Cardio/fat loss question

mullax · 10-22-2009, 08:28 PM

Hey everyone,
I recently got a treadmill and am trying to aim for one to one and a half hours on it several times a week. I know that it's best to do cardio for 45-60 minutes at a time for weight loss, but due to my endurance and other issues I was hoping to do it for thirty minutes, two to three times a day.
If I do this will it completely get in the way of potential fat loss? If I do, say, half hour morning, half hour later on, maybe another half? Would that be completely pointless for someone trying to lose weight (to break up my cardio workouts into two or three smaller sections all throughout the day)? I don't know how much that will rev up my metabolism. I just was looking to see if anyone knew whether or not that was a bad idea. Thanks!

dougz · 10-22-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

If I do this will it completely get in the way of potential fat loss?

Do what you can do according to your endurance..

The effect on fat loss of 3 thirty minute sessions vs. 1 ninety minute session will be negligible..

Cardio in any form is never "pointless"..

Gen · 10-23-2009, 02:59 AM

Diet is most important when losing weight; track your food/calories. 3 thirty minute sessions is fine (before each meal is a good idea actually) but don't burn yourself so that you hate exercise in the first month of getting back into physical activity. Do what you can. Do what you like. Have fun!

EasyRhino · 10-23-2009, 09:52 PM

1.5 hours is pretty much 1.5 hours, from a caloric perspective.

I don't do more than about 30 minutes a day due to primarily boredom issues!

Lost Dog · 10-23-2009, 11:49 PM

I would rather eat 300 calories less food.

dougz · 10-24-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

I would rather eat 300 calories less food.

Me too..

But dang it if my heart doesn't need a workout once in a while, too..

Back-to-back Japanese horror films aren't cutting it any more..

Lost Dog · 10-24-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougz

Me too..

But dang it if my heart doesn't need a workout once in a while, too..

Back-to-back Japanese horror films aren't cutting it any more..

Aggressive lifting, especially with short rest periods.

Half Full · 10-24-2009, 03:29 AM

Nobody is interested in knowing the other issues and the stats of this guy before recommending an hour and a half of cardio per day?

Lost Dog · 10-24-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Half Full

Nobody is interested in knowing the other issues and the stats of this guy before recommending an hour and a half of cardio per day?

No one recommended that.

He asked the difference between 1.5 hours straight vs 3 x .5 hours, several times per week.

LaraT · 10-24-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Half Full

Nobody is interested in knowing the other issues and the stats of this guy before recommending an hour and a half of cardio per day?

no one is recommending 1.5 hours a day, in fact the contrary.

Half Full · 10-27-2009, 09:59 PM

Well not really questioning (or not recommending against) doing it is having the same result as recommending it in this situation. One person said don't burn yourself out. That was it. He/she seems like someone who is very new to this and probably should not be doing that much cardio. Just saying, that's how it seems to me.

Lost Dog · 10-27-2009, 10:09 PM

That's like 3 to 4.5 hours over the week. That's "going for a run" a few times.

I think his initial post is confusing. It makes it seem like it's 90 minutes a day, which would be a problem if it was every day.

gabi.k · 10-28-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

It makes it seem like it's 90 minutes a day, which would be a problem if it was every day.

Maybe or maybe not. Depends on intensity... Like weeks 10-12 of OPT Leigh suggests 1-2x60 minutes/day at 55% MHR.

Half Full · 10-29-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

That's like 3 to 4.5 hours over the week. That's "going for a run" a few times.

I think his initial post is confusing. It makes it seem like it's 90 minutes a day, which would be a problem if it was every day.

I thought it was 90 minutes every day.

coach hale · 10-30-2009, 10:13 AM

Cardio is not required for fat loss.

The amount of fat you lose relative to muscle relies heavily on P-ratio
http://www.maxcondition.com/e107_plu...topic.php?1668

However with proper training, and nutrition you can alter P-ratio, and some drugs modify P-ratio.

Coach Hale

misstenacity · 10-30-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mullax

I recently got a treadmill and am trying to aim for one to one and a half hours on it several times a week. I know that it's best to do cardio for 45-60 minutes at a time for weight loss, but due to my endurance and other issues I was hoping to do it for thirty minutes, two to three times a day.

If you're running on the treadmill or really pushing your heart rate, breaking it up into 30min segments might actually be GOOD and keep you from burning out.

I know a runner who couldn't break through a weekly mileage barrier without getting injured until he took his daily runs and broke them in half for A.M. and P.M. - all of a sudden he could handle 30% more total.

However, if its non-impact, like walking or elliptical, go for the 90 min all at once. That's enough time to watch a crappy comedy movie!

Overall, you will burn the same NUMBER of calories, so it will have no net effect on your daily burn, if that is part of your fat loss plan (yes I know Jamie is all over this with his post, but negative energy balance is ONE way to lose fat, still).