Exercise Question - ThinnerTimes

blvnhm · 08-07-2006, 07:44 AM

Hi everybody

I was wondering, do you think that you get the same benefits from two 20/min workouts a day as you would from one 40/min workout? I find it a lot easier to do the 2 shorter workouts, I think my mind dreads a 40/min workout more and I am less likely to do it then. I thought I read before that you need to work out over 20 mins before your body starts to burn fat? Does anyone know if this is true? TIA!

deadboy · 08-07-2006, 07:51 AM

My understanding is the longer your heart rate is increased the better your body burns fat. While 2 20 minute work outs would be better than 1, it wouldn't be as good as a 40 minute go. But I may not be the most knowledgable.

Gina in NY · 08-07-2006, 08:14 AM

If you are lifting or doing resistance training of some sort, you will burn more calories for hours afterward, but if you're doing only 20 minutes of cardio, you'll burn more calories for less than 30 minutes. 20 minutes can help your cardio heath if you're really working hard, if you keep your heart rate around 120 it will burn fat, but it isn't as efficient as doing it a little longer. 30 minutes would be better - you could spend 20 minutes in the zone, but there are a lot of variables here. You should talk to a trainer to be sure.

Depends what your goals are honestly...

blvnhm · 08-07-2006, 08:21 AM

Thanks guys! I do 2 20mins on a stationery bike, 20mins in the morning and 20 mins at night. I also will do about 10 mins after each workout of lifting hand weights. Exercise for me is something that i really struggle with, I hate it. I am one of those people that look for every excuse possible NOT to workout, I was hoping that I was getting the same out of 2 20 min workouts as I was from one longer one, but I dont think so. But I guess it is better than not working out at all, right? I'll just have to keep praying that someday I will be one of those people that looks forward to working out!!

supplements · 08-07-2006, 08:34 AM

This is a really good question. In 20 minutes you can really lose as much if not more that 40 minutes. Here is how

1st minute is warm up level 1
2nd minute is called level 2 slowing increase the walk
3rd minute increase this level 3 increase walk faster pace
4th minute increase this level 4 increase walk faster pace
5th minute increase this level 5 small jog or very brisk walk
6th minute back to level 2 drop back down to this level for a minute
7th increase back to level 3 increase as above
8th increase back to level 4
9th minute increase back to level 5
10th minute back to level 2
11th minute back to level 3
12th minute back to level 4
13th minute back to level 5
14th minute back to level 2
15th minute back to level 3
16th minute back to level 4
18th minute back to level 5
19th minute back to level 6 Increase to a faster jog or up to a jog
20th warm down walk to reduce heart rate

What this does is increase the heart rate and bring it down increase the heart rate and bring it back down. This keeps the body from every getting use to the cardio and can be done on any type of machine.

This is a very good cardio and extremely effective if done with some intensity. A good measure for the right amount of intensity. Wear a heart monitor and steadily increase the levels as you grow stronger.

If at all possible do on an empty stomach in the morning and wait at least an hour before eating a good high protein meal.

I am not saying 40 minutes isn't good just not necessary as we all have the attitude more is better this isn't correct all the time is done correctly this 20 minute cardio will burn the fat.. Please be sure an get adequate protein to retain muscle.

blvnhm · 08-07-2006, 08:43 AM

thnaks supplements! I think I will try that tonight..Also, it might make the time go by faster when I am changing it every minute! (I love when my workouts go by fast

)

Gina in NY · 08-07-2006, 11:53 AM

You do blast music while you work out, right? I enjoy the feeling of having worked out so much, that I don't have too much trouble doing it, but if I forget to charge my IPOD when it is time to do cardio and I have no tunes? I go home. There is only so far a person can go, you know?

And I have a large variety of songs at different tempos, so that as I change intensity I can keep going, sort of, with the beat. It is never perfect, but with some crazy music blasting in my head, it helps a lot!

deadboy · 08-07-2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blvnhm

thnaks supplements! I think I will try that tonight..Also, it might make the time go by faster when I am changing it every minute! (I love when my workouts go by fast

)

It's probably just me, but I can't see a work out going by very fast when I'm looking at my watch constantly to know when to downshift.

Americanwoman397 · 08-07-2006, 12:18 PM

I can say my husband and I have been very into learning as much as we can about working out and eating right the last 8 months.

Everything that we have read says the longer workout is better because of your heart rate. You will burn more calories with working out 40 min instead of 20 min. It will take your heart rate a few min to get up to a comfortable zone to burn calories. The longer you can keep it high the better.

The best thing I can say is find something you enjoy doing or even someone you enjoy being around and want to spend more time with. For me it is running and I run 4-5 days a week any where from 10-14 miles a week. I want to work up to 20 miles a week and my husband and I do it together.

Just my thoughts.

deadboy · 08-07-2006, 12:22 PM

Yeah, I bike 15 miles per trip, 4-5 times a week(depending on heat). then I'll do 20 minutes on the machine(total gym) 3 or so times a week. Exercise is one of those things that you like more and more as you do it more. I find myself sitting around in meetings or whatever thinking that I could be working out right now. And, 4 months ago, a bigger couch potato you could not have found.