is 30mins a day enough?

Question

Me and my boyfriend's sister have started to go the gym for 30mins a day 3-4 times a week, straight from work.. we find it easier to go straight from work because it doesnt give us the chance to sit down at home and get comfortable

but is this enough?

we are not fat just very unfit and eventhe 30mins feels like a lifetime...

we do 20mins on the treadmill, which we adjust to a 7.0 hill slope which burns up to 184 calories and then we do 10mins on the cross trainer which burns 100calories (approx).

is this enough???

we weigh ourselves every week and have started to notice a difference.

Answer 1

20 mins on a treadmill on a 7.0 slope is hard work, as is 10 mins on the cross trainer, so it's now wonder it feles so hard. But this is exactly what you need - if its too easy you won't get any benefit or get any fitter. And if you do this 3-4 times a week you will get fitter very quickly. As soon as this routine starts to get easy, crank it up again. Do longer on the cross trainer, or run on the tradmill at a higher speed.

What I would say though, is that you ignore the calorie counters on the machines. Their reliability is qustionable. As long as you are knackered at the end, you've worked hard enough!

Answer 2

If you've noticed a difference, then youve made a fine start. Are you doing enough? I'd say you're doing plenty in terms of time but you might want to change your routine up a little.

Cardio is the right way to go to start off but the best way to drop the fat is to put on a little bit of muscle as well. While muscle weighs twice as much as fat, it burns about 10 times the amount of calories - therefore a little muscle gain will help you shift your weight AND make you a little bit stronger at the same time - perhaps you'll even be able to unscrew those jars your boyfriend has trouble with :-)

I'd suggest taking one or two of the days and using them for strength training (weights) instead of pounding it out on a treadmill. Ask one of the personal trainers (or someone who seems to know what they are doing) to give you a few pointers as to how to perform the exercises or take a look at the link below. Don't worry about getting big and muscley like the bodybuilder women that Louis Theroux did a documentary on - that takes a huge amount of time, effort, supplements and strict dieting. A little muscle tone, however, will help build a good figure.

Best of luck.

Answer 3

A few things:
1- don't believe the calorie counters on the machines. They have no basis in accuracy.
2 - Yes, it is quite possible to get in a great workout in 30 minutes.
3 - Whether what you are doing is enough or even the appropriate exercise really depends on your goals.

You might want to look at a little bit more of a comprehensive program instead of just boring, low intensity cardio work. A program like Turbulence Training by Craig Ballantyne can be done in 30 minutes and would give you a much better workout and better results than your current cardio routine ever will. You can check it out here:
http://www.bestfitnesstools.com

Hope that helps,
Dave S.
Owner, Perfect Fit Personal Training Studio
http://www.thetruthaboutdiets.com

Answer 4

If this is your first time exercising, then you are doing great! You have to start somewhere right? And you have to give your body time to adjust. Doctors recommend at least 30 minutes of activity a day (which includes walking, cleaning the house etc).

As you lose weight, you'll notice your getting in better shape. After a while, you will pleatou and then it's time to challenge yourself again. Add an extra ten minutes, or increase the intensity, or go 5 days a week instead. Either way, the important thing about exercise and losing weight is to change your routine often and challenge yourself.

Good job! It will get much easier as you go.

Answer 5

30 minutes per day 3-4 times a week is certainly better than no exercise at all, and I believe that's the minimum recommended exercise a person should get in a week. However, keep in mind that it's not just about time spent working out but the intensity that you work out at. A person working out for a half hour can burn the same number of calories a person working out for an hour or more burns if they reach a high level of intensity.
If you were not working out at all previously (which is what it sounds like), you are going to notice changes for sure. But if you keep you workouts static, eventually you will plateau. The secret to staying in shape and keeping fit is really challenging yourself and keeping things fresh--working hard and challenging your body to new things.
You mentioned that the 30 mins feels like an eternity--cardio machines make it easy to zone out and disconnect from what you are doing. Perhaps try a variety of cardio classes at your gym, take your workouts outdoors: hike, bike, jog, swim, etc. and be sure to incorporate weight training into your routine. If anything can change a person's physique...it's weight training. Try circuit training or super sets to keep your heart rate up and to burn mega calories.
There's lots of options out there. The key is getting into a routine--but also to not let your routine become...well...routine!

Answer 6

Do NOT count calories burned - believe me there is no way machines can tell you that precisely - all you have to count is time doing cardio.
if you want to lose weight you have to do it 4-6 times a week for average of 45min.
if you just want to tone then at least 4 days a week for at least 30min (the first 20-30min body burns carbs and only then starts burning fat)
you also have to do some light weight training 2-3 days a week.
dont forget to stretch before working out to prevent injuries and after working out to prevent soreness.

Answer 7

It's not the time that's important, it's how much of a work out you do in this time. If you're seeing results with your current workout, then keep at it. But remember, there will come a time when your body will plateau, so try to mix it up a bit, keep your body guessing. You'll get better results that way.

Answer 8

If you have started to notice a difference, then yes,it is enough. It may not be enough in the long run, and you may have to increase the time you spend at the gym to keep up the weight loss / increase in fitness. Well done for getting motivated enough to do it!!!!

Answer 9

If you have noticed a difference then that is good, it is best not to push yourselves too hard. There may be a time however when you decide to step up the exercise for longer as you begin to feel fitter.

Answer 10

it should be enough if you dont need to lose weight. instead using 2 machines try switching to a different cardio machine each time you go. this will help you keep at it.