Length of Cardio
- Thread starter slenamond
- Start date
getnfit@38
Cathlete
Hi Sharon,
Keeping in mind that everyone is different and my body may not respond the same way yours does, but my body does not respond the same way to 30 min cardio as it does to 60 min cardio.
The best I can do with 30 min cardio x 6 days is maintain, possibly lose .5-1 lb., and that's only if it's "all Cathe" cardios, any other instructor means a maintenance week.
The only way for me to consistently shed pounds/inches weekly is with 4-6 days/week of 45-60min cardio, and then I can "usually" average 1.5-2lbs if my eating is good as well.
But this is me, and you may have great success with 30min cardios, so the best advice is to try it both ways and log your progress, then you'll know just what your body needs.
Donna
Keeping in mind that everyone is different and my body may not respond the same way yours does, but my body does not respond the same way to 30 min cardio as it does to 60 min cardio.
The best I can do with 30 min cardio x 6 days is maintain, possibly lose .5-1 lb., and that's only if it's "all Cathe" cardios, any other instructor means a maintenance week.
The only way for me to consistently shed pounds/inches weekly is with 4-6 days/week of 45-60min cardio, and then I can "usually" average 1.5-2lbs if my eating is good as well.
But this is me, and you may have great success with 30min cardios, so the best advice is to try it both ways and log your progress, then you'll know just what your body needs.
Donna
Hi Sharon 
I agree with the other two gals .. I think it really depends on the person. I could do 5 days of hi/lo/step cardio, and the week that I throw in a couple of runs in substitution of that, I end up dropping a half pound or pound .. I think everyone's bod is the entirely different. In my experience (and this is just me) .. the key to weight loss is cross-training, clean eating, and continually keeping your body challenged through a variety of exercise and varied time spent working out. Just my .02
~ Nicole
I agree with the other two gals .. I think it really depends on the person. I could do 5 days of hi/lo/step cardio, and the week that I throw in a couple of runs in substitution of that, I end up dropping a half pound or pound .. I think everyone's bod is the entirely different. In my experience (and this is just me) .. the key to weight loss is cross-training, clean eating, and continually keeping your body challenged through a variety of exercise and varied time spent working out. Just my .02
~ Nicole
I usually do shorter cardio "at home" workouts, like step tapes or the elliptical, since I get bored easily. But I don't mind taking longer cardio classes at the gym since you can't just stop after 30 mins, plus it's motivating.
You should just switch it up. If you hate 60 mins of cardio, don't do it.
I've read that it's sometimes better to do cardio more frequently- even if it's for shorter sessions- because it gets your HR up and metabolism pumping.
You should just switch it up. If you hate 60 mins of cardio, don't do it.
I've read that it's sometimes better to do cardio more frequently- even if it's for shorter sessions- because it gets your HR up and metabolism pumping.
I usually do 30 min sessions
My body seems to get tired after 30 minutes of straight cardio, but if I do a combination of cardio + weights, I do about 45 minutes because I like my sessions broken up.
Question, though, to all of you... when you say you do 45-60 minutes session, do you include wu as well as cool-down in this count ? or do you count the main cardio portion only ?
My body seems to get tired after 30 minutes of straight cardio, but if I do a combination of cardio + weights, I do about 45 minutes because I like my sessions broken up.
Question, though, to all of you... when you say you do 45-60 minutes session, do you include wu as well as cool-down in this count ? or do you count the main cardio portion only ?
jillybean
Cathlete
RE: I usually do 30 min sessions
When I say I did 60 min. of cardio, I mean one Cathe tape - warm up, cardio, cool down, etc. Imax is a 60 min. tape and although only 38 min. of that are the cardio portion, it feels like I worked out for an hour! When I say I do half an hour, I mean a CTX cardio where I only do 22 min. or so with the warm up and cool down it's about 30 min. But that is just me. Maybe some people only count the aerobic min. of their workouts.
When I say I did 60 min. of cardio, I mean one Cathe tape - warm up, cardio, cool down, etc. Imax is a 60 min. tape and although only 38 min. of that are the cardio portion, it feels like I worked out for an hour! When I say I do half an hour, I mean a CTX cardio where I only do 22 min. or so with the warm up and cool down it's about 30 min. But that is just me. Maybe some people only count the aerobic min. of their workouts.
dss62467
Cathlete
I just started to add a couple 30 minute cardios into my routine. I was doing Cardio Kicks 2X a week, then PS 3X, plus Interval Max 1 day. I lost about 1lb. a week. But then I started adding 2 of the 30 minute segments from CTX on days where I do PS, changed Interval Max to MIS and take my daughter out for a 5-6 mile bike ride on a day where I've only done a 30 minute cardio or on MIS or PS Legs day(weather permitting). I have gone to 2 lbs. a week weight loss. I make sure I take Sunday off from everything, except maybe a hike in the woods with my family or a little yard work. I've also allowed myself one-two bad meals a week and still lost the weight.
