Pausing during cardio workout

Megan24

New member
Hey. I do 50 minutes of cardio a day using a cross-trainer, but I find that I usually have to take 30 second pauses every 7/10/15 minutes.

I never let my heart rate slow down completely, but sometimes I get to a point where I really feel like I need to stop so I just take a quick break.

Is this hurting my weight loss ability? Back when I used to exercise rigorously a couple of months ago, this never happened, am I just getting used to exercise again and shouldn't take too much notice of it for the first couple of weeks?

Thanks,

Megan
 
You're actually better off doing interval cardio anyway - bursts of high intensity separated by periods of medium intensity work.
 
pausing is fine

when you feel like you really need a break, you probably do

it is better to take alittle break than to hurt yourself
 
I'm surprised Steve. :)

She asked: "Is this hurting my weight loss ability?" ... with regard to breaking up a 50 minute session of ss-cardio.

As you well know, to facilitate weight loss, you're better off doing HIIT than doing steady state.

Primarily HIIT will create a longer metabolic burn - the effects of HIIT last far longer than the exercise itself, keeping your metabolism elevated for up to several hours post exercise, vs. ss-cardio in which you quickly settle back to "normal" after stopping.

Additionally HIIT helps increase lung capacity and oxygen processing. HIIT also builds muscle vs. just building cardio endurance.

Of course there is a difference between just plain interval training and HIIT ... but either one is more beneficial than ss-cardio.
 
I'm surprised Steve. :)

Surprised about what?

As you well know, to facilitate weight loss, you're better off doing HIIT than doing steady state.

I take issue with blanket statements like this. HIIT has turned into this be all end all mode of exercise for fat loss and it simply doesn't apply to all situations.

Not that you're suggesting this... but blanket statements regarding HIIT tend to perpetuate the belief.

Primarily HIIT will create a longer metabolic burn - the effects of HIIT last far longer than the exercise itself, keeping your metabolism elevated for up to several hours post exercise, vs. ss-cardio in which you quickly settle back to "normal" after stopping.

Meh, the more recent data regarding EPOC leaves much to be desired in the caloric expenditure department. Check out the big review done recently by LaForgia.

Of course there is a difference between just plain interval training and HIIT ... but either one is more beneficial than ss-cardio.

My point is that's not the case in all instances, is all. You can't ALWAYS look at it from a caloric expenditure point of view. Once you factor in specificity, training age, system fatigue regulation, etc the line between the two are much more blurred.

It might seem like I'm being nit picky but I tend to speak up when absolute statements are made.
 
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