Clarification Needed

nikkidee1983
nikkidee1983 Posts: 38
edited September 29 in Fitness and Exercise
While doing some step aerobics I was timing myself but would take small breaks not to put too much strain on my bad leg/ankle at one time. I would also pause the timer during these small breaks. My mother then told me I couldn't record the time as a whole I needed to do it in the small time frames that I spent doing the exercise because it would make a difference in the amount of calories burned. Is there any truth to this? Does working out in small increments really affect the total calories burned as opposed to working out the same length of time all at once?

Replies

  • FairyMiss
    FairyMiss Posts: 1,812 Member
    its okay to take breaks with the timer going as long as its not to long , your heart rate should not go down to far that fast.
  • deesjourney2fit
    deesjourney2fit Posts: 118
    How long were the breaks? If they were only like 30 seconds to a minute, I would count it as a whole. If they were longer, then you might want to break it up. I've heard that breaking up exercise into 3 ten minute segments a day helped some people lose more weight or keep the weight off. Not sure if it's true but it's food for thought!
  • Losing2Live69
    Losing2Live69 Posts: 743 Member
    Yes it affects it. You burn calories when your heart rate is up. The higher it is up and longer it is up, the more calories you burn. Every time you stop your heart rate is lowering towards your resting heart rate....then it takes several minutes to get it back up into the "burn zone". You are essentially getting your heart rate up, then bringing it down, getting it up, then bringing it down...you will burn less calories doing this. Its hard when you have an injury. I hope you feel better soon!
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    No, you're fine. I have to take breaks during hard workouts to get my heart rate to lower so my heart doesn't explode. You're still burning calories because your heart rate is still elevated, so just keep going!
  • nikkidee1983
    nikkidee1983 Posts: 38
    Thanks everyone. The breaks were just seconds long, enough to take a little pressure off my leg. Unfortunately I have broken a bone that can easily break again if too much strain is placed on it and add to that a small benign tumor that has grown on a nerve in my leg. If the tumor is removed it may cause nerve damage and since I can handle the pain it sometimes causes I rather have pain than nerve damage.
  • bloodstar
    bloodstar Posts: 29 Member
    You've got the right idea. If possible keep track of your heart rate. first when you stop, and then just before you restart. That'll give you a better gauge of if you are taking too long a break.

    But honestly, it's better to burn slightly fewer calories if it means you don't damage yourself trying to get that extra 10%

    And if you really feel a need to push it, there's always non impact aerobics
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