are short bursts as good as longer sessions

jonnyman41
jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
edited December 19 in Fitness and Exercise
this may be a daft question but if you did some form of exercise 10 mins at a time, five times a day would you be burning the same as doing one 50 min session?

Replies

  • jilliew
    jilliew Posts: 255 Member
    I recently saw a report on my local news station about a study that says that short bursts of intense activity actually burns more calories than long sessions of less-intense activity. I couldn't tell you who did the study or anything more specific than that, but maybe if you feel like googling it something will come up...
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    Getting the exercise in any way you can is the best. So if you do it for 5 10-minute sessions or 1 50-minute session, it's done, right? Depending on the goals you are trying to achieve, and your physical fitness level, either can be better for you.
  • jonnyman41
    jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
    It is not really interval training style. I only fitted in 10 mins then had to cook tea so did another 25 mins a couple of hrs later! Just wondered if this means everything was less effective as my heart rate was not high for as long!
  • NomadicKris
    NomadicKris Posts: 90
    This is how I do it - I have two toddlers who are usually wanting to join in when I am exercising so I do what I can when I can - minimum of 3 minutes. Sometimes I jog on the spot for 3 minutes while cooking dinner or being on hold on the phone, 3 mins going up and down my stairs, 3 minutes of push ups or sit ups (I do 50 seconds on 10 seconds off) - my aim is to hit 60 minutes minimum a day, if I make it great, if I don't I try and do better the next day.

    But my theory is that for even minute I am doing something it is better than every minute I used to spend doing nothing.
  • jonnyman41
    jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
    Actually I do similar as I always do marches or steps round the kitchen when making a cup of tea lol. The dogs think I am mad!!!. As my children are a lot older I can normally make the time for longer sessions, but by the evening I am often too tired. As I work from home most days though I can take breaks and fit extra in if I push myself.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Probably not the same as a solid 50 minute session - but a whole more than sitting on the couch!
    If that's what fits into your day, then go for it.
  • nevertoolate2
    nevertoolate2 Posts: 309 Member
    I recently saw a report on my local news station about a study that says that short bursts of intense activity actually burns more calories than long sessions of less-intense activity. I couldn't tell you who did the study or anything more specific than that, but maybe if you feel like googling it something will come up...

    They ran a programme on this here in the UK. I missed most of it but the basic theme was that 1-2 minutes at full tilt in your chosen activity, followed by going slow and then another 1-2 minutes at full pace, has a much greater beneficial impact than regular longer sessions at less than full pace
  • lilah808
    lilah808 Posts: 60
    http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2010/06/26/10-minutes-of-exercise-yields-hourlong-effects.aspx

    Your'e welcome! :wink:
  • ryliejaiden
    ryliejaiden Posts: 68
    This is a good question and honestly, I don't know the answer. However, in my opinion, if you can only squeeze in 10 minutes of exercise, make it interval training. IT has tons of great benefits and can burn more calories than a steady pace of exercise.
    Here is some good info & examples of interval training that you can try if you wish:
    what it is and some benefits:
    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/interval-training/SM00110
    http://www.medicinenet.com/interval_training/article.htm

    a couple example work outs:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVxoP3Fy4TQ&feature=relmfu
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSIgraWAisQ

    good luck! I hope you figure this out.
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