Can several shorter workouts be as effective as one longer o

momcindy
momcindy Posts: 194 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I actually posted this at the general thread but it is more applicable for this one so I'm re-posting it.

Is it true that doing 3 10-minute walks in a day on the treadmill is as effective as doing one 30-minute session? (Likewise, doing 6 shorter walks vs. one hour walk, etc.) I read this article that seems to say so: http://www.livestrong.com/article/445237-one-workout-vs-several-short-workouts/

Any thoughts about this or personal experience with doing shorter workouts throughout the day? Any trainers here who can shed some light on this?

Replies

  • LeeLynnP
    LeeLynnP Posts: 116 Member
    Bump! I wanna know too!
  • kimtpa1417
    kimtpa1417 Posts: 461 Member
    Bump. I would also like to know because I do this.
  • tradkins12
    tradkins12 Posts: 20
    Bump!!
  • cheeksv
    cheeksv Posts: 521 Member
    I was always informed that you need to reach your target heart rate for the best results. That being at least 30 minutes of cardio at a pace that would do that.This is why a lot of treadmills come with a chart for target heart rates and also monitors. Although an actual HRM would be best to calculate the exact number while you are working out. I barley brake a sweat after ten minutes going 5.5 mph on a treadmil so I am not sure how that would work but! I will read that article and see what you are talking about. :)

    and also, I find it kinda hard to brake up my workouts in that way time wise.
  • catcrazy
    catcrazy Posts: 1,740 Member
    I'm not sure it is as effective but its better than none and its the only way I can do exercise due to a lung condition

    Be interested to see some more expert answers
  • lmarshel
    lmarshel Posts: 674 Member
    Yes, that is absolutely true. :)
  • cheeksv
    cheeksv Posts: 521 Member
    I'm not sure it is as effective but its better than none and its the only way I can do exercise due to a lung condition

    Be interested to see some more expert answers

    It is better than nothing very very true!!
  • mark03264
    mark03264 Posts: 334 Member
    Yes!
  • Angelabec
    Angelabec Posts: 505 Member
    I'd be interested to know this too. MFP seems to give the same amount of cals back however it's broken down, i.e 30 mins gives the same as 2 x 15 mins, but I dont really feel like I'm working til I've been going at it a while. I get really uncomfortable on my bike after about 45 mins, so I would rather do 2 shorter stints, but at the moment I keep pushing myself to try & get the full hour in.
  • PANZERIA
    PANZERIA Posts: 471 Member
    Yes, but there is a guideline to this - if you're just doing an easy short workout, it's going to do nothing for you, whereas a longer workout at the same pace would work your endurance and you would burn just as many calories at the same pace.

    If you want to do short workouts, they should be high intensity if you want to see results. My 'short' workouts are a half hour long, and those are my 'leg' days.

    Pick certain body parts to do each day and throw the cardio in there as well. This will make your workouts higher in intensity Here's what I do:

    Monday - Biceps and shoulders, half hour steady cardio (approx. 1 hr workout)
    Tuesday - Legs (approx. 30-45 mins)
    Wednesday - Triceps and pecs - half hour intervals (approx. 1 hr)
    Thursday - Rest
    Repeat through Friday, saturday and Sunday.
  • Stuartm1
    Stuartm1 Posts: 101 Member
    The clue is in the artical any shorter exercise has to be more intensive. A 60 minute walk at 4 miles per hour cannot be replaced by 4 x 15 minuite walks at 4 mph.

    If however you did 4 x 15 minute jogs you may burn off a simular number of calories.

    Do you have a Heart Rate Monitor? You can look at how may calories you burn doing things like cleaning the car inside & out / cleaning the house, Gardening or any daily activity you undertake which raises you heart beat and increases your breathing for a reasonable period and resulting in calories burnt above your BMI then there is absolutely no reason why you should not count these. Others may disagree but it has worked for me, I clean my car inside and out every week it saves me £10 a week and I usually burn up to 1500 calories

    MFP is good for ideas what works for one may not for another but unless you give it a go you will never know.
  • Stuartm1
    Stuartm1 Posts: 101 Member
    I'd be interested to know this too. MFP seems to give the same amount of cals back however it's broken down, i.e 30 mins gives the same as 2 x 15 mins, but I dont really feel like I'm working til I've been going at it a while. I get really uncomfortable on my bike after about 45 mins, so I would rather do 2 shorter stints, but at the moment I keep pushing myself to try & get the full hour in.

    If you have lost 73 lbs then what you have been doing obviously works for you but there may be other intensive excercise you could try over a shorter period which will give you a simular result. It's all trial and error but you have done tremendously well already
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