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Thread: Cardio question

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    God/dess blondhottie's Avatar
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    Default Cardio question

    After being lazy for a while, I have finally started to get back into the groove of working out again. For my cardio, I am walking on my treadmill. I usually walk on my treadmill for around 40 minutes. The problem is that I get bored after 20 minutes or so. My question is, would it be bad to split up my workouts into 2 20 minute sessions? I thought I read somewhere that your body doesn't start burning fat until after 20 minutes or so of working out, but I can't remember. Thanks in advance for your help.

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    Veteran Member Vegas_dancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cardio question

    Theoretically, your body burns carbs the first 20 minutes or so of cardio, and after that it starts burning fat, so in that instance it would be better to do all 40 minutes at the same time, however, you are going to burn calories doing one 40 minute session or 2 20 minutes. If you absolutly cant stand doing it all at once, it is obviously more benificial to break it up into smaller sessions than to do nothing at all.
    I also get very bored doing my cardio, and what I do is switch it up. 15 minutes walking on a treadmill, then 15 on a stair climber, 15 on an eliptical. That really helps break up the bordem for me. If this isnt somehting you can do, try just changing it up on the treadmill. do 10 minutes at 3mph on a 7% incline, then go down to a 2% incline and jog for a while, and just keep changing the pace and the incline. This will not only help keep you from being bored, but it will also burn more calories that just walking on no incline for 40 minutes.

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cardio question

    It's true that exercise needs to be over 20 minutes for maximum efficiency...splitting up workouts is better than no exercise at all...but not as good as one 40 minute workout...if you like your treadmill...try doing interval training (I find that IT keeps me interested longer) Walk or run at a slow pace for 3 minutes....run at maximum for 3...etcetc etc (as you get in better shape, reduce the "slow" duration to 30 seconds-1 minute...lengthening your "maximum" time) this method continually "shocks" your body, giving better results faster.

    Or, if you're still bored...what I do is I save movies I really want to watch (I have On Demand so there's always some movie...btu you could rent or just wait for your favorite TV show to come on) and I only allow myself to watch it if I'm exercising doring it. I often find myself phasing out and working out for a full hour instead of my planned 40 minutes during Project Runway lol

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    Default Re: Cardio question

    I would love to the info that backs this up.I was a trainer for 6 years & never told any body to do 40 mins.The body burns sugar the first 8-10 mins.That is why it hurts so much in the begining.A 20 min treadmill workout first thing in the morning is the best, as you body has been fasting all night.You will go right into burning FAT you first min not carbs as said ^^^up there.When I competed I would do 20 min in the morning on empty stomach works better than anything.

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    Default Re: Cardio question

    My trainer told me to get a heartrate monitor and if I'm above 140 BPM then I'm burning fat. She'll have me do little five minute intervals on the eliptical and stuff. At first I couldn't even hardly get my heartrate that high and now it's getting easier. I agree. Cardio is totally boring.

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    Default Re: Cardio question

    Thanks for the responses. Mixing up my workout and varying where I have the incline set sounds like a good idea. My treadmill is in a different room from my TV, but maybe I will buy a small TV to put in my workout room. I have an MP3 player, but sometimes I get bored even while I'm listening to music. Additional suggestions to help beat boredom would be greatly appreciated!

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    Default Re: Cardio question

    I read while I'm rotating machines. It makes the time go by way faster. At the gym I go to they have this little plastic book holder that fits every machine, so I can do the eliptical, treadmill, step climber, and just flip the pages as the minutes pass. It is a little distracting when beads of sweat fall and I start to breath really hard, but it's something to do!

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    Default Re: Cardio question

    Read Magazines. Confiscate the channel changer and find a movie. Keep telling yourself to quit at the next commercial. Try the elliptical--less of a plodding pace. Always start at the highest possible incline on the treadmill. You'll get used to it, and it'll be easier to stay at that level than start at the lowest and work your way up (because the you'll feel how much of a difference the incline really makes). Go Bike in the outside world. Start asking your friends out for a walk when ya'all want to grab lunch; eat lunch and then take your drinks and mosey around town for a little while. When you think about it, do short bursts of exercise like dancing crazy in your apartment, or leg lifts, or running up any stairs that you have to climb normally everyday.

    It all adds up.

    p.s. more protein. If I'm carbed out, I feel super sluggish during cardio.

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    Featured Member Lola Lee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cardio question

    When I start getting bored, I rev up the intensity for a few minutes.




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    Veteran Member Cristalla's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cardio question

    it s better 20 minute treadmill every day or 30 mins 3 days a week? or it s the same? i dont need lose weight but just prevent butt from dropping and keep flat stomach

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    Veteran Member azcustomer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cardio question

    Quote Originally Posted by Lola Lee
    When I start getting bored, I rev up the intensity for a few minutes.
    Exactly,

    It puts a little stress into the workout then when you go back to the original level, you need to focus on your breathing to get to full recovery. It makes the time go very fast.


    "Life is not about the number of breaths you take.
    It's about those moments which leave you breathless."

  12. #12
    Glamazon
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    Default Re: Cardio question

    Quote Originally Posted by azcustomer
    Exactly,

    It puts a little stress into the workout then when you go back to the original level, you need to focus on your breathing to get to full recovery. It makes the time go very fast.
    That's what I've been doing on the elliptical. I do one of the programs on the machine, so it's intense for like 4 minute intervals...plus, I have my ipod, which helps. Everytime a song comes on that I like (like all of them!), I smile and work harder!

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    Featured Member iseestars's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cardio question

    Is there anyway you can jog outside? I get really bored on treadmills as well but running around my community helps me out because it's a change of environment and once I start, i I have to finish.

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