Taking stairs, any real benefit?

dpaanlka
dpaanlka Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey guys, I was curious about something and wanted to see what others thing.

I go to the gym 5 days a week, doing 30 minutes of cardio per day plus 30 minutes of strength training on 3-4 days depending on my schedule. In the past year I’ve lost nearly 50 pounds, especially in the past 6 months.

Outside the gym, I’ve become much more conscious about doing “little extras” like parking further away in parking lots, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. But I’m wondering how much this really benefits me as someone who is in the gym regularly.

Two weeks ago my company moved from a ground floor office to a 13th floor office in a tall building. For the past two weeks I’ve been taking the stairs all the way up in the morning and all the way down in the evening. Especially in the morning it feels pretty exhausting but I’m just wondering, does this 5 minutes or so of “exercising” compounded over 5 days really beneficial or am I wasting my time?

Thanks!

Replies

  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Its cardio for the time it lasts. What do you expect to get from 5 mins exercise or a 25 min agggregate. It burns calories. Do it dont do it.......
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    When you already explains about doing "little extra" things why would a little more extra not benefit.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Stairs are great exercise, especially if you don't go slow. In terms of calories, it's roughly 1 calorie per 1 metre climbed per 100kg of body weight.

  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    Look at it this way: it's better than not doing it!
  • nicolaoy1985
    nicolaoy1985 Posts: 1 Member
    I'm of the opinion that any extra bits you can add into your week the better. Whether it contributes to weight loss, an improvement in fitness or that extra chocolate biscuit on a Sunday, it all helps.
  • chelsy0587
    chelsy0587 Posts: 441 Member
    yopeeps025 wrote: »
    When you already explains about doing "little extra" things why would a little more extra not benefit.

    This...

    Why not time yourself... then try to beat your time each day... Just to put a little fun in climbing the stairs.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    Taking stairs burns more calories than taking the elevator. The question you are truly asking is whether the calorie burn has enough intrinsic value to be worth your extra effort.

    Personally, it would depend on what time I have to be at work. I'm a night owl and currently have to be in the office at 7:15am. Since taking the stairs would take away sleep (even if it is 5 min.), I would take the elevator. But it sounds like you have time... so what is the value to you?

    PS: If you are really panting after 13 flights of stairs, the gym isn't likely doing enough for you.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    It all adds up. NEAT calories are a big part of your overall caloric expenditure each day.

    http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/its-not-your-metabolism-its-your-neat-thats-stopping-your-fat-loss

  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    You say you do several "little extras". On their own, all those extras do just that, very little. It's when you put them all together that it starts to add up.

    I know for me personally, if I don't work in little extras throughout my day, I would only get about 2,000-3,000 steps not counting my workouts. Adding in a bunch of extras in my day I get 10,000-14,000 steps not counting workouts.

    I would say it's worth it when you add everything together.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    GothyFaery wrote: »
    You say you do several "little extras". On their own, all those extras do just that, very little. It's when you put them all together that it starts to add up.

    I know for me personally, if I don't work in little extras throughout my day, I would only get about 2,000-3,000 steps not counting my workouts. Adding in a bunch of extras in my day I get 10,000-14,000 steps not counting workouts.

    I would say it's worth it when you add everything together.

    That's a really good example.

    Here's another interesting article, from the Mayo Clinic. (It downloads as a pdf.)
  • dpaanlka
    dpaanlka Posts: 3 Member
    edited July 2015
    GothyFaery wrote: »
    Here's another interesting article, from the Mayo Clinic. (It downloads as a pdf.)

    Wow that’s exactly the type of information I needed to see. Thanks for sharing!
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