I think it really is key that you incorporate the weight training into your routine. Not only does it make you feel stronger and get you defined, it helps get rid of the weight.
I think it really is key that you incorporate the weight training into your routine. Not only does it make you feel stronger and get you defined, it helps get rid of the weight.
I don't really have a reccomendation, just another question: I have been reading some about the whole midlife fat cell/weight gain in premenopause/difficulty losing as you get older thing, and I've read that as we age, for women, longer more moderate cardio sessions may work better than short intense sessions, even if the total cardio per week is the same. Any thoughts on this?
Christine
Christine
Length of cardio for weight loss really depends on intensity. If you are just starting out or are quite overweight, then you would want to work longer at a lower intensity. As you get more fit, you can add higher intensity intervals throughout your workout. If you are already aerobically fit, then you can do a shorter workout but at a higher intensity where you are really working hard. The ultimate goal in a weight loss program is to create a calorie deficit-ideally through a minor caloric restriction (200-300 calories) and an increase in caloric expenditure through exercise. To lose 1 pound per week, you need to create a 3500 calorie deficit. Hope this helps!
likes2bfit
Cathlete
RE: I usually do 30 min sessions
My way of counting cardio is to count the warm up in the total cardio minutes since heart rate is coming up. However I do not count the cool down as part of my cardio since heart reate is coming down. I have no rationale for this, but I do try to be consistent in how I count the cardio.
FYI from this forum, I have decided to set a new goal of 300" of cardio weekly, in conjunction with Cathe's endurance rotation. My clothes are fitting well except for the fews days Of PMS last week.
Take time to enjoy those who matter most to you & do all things in moderation
My way of counting cardio is to count the warm up in the total cardio minutes since heart rate is coming up. However I do not count the cool down as part of my cardio since heart reate is coming down. I have no rationale for this, but I do try to be consistent in how I count the cardio.
FYI from this forum, I have decided to set a new goal of 300" of cardio weekly, in conjunction with Cathe's endurance rotation. My clothes are fitting well except for the fews days Of PMS last week.
Take time to enjoy those who matter most to you & do all things in moderation
likes2bfit
Cathlete
RE: for christine
Did you read that info about moderate exercise in "Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell" by Debra Waterhouse?
Waterhouse states in her book that "overexercising (usually defined as ten hours or more a week) causes a starvation response similar to dieting." In this book the recomended amount of cardio for the perimenopausal woman is 4 hours cardio.
At age 41 I don't know if I am perimenopausal or not, but I have added some fat around my middle in the last 2 years, despite consistant exercising. Recently, I have tried a new goal of 300" minutes cardio per week and working each body part twice. (I know in Cathe's endurance rotation she hits every body part 3x, but I couldn't fit my cardio in that way.)
Take time to enjoy those who matter most to you & do all things in moderation
Did you read that info about moderate exercise in "Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell" by Debra Waterhouse?
Waterhouse states in her book that "overexercising (usually defined as ten hours or more a week) causes a starvation response similar to dieting." In this book the recomended amount of cardio for the perimenopausal woman is 4 hours cardio.
At age 41 I don't know if I am perimenopausal or not, but I have added some fat around my middle in the last 2 years, despite consistant exercising. Recently, I have tried a new goal of 300" minutes cardio per week and working each body part twice. (I know in Cathe's endurance rotation she hits every body part 3x, but I couldn't fit my cardio in that way.)
Take time to enjoy those who matter most to you & do all things in moderation
>I like to alternate shorter intense
>cardios like CTX/Imax and spinning
>with longer gentler cardios like
>running, swimming, biking for an
>hour or so. Shorter cardios
>are more maintenance. The longer
>ones work better for my
>body.
Hello; how do you really know what is best for your body? for example I have been working out with cathes tapes now for several years 4 to 5 times a week at an average of 40 minutes a day and I'm only maintaning my weight and not taking off anything. Does this mean that I need to workout more days per week or just longer workouts? At times my lower body gets really sore and My husband always tells me that I need to rest in between workouts. My question beeing, If my lower body is sore can I still do a workout the next day or is this overworking my legs and not getting me anywhere?
>cardios like CTX/Imax and spinning
>with longer gentler cardios like
>running, swimming, biking for an
>hour or so. Shorter cardios
>are more maintenance. The longer
>ones work better for my
>body.
Hello; how do you really know what is best for your body? for example I have been working out with cathes tapes now for several years 4 to 5 times a week at an average of 40 minutes a day and I'm only maintaning my weight and not taking off anything. Does this mean that I need to workout more days per week or just longer workouts? At times my lower body gets really sore and My husband always tells me that I need to rest in between workouts. My question beeing, If my lower body is sore can I still do a workout the next day or is this overworking my legs and not getting me anywhere?