Is less than 30-40 mins a waste of time?

A

andreaslim

New member
Hi there

I'm sure this has been asked before but if I do less than 30 or 40 mins on the cross trainer is it a waste of time? Wont I burn anything?

I ask because a) I could perhaps fit in a quick morning 15-20 mins sometimes and b) sometimes I get just too tired and bored if I try to go a full 40mins and I usually only manage min 5km or 6km max.

Also, does the speed make a difference, I sometimes try to power walk on the cross trainer but sometimes go at a normal pace. So,if I do 40 mins walking and 40 mins power walking, is there a big difference?

Probably dumb Qs but I'm such an exercise novice!
Thanks
 
I've only started recently, and I suppose it depends on how much you want to burn and how unfit you are. I started from 10 minutes, and, ok, I'm only up to 20 minutes now, but I've definitely noticed a difference in my fitness level (and my knee strength- although this is a problem that not many people will have- and thus the resistance at which I can work). I think I burn about 200 calories for 20 minutes on moderate speed on the cross trainer. I honestly don't think any exercise is a "waste of time"- you're still moving, developing fitness, burning something, etc.
 
I would think anything is better than nothing!!
I lift weights , and only do so for about a half an hour 2-3x a week (plus water aerobics 2-3x a week). Yesterday was 2 months for me at the gym & my family keeps remarking about my muscular legs, so I guess even small bursts of exercise do benefit you. Of course, everyone is an individual, so their results will vary.
 
I think 20 minutes of intervals is great for weight loss. Start out easy then up the resistance. This works great for me.
 
Dr. Oz says even if you do a few minutes here or there...lets say Three 10 minute workouts, it gives you the same benefit of doing one 30 minute workout.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

I keep being told that you need to go 30 before you start burning fat but your comments make me realise that yes, anything is better than nothing i.e. what I was doing before. (my weak legs and breathing will also improve)

By the way Korrie, I think Dr.Oz is great! :)

I will try to utilise any other time I get and not see it as a waste of time!
cheers
 
I didn't think i had anything much to add to this thread but i think you should try to understand how fat is burnt in the body through exercise.

Here is a link to get you started and then i will make a couple of summary points that i've picked up.



When you exercise you burn fat and carbohydrates with fat being the less part of what's burnt. When you exercise at a low to moderate intensity for a duration of about 90 minutes, they say, the proportion of fat to carbohydrates will increase. I guess this means that any low to moderate intensity exercise before this sort of time frame will burn fat but just less of it and so Dr Oz would be right. Any amount of exercise will burn fat.

Now i know also that if you haven't got enough carbohydrate left to burn, your body will turn to protein to burn (which i believe is more difficult for the body) and if your protein isn't available it will burn muscle which is also protein of course. I imagine that you will still burn fat along with the muscle/protein though because its converted into glycogen too i think.

The body prefers the carbohydrate and fat equation than muscle and fat equation and chooses carbs first when they are available. That's why its better to stock up on carbs for exercise rather than protein. But good carbs, not cake and museli bars (which are also full of fat and sugar). And not protein shakes.

What i am interested to find out is, if your diet is high in fat, and you exercise, i suppose all the fat you burn up first will come from what you've ingested rather than what you've got stuck on your bum.

Carbohydrate is turned into glycogen and this is stored in the muscles ready for use. Bigger muscles can store more glycogen. The more glycogen you've got available, the less of your carbs will be converted to fat if you don't use it in a certain period of time. Maybe about 24-48 hours i think. If you don't use all of the glycogen, it will be converted to fat and stored. I think i read too that if you don't use all the protein you eat, that also will be stored as fat. Only what you muscles need to use will be converted to muscle and other repair jobs.
 
Great post 44. I think the best way to burn fat is through weight training. Cardio is important, but you burn more calories for a longer period of time through weight training. Your body also burns more calories when you have muscle too. So when you do your everyday activities you are burning more calories if you have muscle than fat.

That why I stick to cardio for only 20 minuets, three times a week, and really hit the weight hard three times a week. Low weight high rep so I don't bulk up. :)
 
I always feel guilty when hitting the gym for under an hour, but on those days where you only have an hour to yourself, it's obviously better than nothing.
 
Korrie said:
Dr. Oz says even if you do a few minutes here or there...lets say Three 10 minute workouts, it gives you the same benefit of doing one 30 minute workout.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say it gives you the same as its still 20 Min's of extra calories being burnt and Muscle fibre damage etc . But I will agree that 10 Min's of Hitt can be nearly as beneficial as 20-30 Min's IMO
 
A SHORT WORKOUT IS JUST FINE!!!! Here's why>>> listen up!
Working out is like anything good that you do for yourself. it's about building good habits. A daily visit to the gym or getting on your exercise machine IS HABIT BUILDING. You don't have to have an awesome workout everyday, but it's SO important to get into that routine, especially when you start out. Hell, it's the most important thing to do when you're starting out.
If nothing else, you're at least working your muscles, and keeping a minimum level of endurance up.
And endurance is REALLY important because it keeps your workouts from getting harder!
 
fortyfour said:
I think i read too that if you don't use all the protein you eat, that also will be stored as fat. Only what you muscles need to use will be converted to muscle and other repair jobs.
Click to expand...

IMO Your body will not waste protein especially around workouts . The body has so many uses for protein that why would it waste it on fat storage. Its different with fat and carbs.
 
fortyfour said:
I didn't think i had anything much to add to this thread but i think you should try to understand how fat is burnt in the body through exercise.

I think i read too that if you don't use all the protein you eat, that also will be stored as fat. Only what you muscles need to use will be converted to muscle and other repair jobs.
Click to expand...

IMO your body will not store protein as fat . There are so many uses for it that its the last thing it will do . especially when performing regular resistance training . Its different with carbs and fat.
 
The body will store anything if there is too much of it, even proteine. Unused proteine can and will be stored as fat.

Proteine has important, but limited functions in the body, and too much proteine can actually do damage to vital organs, mainly kidneys.

That is why balanced nutrition is so important. Proteine is exactly the same as carbs and fat - if you get the right amount, it's great, get too much, and it'll do more harm than good.
 
San said:
The body will store anything if there is too much of it, even proteine. Unused proteine can and will be stored as fat.

Proteine has important, but limited functions in the body, and too much proteine can actually do damage to vital organs, mainly kidneys.

That is why balanced nutrition is so important. Proteine is exactly the same as carbs and fat - if you get the right amount, it's great, get too much, and it'll do more harm than good.
Click to expand...

Yes your body can store protein as fat you would have to consume large amounts of extra protein for that to happen as your body has so many uses for it .

Protein is nothing like carbs and fat . They are all 3 totally different macro-nutrients will different uses. Your body has no uses for carbs other than energy.

IMO your better of consuming more protein than anything else as out of the 3 macronutrients its less likely to be stored as fat as your body has so many uses for it compared to carbs and fat .
 
Jay Farrant said:
Yes your body can store protein as fat you would have to consume large amounts of extra protein for that to happen as your body has so many uses for it .

Protein is nothing like carbs and fat . They are all 3 totally different macro-nutrients will different uses. Your body has no uses for carbs other than energy.

IMO your better of consuming more protein than anything else as out of the 3 macronutrients its less likely to be stored as fat as your body has so many uses for it compared to carbs and fat .
Click to expand...

Overcomsumption of protein is detrimental to your health.

Fat is used in a multitude of ways, just as protein.

The body has no more uses for protein than it does for fat.

And actually....no, never mind. I'm flogging a dead horse, let the poor animal rest in peace.
 
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