Effective short workouts

Short intense workouts are the in thing in today’s fast-paced society where time is precious. The exercises take a short time and are effective if done properly.

Some skeptics would question what benefits you can get from a 15-30 minute workout, but it is obviously better than nothing. Using the correct training methods such as interval and circuits is essential in short workouts. We burn more calories the harder we go, but many of us can’t manage long workouts.

Daily routines

Here is an example of how to maximise a short workout.

1. Walk at 6km per hour for 20 minutes.

2. Walk at 6km per hour for 60 minutes.

As expected, workout two is more beneficial as you are doing three times as much as workout one. However, if we altered workout one by increasing the gradient, it could easily match the benefits of workout two.

If you go to the gym in the morning for a 20-minute workout with timed rests, you will go off to your daily routines knowing you’ve done something good for your health. You may feel guilty about leaving the gym after such a short time, but it’s a guarantee you have done more than most people.

It is, however, important to have a decent degree of fitness before you try this high intensity approach to training. Those exercising for the first time can experiment with interval training like mix periods of walking with jogging before graduating to intense exercises such as sprints.

Crucial muscles+

As we exercise, our bodies use carbs and then muscle and protein as sources of energy. With shorter workouts, the body will deplete your supply of sugars, but will not allow it enough time to move onto the next source, which would be the crucial muscles and protein.

Even ten-minute workouts two to three times a day are great. You could do it in the morning in front of the TV before work, during your lunch break or before you go to bed.

By performing several short workouts, you will receive all of the benefits that come from exercising such as weight loss, lower blood pressure, improved mood, improved appearance, reduced risk of illness and a increased fitness. It is recommended that a good workout should be done for at least 150 minutes a week, highlighted by the 5 x 30 minutes initiative. If you have target weight loss aspirations, you need to double this figure.