Making quick workouts effective

StephMDtoo
StephMDtoo Posts: 37 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So, I am finding it almost impossible to fit in 30 minutes a day to exercise. (For me that involves showering right afterwords, so the only time I can is in the morning getting ready for work, which requires waking up super early and I end up too tired all the time). I keep seeing "one song workouts" and "5 minute butt busters" routines and I'd really like to incorporate them into my daily life, but I don't know how much benefit they actually provide, and I'm concerned about sweating/stinking when I'm working, as well as being comfortable doing them seeing as how I don't wear a sports bra all day.
Have any of you had success with this method? How did you keep from stinking and bouncing? :wink:

Replies

  • skingszoo
    skingszoo Posts: 412 Member
    I work at a desk and I try to take my breaks and go for a walk. Not enough to break a sweat but enough to get moving. When you go to the bathroom do 5 squats in the stall, waiting for the microwave - do calf raises. Break simple moves up and do them throughout the day. I too am finding it hard to get in a workout since I work 11 hour shifts and have two little boys at home.
  • Mariachicat
    Mariachicat Posts: 311 Member
    I hate 30 minute workouts because I like to be "in the zone". Having said that, to maximize a burn I'd just go hard....I abbreviated 2 hr workouts to 60 minutes. I'd just go harder. That's it. I hate short workouts because after I'm done and showered, it takes me at least an hour to get my hair did.
  • StephMDtoo
    StephMDtoo Posts: 37 Member
    Ah, parenthood. :smiley: Thanks for the ideas, doing resistance would be a good way to go.
  • KrzyGal
    KrzyGal Posts: 139 Member
    skingszoo wrote: »
    I work at a desk and I try to take my breaks and go for a walk. Not enough to break a sweat but enough to get moving. When you go to the bathroom do 5 squats in the stall, waiting for the microwave - do calf raises. Break simple moves up and do them throughout the day. I too am finding it hard to get in a workout since I work 11 hour shifts and have two little boys at home.

    Love this ^!!

  • klkarlen
    klkarlen Posts: 4,366 Member
    I do leg lifts while drying my hair or brushing my teeth. I take walks during breaks at work (while other folks are having a smoke break, I'm walking). I have a stepper at home that I use during commercial breaks or watching TV. There are all sorts of ways to increase activity levels without it being a formal workout session.
  • hortensehildegarde
    hortensehildegarde Posts: 592 Member
    Not sure why it matters the amount of benefit? They are for sure going to at least burn some calories. I pace while on the phone, other things that require nearly zero effort. Nothing that requires showering afterwards for me at the moment as that was making it more difficult to start doing things. I can walk a long time and not break a sweat. Might not get cardio benefits from it but every little thing that helps me get that smidge closer to not being obese works for me!

    If making it too complicated results in me not doing any extra activity, then I need to make it less complicated. I am a firm believer that some mild moving around is better than just sitting, even if it only "burns" 5 calories.

    I do not have issues with hunger and my weight loss is going faster than I would expect so I am happy with my results so far.
  • notelling123
    notelling123 Posts: 14 Member
    ANY additional exercise helps, so long as it's not coupled with an increase in food intake. Burn more calories than you take in and you will lose weight.

    Find a place for it in your life and you won't regret it. Tired? Exercise helps with that by regulating body chemistry. Too sweaty? You start sweating less when you lose weight.

    Hate saying it like this but there is no replacing cardio with 5 minutes exercises if heart health is one of your goals. Just like dat *kitten*, dose thighs and dem arms... the heart is (more accurately has) muscles too - cardio flexes it.
  • hmrambling
    hmrambling Posts: 321 Member
    I take 15 minute breaks at work and I go walk during my 15 minutes breaks. If the copier has to warm up before I can make a copy, I step into the file room and get some squats in until the copier warms up. I try to get a little exercise in when I can throughout the work day... like counter push ups. The little things add up. I don't wear a sports bra all day, either. I get the intense cardio and weight before or after work... little exercises during work.

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