30 minutes in the gym - what do you do?
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I don't exercise for weight loss and eat back exercise calories anyway but if I only had 30 minutes in the gym I would alternate between:
30mins cardio of choice. If I wanted a high calorie burn I wouldn't chose HIIT - would work at the highest sustained level I could sustain for 30 minutes (cycle trainer probably, maybe rowing which is close to a "full body" workout). I don't need a warm up or cool down for a short session.
30mins would be enough (for me) to do four compound lifts (upper body push & pull, lower body push and pull) plus some core work. If you alternate push/pull, upper/lower you need very little recovery time.
Wow and I thought I was a quick lifter.
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30 minutes? I'd do 5 minutes on the treadmill, then get in whatever core lift I had scheduled for that day - squat, bench, deadlift, OHP - and get out.0
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I don't do cardio.
I'd do squats, OHP or bench, and deadlift.0 -
I split my time - weight training first and then cardio.0
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DrWhoIsYerDad wrote: »I used to think cardio was the main activity for burning calories , but it seems weight lifting is the way to go from what I've been reading.
Nope!
It's not a big calorie burner at all - but that's not the reason for doing it.
I run 2 miles on the treadmill and weights for about 30 minutes 4 days a week.0 -
One vote in for compound lifting. My workouts (not including cardio) are regularly about 30 minutes; 2 exercises for arms, 2 for legs, 2 for core0
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If your goal is weight loss then cardio is the best bet because it burns more calories than lifting so it will create a higher calorie deficit which is how you lose weight. Since OP said the goal is weight loss then I would do cardio. If the goal was maintaining or gaining muscle mass, I'd say lifting.0
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forgtmenot wrote: »If your goal is weight loss then cardio is the best bet because it burns more calories than lifting so it will create a higher calorie deficit which is how you lose weight. Since OP said the goal is weight loss then I would do cardio. If the goal was maintaining or gaining muscle mass, I'd say lifting.
A person should want to maintain or gain muscle mass during the weight loss.
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coreyreichle wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »coreyreichle wrote: »On A days, I would do a 30 minute run. On B days, I would do a 5 minute warmup, then calisthenics or plyometrics.
But in reality, 30 minutes is really too short for most any effective routine. You should be looking for more an hour at the gym, otherwise, it's almost a waste.
Post was ok until the end.
Workout can be a waste due to duration of workout. You sure?
Workouts at the gym can be waste due to duration of the workout.
Assuming 15 minute drive to the gym, 10 minutes for cooldown/warmup, 15 minute drive back home, and 20 minutes for the routine... You've now spent 3/4 of the time involved in NOT doing a routine.
If you're limited to 30 minutes, there are better ideas than going to the gym.
Logistics-wise, I completely agree with you. It wouldn't be worth it, for me, to make a trip to the gym for only 30 minutes. But who knows, maybe the OP's gym is at her work and she has 30 minutes there in the middle of the day. Or maybe it's next door and she can get there in under 2 minutes. It takes me 2 minutes to roll out of bed, go to the bathroom, get dressed, and end up in my own basement gym. I could get in a somewhat decent workout in 30 minutes fairly easily if I didn't putz around.
And, if that's the case, I would change my statement. Hell, 10 minutes in the gym would be worthwhile.0 -
My gym is about a 10 minute walk from me, so tend to walk there, do about 10 minutes extra cardio to get heart rate higher, and then 20 minutes of strength training and then walk back.
Just wondered what others would do in the same situation, but seems everyone is different :-)0 -
forgtmenot wrote: »If your goal is weight loss then cardio is the best bet because it burns more calories than lifting so it will create a higher calorie deficit which is how you lose weight. Since OP said the goal is weight loss then I would do cardio. If the goal was maintaining or gaining muscle mass, I'd say lifting.
and the more muscle you have the more calories you burn just living .. OK it's nominal but it helps in maintenance
Dependent on BF, muscles give you the tight, small, shapely look .. unless aiming for bulk in which case you get the strong powerful look
I think the goal should be preserving as much LBM as possible during weight loss0 -
My gym is about a 10 minute walk from me, so tend to walk there, do about 10 minutes extra cardio to get heart rate higher, and then 20 minutes of strength training and then walk back.
