walking if at all possible. Any opinions or suggestions?

Edit: Sorry I should of been more specific with the term "benefit". I do have a lot of fat that I could lose however my over all goal is to build strength and endurance.

Replies

  • MsPudding
    MsPudding Posts: 562 Member
    Which do you enjoy the most?

    The exercise that gives you the most benefit is the one that you can make a lifelong habit because you enjoy it.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    What do you mean by "benefit?" From purely a calorie perspective, you aren't going to burn as many calories doing 10 minutes of HIIT as you are in 1.5 hours of walking. In terms of your overall fitness level and improvements to your VO2 max and stamina, etc, HIIT is going to be more beneficial. Walking is great for the heart and builds some endurance capacity but isn't going to improve a whole lot on your hearts aerobic capacity unless you are very new to fitness.

    Ultimately, you're going to find that a variety of exercises are going to be necessary to meet your fitness aspirations. I do HIIT...I do long cycling sessions for aerobic capacity and endurance...I do a lot of walking....I weight train. All of the above are important to my fitness aspirations.
  • Jkn921
    Jkn921 Posts: 309 Member
    I prefer cardio workouts as they involve the whole body and as I have (everyone) has things to do within the day, it gets the job done for me. I also walk so consider that extra exercise. But like ^ said, whatever you enjoy :)
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    What do you mean by "benefit?" From purely a calorie perspective, you aren't going to burn as many calories doing 10 minutes of HIIT as you are in 1.5 hours of walking. In terms of your overall fitness level and improvements to your VO2 max and stamina, etc, HIIT is going to be more beneficial. Walking is great for the heart and builds some endurance capacity but isn't going to improve a whole lot on your hearts aerobic capacity unless you are very new to fitness.

    Ultimately, you're going to find that a variety of exercises are going to be necessary to meet your fitness aspirations. I do HIIT...I do long cycling sessions for aerobic capacity and endurance...I do a lot of walking....I weight train. All of the above are important to my fitness aspirations.


    ^^^ Nailed it.....
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    What do you mean by "benefit?" From purely a calorie perspective, you aren't going to burn as many calories doing 10 minutes of HIIT as you are in 1.5 hours of walking. In terms of your overall fitness level and improvements to your VO2 max and stamina, etc, HIIT is going to be more beneficial. Walking is great for the heart and builds some endurance capacity but isn't going to improve a whole lot on your hearts aerobic capacity unless you are very new to fitness.

    Ultimately, you're going to find that a variety of exercises are going to be necessary to meet your fitness aspirations. I do HIIT...I do long cycling sessions for aerobic capacity and endurance...I do a lot of walking....I weight train. All of the above are important to my fitness aspirations.

    He means what you can add to the lifestyle to never stop being active. I love to lifting and I do not ever see me stopping.
  • PinkyFett
    PinkyFett Posts: 842 Member
    If you're bored with one, do both or the other for a while. I think any cardio is good, it's just about finding what you like to do and not get bored with it.
  • Caper88
    Caper88 Posts: 418 Member
    Sorry I should of been more specific with the term "benefit". I do have a lot of fat that I could lose however my over all goal is to build strength and endurance.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    If your are able to do the high intensity cardio. Do that It will be more beneficial for fat loss and build strength endurance.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Sorry I should of been more specific with the term "benefit". I do have a lot of fat that I could lose however my over all goal is to build strength and endurance.

    Your diet and calorie intake are going to have far more impact on losing fat than your exercise. You don't have to create a calorie deficit with your exercise, you can do that in your diet...in fact, trying to create a calorie deficit with exercise alone is highly inefficient due to the fact that it requires a ton of time...it is just much easier to knock off 500 calories per day from your diet.

    I would also note that getting regular exercise allows you to eat more while accomplishing the same goals. For example, I can maintain my weight without any exercise whatsoever if I consume around 2300 - 2400 calories per day...I can lose weight without any exercise whatsoever by simply eating 500 or so less calories than that to lose about 1 Lb per week...so 1800 - 1900 calories. With my general exercise I burn roughly 500 calories per day...so my maintenance with exercise is now increased to 2800 - 2900 calories per day and I can lose about 1 Lb per week eating 2300 - 2400 calories per day.

    Diet for weight control; exercise for fitness. I exercise more now in maintenance than I ever did losing...exercising isn't for weight loss, it is for fitness and it aids in controlling weight.
  • theguy12
    theguy12 Posts: 156
    Why not try both - do the walking a few days a week. Do the cardio a few days of week.