Are Shorter Workouts Better?

Workout Tip by Nitin Chhoda

Some say you're more likely to succeed in fitness and weight loss if you keep it short and sweet instead of long and tedious, and there is a lot of evidence to support this theory.

To get results from exercise, intensity and frequency are more important than duration. In fact, intensity and duration are inversly related. In other words, if your exercise duration is shorter and your intensity higher, you get the same, if not more effects from exercise. Short workouts are also an ideal solution in a time-bound society where every minute counts.

Shorter, more intense sessions are fun and invigorating. A 20-30 minute strength training workout is a lot more convenient and energizing than trying to find 60-75 minutes on the treadmill. It is less monotonous and repetitive, and with a good workout partner, short and intense sessions can be exactly what you need to get results.

New studies show keeping it short can have big results:

• More Minutes. Overweight women who did three 10-minute workouts a day totaled an extra 35 minutes of exercise per week compared to a similar group who exercised 30 min a day. Ironically, breaking down the exercise frequency (training more than once a day, but for shorter periods) yields more results than if you were to do the exercise all at the same time. Short, intense sessions boost metabolic rate, which stays elevated longer as compared to low intensity, long duration sessions.

• More Miles. In a University of Nebraska-Kearney study, overweight walkers who did two 15-min bouts, 5x/wk, nearly doubled their weekly mileage compared with walkers who walked 30 min, 3x/wk.

• Less Dropout. Twice as many people stuck with more, short workouts as those who stuck with fewer long ones. Interesting, considering that the short workout group put in more days (5 vs. 3) and committed more time weekly to exercise (150 min. vs. 90 min).

• More Calorie Burn. Whether you do your workouts all in one shot or break them up, you burn about the same amount of calories. But what happens AFTER is a different story.The calories you burn after a workout may be slightly higher if you break up your workouts.

• Better Recovery. A long, tedious, 60-90 minute workout will burn you out physically and mentally fast. Concentrating your workouts into 30-35 minutes allows your muscles to recover between workouts, and to work your body more frequently.

------------------------

To learn about exercise, weight loss and equipment, visit http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/ and http://www.guide-to-exercise-equipment.com/

Be smart and safe. Before starting any diet or exercise plan consult your doctor.

The information and opinions expressed in this are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of GettingOutside.com.