Two workouts or one?

Navie42
Navie42 Posts: 152
in Fitness and Exercise
Is there any difference in doing one 60 minute workout or two 30 minute workouts, one in the morning and one in the evening? Is one more beneficial? It would seem to me at least one benefit is being able to give 110% to each period rather than start flagging towards the end of a longer workout.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    It really makes no difference, according to all the research going round. My workouts in the gym tend to be an hour simply because that's how long it takes me to do what I want to do in each workout. Actually, if I'm doing weights only, it's an hour and a half because I stretch after each workout (a long process for me).

    If I only did upper body, it'd be an hour. If I only did lower body, it'd be almost an hour (both with stretching). Cardio is 30 minutes, plus stretching.
  • smithy85
    smithy85 Posts: 104 Member
    It is really what works best for you! Some people say they like to do morning workouts as it gets your body burning for the rest of the day, some like to do them in the evening as thats when they can fit them in.

    Personally as long as your working out, sdo whatever is more comfy for yourself, if you prefer two 30 minute workouts and they are mroe intense great, if you flag at the end of 60 minutes, maybe make it a goal and it may bring your fitness up, the main point here is people can give you all the advice you want, but its whats best for you, how it makes you feel and when you can.

    Exersice is good no matter when! x
  • teally13
    teally13 Posts: 30
    I been told that it's not a problem to break it up throughout the day, as long as you do a minimum of 20 minutes each time (not including warm up/cool down) and doing interval training means you can exercise for shorter periods but still get the results you want.
  • kabarnes45
    kabarnes45 Posts: 89 Member
    I've been doing 2-a-days and it works for me. Pros- works with my schedule, able to give more effort. Cons- more showers, more laundry.
  • BSchoberg
    BSchoberg Posts: 712 Member
    Your goal is to be at your target heart rate for 30 to 60 minutes a day --- how you get there is completely up to you. :)
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    Is there any difference in doing one 60 minute workout or two 30 minute workouts, one in the morning and one in the evening? Is one more beneficial? It would seem to me at least one benefit is being able to give 110% to each period rather than start flagging towards the end of a longer workout.

    Thoughts?

    Big difference for me....

    One 60 minute workout
    Getting ready to go, water, getting changed, finding my card = 10 minutes
    Travel to gym = 10 minutes
    Warm up = 10 minutes
    One hour session = 60 minutes
    Stretch/warm down = 5 minutes
    Travel back = 10 minutes
    Shower = 10 minutes

    About 2 flippin hours!

    2 x 30 minutes session would be no good for me!
  • Redskins76
    Redskins76 Posts: 68
    Morning workouts are always the best! Gets ur day started right I think a second workout is good sometime but not alot because your body need time to refill.
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    Shouldn't matter at all. The best time to workout is just whenever you can and do it!
  • JosieRawr
    JosieRawr Posts: 788 Member
    I like to do a bit throughout the day, it's what ever works for you, but by splitting it up, it gives your body time to recharge(muscles typically use fat to recharge ATP levels at rest) and by being more active throughout the day I feel more energized and it makes me feel better about what I'm eating as I eat mostly pre workout or post workout(pre workout i view as fuel of my workout n post workout is recharging, revitalizing) ;) That's just what works for me though, exercise is good regardless if you split it up or do it all at once(within reason) If you find what makes you feel better, you'll be more likely to stick with it n be happy about it!
  • NoxDineen
    NoxDineen Posts: 497 Member
    I'm pretty surenive seen a study citing its actually better to break it up, but I can't recall where so I may be mistaken. At the very least 2x 30 min is as food as 1x 60 min.

    Personally I get bored before hitting the 60 min mark. I do 30-45 min in the morning, 30-75 min at night. (But if it's 75 min it's something like run, workout DVD, 15 min targeted Nike Training Club routine so I don't get bored of doing just 1 thing).
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    At the very least 2x 30 min is as food as 1x 60 min.

    Have you got something else on your mind NoxDineen?
  • weeblex
    weeblex Posts: 412 Member
    They both burn similar amounts of calories but two week outs mean two sets of warm ups and cool downs which takes more time.

    It also depends on your goal. I want to do a 5k so I'm trying to ensure I can get 45+ minutes of stamina out of my body, but if I was just in it to burn calories, I'd be breaking it in half so I don't get as sweaty :)

    Depends if you have the time I guess.
  • NoxDineen
    NoxDineen Posts: 497 Member
    At the very least 2x 30 min is as food as 1x 60 min.

    Have you got something else on your mind NoxDineen?
    Damn autocorrect. My iPad skills need work. :)

    But now that you mention it, 2 workouts, 2 homemade recovery shakes. Yum!
  • icculus19
    icculus19 Posts: 39
    i do two works outs a day. moring run and weights at night. i do this because it fits into my xls and also long cardio followed by weights or weights followed by cardio is too draining.

    if you can i would recommended weights in the morning. you will have a higher metabolic rate through out the day ie burn more cals durning the day. cardio at night. this will burn through any stored carbs (glucose) in your muscles and prevent the storing of glucose which can be turned to fat

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