Cardio/fat loss question

[mullax]

Hey everyone,
I recently got a treadmill and am trying to aim for one to one and a half hours on it several times a week. I know that it's best to do cardio for 45-60 minutes at a time for weight loss, but due to my endurance and other issues I was hoping to do it for thirty minutes, two to three times a day.

If I do this will it completely get in the way of potential fat loss? If I do, say, half hour morning, half hour later on, maybe another half? Would that be completely pointless for someone trying to lose weight (to break up my cardio workouts into two or three smaller sections all throughout the day)? I don't know how much that will rev up my metabolism. I just was looking to see if anyone knew whether or not that was a bad idea. Thanks!

 

[Ride_On]

Hey everyone,
I recently got a treadmill and am trying to aim for one to one and a half hours on it several times a week. I know that it's best to do cardio for 45-60 minutes at a time for weight loss, but due to my endurance and other issues I was hoping to do it for thirty minutes, two to three times a day.

If I do this will it completely get in the way of potential fat loss? If I do, say, half hour morning, half hour later on, maybe another half? Would that be completely pointless for someone trying to lose weight (to break up my cardio workouts into two or three smaller sections all throughout the day)? I don't know how much that will rev up my metabolism. I just was looking to see if anyone knew whether or not that was a bad idea. Thanks!

It's not "best" to do cardio for 45-60 minutes. I don't know where you heard that. It totally depends on fitness, what the activity is, intensity, etc. A half hour is fine, depending on intensity and goals. As you can see, it depends

As for the metabolism boost, again, it depends on intensity. As for fat loss (not cardiovascular or health benefits), it doesn't matter if you do 20 minutes three times or 60 minutes one time, provided you're at the same intensity. Bottom line is you're doing the same thing for the same amount of time, at a given intensity.


What you are suggesting is too much though. What are your endurance issues, and what are these "other" issues that you think you need to compensate for by doing insane amounts of cardio?

 

[joebedford]

Why are you saying it's "too much"? You just got done saying "it depends". I don't argue your points that 30 minutes is sufficient depending upon your goals, and that you can break it up into multiple workouts. But more IS generally better, if you can and want to do it. I often do even more than ninety minutes of cardio. So does anyone who has ever trained for a marathon.

What you are suggesting is too much though. What are your endurance issues, and what are these "other" issues that you think you need to compensate for by doing insane amounts of cardio?

 

[NoLoveLost]

Hey everyone,
I recently got a treadmill and am trying to aim for one to one and a half hours on it several times a week. I know that it's best to do cardio for 45-60 minutes at a time for weight loss, but due to my endurance and other issues I was hoping to do it for thirty minutes, two to three times a day.

When I read your posts, these are the things that stuck out: So.....

Thats a lot of cardio. Why so much? What is your goal? Why do you feel it is "best" to do 45-60 minutes at one time for weight loss.

If I do this will it completely get in the way of potential fat loss? If I do, say, half hour morning, half hour later on, maybe another half? Would that be completely pointless for someone trying to lose weight (to break up my cardio workouts into two or three smaller sections all throughout the day)? I don't know how much that will rev up my metabolism. I just was looking to see if anyone knew whether or not that was a bad idea. Thanks!

I wouldn't do it. Not only are you going to burn out fast, but you are going to eat up a lot of your day on a treadmill.

If this is about weight loss thru running, I suggest you look at your diet first. If you have a crap diet, you'll have crappy results.

Why don't you tell us what it is you hope to accomplish, and maybe we can help you get there