Is 25 minutes of cardio enough?

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  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    SingingSingleTracker wrote: »

    Plenty of stress from those trying to capture college money in the classroom and in their career pursuits...

    it's not significantly more stressful than living the rest of you're life where money is almost always an issue and there are demands from work and family.

    I'm sorry- I'm just not buying that college is *that* stressful. Yes- there are time periods where it is-finals and big term papers/projects: but over all it's the least stressful time of your life- and after you grow up- get a job- and have a full life- there are times where you wish life was that easy.

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    College is a cakewalk. I feel for people who think it is stressful, the shock to their system that's coming when the real world drops a deuce on their chest will be interesting for them indeed.
  • ForecasterJason
    ForecasterJason Posts: 2,577 Member
    I think we all have different set points when it comes to what we consider low, moderate, and high stress situations. Some people can handle more than others. While I am a full time college student, I am taking classes online from my home. So while I'm not dealing with roommates, parties, and other stuff that comes with living on campus, of course I still have big projects, tests, etc. I understand that I'm not even living the typical college life, but I can say I've seen the effects of stress on my body physically and mentally.

    For many of us who are in the 18-22 age range, we've not continuously dealt with anything this stressful. Of course, I realize there are plenty of people who have dealt with a lot more, but that's not everyone.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    lilylenz wrote: »
    However, some days if I don't wake up early enough I won't have a lot of time to do a full hour/45 minute workout (which usually is a combination of strength/cardio), so usually 2 - 3 days a week I will only do around 25 - 30 minutes of cardio and I was wondering if that's enough? I'm not trying to lose weight or anything, I'm basically just trying to not gain the "freshman 20" and maintain my weight :P

    As others have said, if you are not eating more calories than you burn then you won't gain weight even if you do little to no exercise. Log what you are eating, drinking and the exercise you are doing and you will see if it is enough for you.

    Beyond weight concerns, I think 25 to 30 minutes of exercise a day is a good healthy habit to start. It is good for stress management. I think anyone can be stressed out even college freshmen and it is good to learn to manage your stress.

    Not all college students these days are kids fresh out of high school. Some are in their 30's and have jobs, spouses, children, houses, bills as well as classes to attend. Everyone has their own challenges and just because some activity or stage of life seems easy enough to you doesn't mean it is low stress for another person.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Lounmoun wrote: »

    Not all college students these days are kids fresh out of high school. Some are in their 30's and have jobs, spouses, children, houses, bills as well as classes to attend. Everyone has their own challenges and just because some activity or stage of life seems easy enough to you doesn't mean it is low stress for another person.

    I'm going to take a stab and say anyone who is attending school after hours- as an adult- isn't going to be remotely close to worried about the freshman 15- and yes- their stress will be significantly higher than you're average youngster going to school away from home for the first time.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    edited December 2014
    I agree with the others that say we would need more info to really give advice specific to you and your goals but in completely generic terms here is the the CDC site with recommendations.

    http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html

    ^ This would be minimum just for basic health concerns. Your calorie intake is what will affect your weight management though.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    My point is to maintain you don't have to do any cardio exercise of any kind unless you choose to eat more than you burn throughout the day. How can anyone answer that without knowing that piece of info? If you assume she is maintaining correctly then the OP wouldn't need to ask the question, "Is this enough?" . If she is at her maintenance calories the question was never necessary to ask.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Her question was, "is it enough."

    Yes. It's enough.

    Enough for what? Doesn't matter. It's "enough." It's also more than zero, as was pointed out.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Not all 25min of cardio are created equal.....
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    edited December 2014
    dbmata wrote: »
    Her question was, "is it enough."

    Yes. It's enough.

    Enough for what? Doesn't matter. It's "enough." It's also more than zero, as was pointed out.

    I can tell you it's enough for me!!!!!
    <hashtaghatescardio>

    Its' probably not enough if you're training for a marathon though.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    I don't see how that is even remotely a safe assumption.

    OP - it'll be enough if you aren't eating too much. If you're eating too much, you'll either need more cardio, or less eating. Without more information, we can't know if your eating level makes sense.

    Unless she has already gained weight, and did not report that to us in her original or subsequent posts, this statement led to the assumption...

    I'm not trying to lose weight or anything, I'm basically just trying to not gain the "freshman 20" and maintain my weight.

    Not wanting to lose weight. Trying to maintain and not gain any weight.

    CICO - with or without exercise. The 2 - 3x per week of getting in 25-30 minutes will allow her to play with the CICO equation a bit on those days.

    If you need more information to come to a conclusion, then feel free to pester her to get the information you need. However, most have certainly pointed out to her at this point in the thread that as long as she is not eating at a surplus - she's fine with the shorter cardio sessions.
  • PieSaver
    PieSaver Posts: 19
    To a degree, how long you do cardio for is less important than how intense you do your cardio. Just fifteen minutes is enough for a high intensity interval training session. But if you're at the pace of a brisk walk you'll need to go much longer to burn the same level of calories.

    Keep the intensity up and you'll absolutely be able to avoid the freshman 15 or whatever they're calling it these days.
  • goldthistime
    goldthistime Posts: 3,213 Member
    I would swap out a couple of those 25 minute cardio sessions for strength training sessions.
  • maoribadger
    maoribadger Posts: 1,837 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    dbmata wrote: »
    Her question was, "is it enough."

    Yes. It's enough.

    Enough for what? Doesn't matter. It's "enough." It's also more than zero, as was pointed out.

    I can tell you it's enough for me!!!!!
    <hashtaghatescardio>

    Its' probably not enough if you're training for a marathon though.

    25 minutes of cardio is about 22 minutes too many. Unless Im getting to box. Then its all good

  • rhinomidget
    rhinomidget Posts: 52 Member
    Thank you all so much!
  • SrMaggalicious
    SrMaggalicious Posts: 495 Member
    redfisher1974 wrote: »
    Thats all I do 25 minutes 2x a week.
    Plenty...if it's HiiT, it definitely is...I only do 2xweek..HOWEVER, I also lift.
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    SWWIS wrote: »
    You don't need to do any cardio to maintain your weight, just don't eat more than you burn. Adjust your calorie intake on days you don't work out.

    This perfect answer should have been the end of the thread.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    xmichaelyx wrote: »
    SWWIS wrote: »
    You don't need to do any cardio to maintain your weight, just don't eat more than you burn. Adjust your calorie intake on days you don't work out.

    This perfect answer should have been the end of the thread.

    Considering that everyone on MFP loves to eat - and I mean LOVES to eat - perhaps a perfect answer would include that maintaining while loving to eat is easier with cardio sessions to balance out the extra calorie consumption that love of eating creates.
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