Just wondered what others would do in the same situation, but seems everyone is different :-)
THAT
I'd do that0 -
30 minutes in the gym? I'd take a nap in the changing room. I never get much time alone. Pmsl0
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My gym is about a 10 minute walk from me, so tend to walk there, do about 10 minutes extra cardio to get heart rate higher, and then 20 minutes of strength training and then walk back.
Just wondered what others would do in the same situation, but seems everyone is different :-)
If you can go there by foot, why would you waste 10 minutes on extra cardio at the gym? Why not just run on your way there?0 -
My gym is about a 10 minute walk from me, so tend to walk there, do about 10 minutes extra cardio to get heart rate higher, and then 20 minutes of strength training and then walk back.
Just wondered what others would do in the same situation, but seems everyone is different :-)
If you can go there by foot, why would you waste 10 minutes on extra cardio at the gym? Why not just run on your way there?
I'm not fit enough to run. ..... yet
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I think OP was just speaking hypothetically.
@jazmin220 okay and? I answered with what I would do but with the fact it's not for losing weight.
Calorie deficit it.coreyreichle wrote: »a lot of my workouts are around 45 minutes .. so they're pointless in your opinion
oh and I walk to the gym and back
and sometimes I'll do 25 mins cardio followed by 15 minutes weights and 5 minutes stretching
according to you that's pointless?
mindblowing
le sigh. Please read what I meant again:
Assuming 15 minute drive to the gym, 10 minutes for cooldown/warmup, 15 minute drive back home, and 20 minutes for the routine... You've now spent 3/4 of the time involved in NOT doing a routine.
If you're limited to 30 minutes, there are better ideas than going to the gym.
and this is just what??????
Assume nothing. Who cares how long it takes to get there...the gyms in my town take all of 5mins to get to them.
A 30 min workout is great it's better than a 0 minute workout.
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I think OP was just speaking hypothetically.
@jazmin220 okay and? I answered with what I would do but with the fact it's not for losing weight.
Calorie deficit it.
When I said the goal is to lose weight, I mean I am at the stage of needing to lose weight. I am not looking to gain or maintain. I understand that this is achieved through calorie deficit. But I wanted to explain that I am not looking to bulk up in a gym....0 -
I think OP was just speaking hypothetically.
@jazmin220 okay and? I answered with what I would do but with the fact it's not for losing weight.
Calorie deficit it.
When I said the goal is to lose weight, I mean I am at the stage of needing to lose weight. I am not looking to gain or maintain. I understand that this is achieved through calorie deficit. But I wanted to explain that I am not looking to bulk up in a gym....
you can't "bulk up" without being in a calorie surplus esp as a woman...and without doing some heavy lifting.
regardless of what you want lose, maintain or gain...exercise is for health and fitness.0 -
forgtmenot wrote: »If your goal is weight loss then cardio is the best bet because it burns more calories than lifting so it will create a higher calorie deficit which is how you lose weight. Since OP said the goal is weight loss then I would do cardio. If the goal was maintaining or gaining muscle mass, I'd say lifting.
and the more muscle you have the more calories you burn just living .. OK it's nominal but it helps in maintenance
Dependent on BF, muscles give you the tight, small, shapely look .. unless aiming for bulk in which case you get the strong powerful look
I think the goal should be preserving as much LBM as possible during weight loss
Yes, don't wan to be bulky... LBM is the look Id love!
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forgtmenot wrote: »If your goal is weight loss then cardio is the best bet because it burns more calories than lifting so it will create a higher calorie deficit which is how you lose weight. Since OP said the goal is weight loss then I would do cardio. If the goal was maintaining or gaining muscle mass, I'd say lifting.
and the more muscle you have the more calories you burn just living .. OK it's nominal but it helps in maintenance
Dependent on BF, muscles give you the tight, small, shapely look .. unless aiming for bulk in which case you get the strong powerful look
I think the goal should be preserving as much LBM as possible during weight loss
Yes, don't wan to be bulky... LBM is the look Id love!
You simply aren't going to bulk up as woman without a huge surplus, structured lifting programme, a lot of time, amazing genetic luck and possibly some steroids
But lifting heavy will make you taut and tight like nothing else will
and there's no greater feeling than feeling strong0
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