Will you see results working out 30 minutes a day?

Any time you expend more calories than you intake you will see results. The longer you workout the faster and more drastic the change will become.

You may see results with increased resistance in that 30 minutes. Otherwise you may be maintaining. Keep it challenging/progressive if you want to see change.

If you're using that time wisely, then you'll definitely see results. If you feel like you want more and have the time, an hour would be even better, of course.

laurenjennings914 wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

What kind of results?

Right now I'm training for a time trial series so most of my rides are right about 30 minutes at threshold...I've seen great improvements in my ability to work at threshold and my threshold is going up...those are the results I'd expect and look for in my case...

If you're talking about weight loss, that's more about your diet...you can exercise for two hours but if you eat to a maintenance level of energy you're going to maintain irrespective of your exercise.

My ultimate goal is weight loss, and toning. I want to lose weight, and I know that is just according to my calorie deficit. Didn't know if an hour would speed up the process, or if it will help me be more toned when the weight is finally off. I just don't want to be doing 30 minutes if it isn't benefiting me as much. Especially since i have been working out for about a year

Increasing the amount of exercise without increasing your food intake will, most likely, accelerate your weight loss (you're increasing the caloric deficit) however this may result in diminishing returns as exercise at a reasonable level of intensity requires fuel and by increasing your caloric deficit you may just find yourself working out longer at a lower intensity which defeats the purpose (or just dragging your butt after a few days....)

BrianSharpe wrote: »

laurenjennings914 wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

What kind of results?

Right now I'm training for a time trial series so most of my rides are right about 30 minutes at threshold...I've seen great improvements in my ability to work at threshold and my threshold is going up...those are the results I'd expect and look for in my case...

If you're talking about weight loss, that's more about your diet...you can exercise for two hours but if you eat to a maintenance level of energy you're going to maintain irrespective of your exercise.

My ultimate goal is weight loss, and toning. I want to lose weight, and I know that is just according to my calorie deficit. Didn't know if an hour would speed up the process, or if it will help me be more toned when the weight is finally off. I just don't want to be doing 30 minutes if it isn't benefiting me as much. Especially since i have been working out for about a year

Increasing the amount of exercise without increasing your food intake will, most likely, accelerate your weight loss (you're increasing the caloric deficit) however this may result in diminishing returns as exercise at a reasonable level of intensity requires fuel and by increasing your caloric deficit you may just find yourself working out longer at a lower intensity which defeats the purpose (or just dragging your butt after a few days....)

And I'd also add...and this was just my personal experience...but when I was losing weight I had the greatest amount of success just sticking to a modest calorie deficit in my diet and doing a moderate amount of exercise. I remember training for my first century ride and actually gaining weight...my body wouldn't not let me eat...if I didn't eat, I didn't perform and had recovery issues...and believe me, my body let me know it needed food...yes, I did overdo it a bit because I felt like I could eat anything and maintain given the miles I was putting in...but it was much easier to manage my calories when I was just exercising moderately.

I'm having the same issue with my training now...I'm more experienced now so I know how to handle it better...but actual training makes me want to eat the whole house...and then the neighbors house....

My rule of thumb is to gauge how you feel at the end of 30 minutes. If you feel like you've pushed yourself well, then stop. If you feel like you want/need more, then go for a little longer.

For sustainability purposes, there's no point in pushing to the point that you burn out, but you also want to challenge yourself and test your limitations. It's a fine line, and that line is different for each of us.