mariephi started this discussion ·
I was wondering if taking 30 minutes a day to do abs, arms and stretching was enough? Is it useful that I do it? or is it completely useless as my boyfriend says?
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CapFeb ·
I do bs and streching, half an hour each, 4 days a week. It's allowed me to learn front splits in less than a month, and shoulder mount fairly consistently after 2. For beginners and intermediate, it should be enough. As you get better you will have to push your body harder, but it also matters that you work all of your abs, not just upper/mid/lower. Don't forget your obliques!
digit ·
I don't think it takes very long to give the abs a great workout if you are really challenging yourself, and likewise biceps/triceps. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/can-you-get-fit-in-six-minutes-a-week/ A lot of people will tell you to rest a day between strength training sessions, though. I don't know about stretching...?
WellCan You Get Fit in Six Minutes a Week?Could it be that most of us are spending more time than we need to trying to get fit? The answer, a growing number of these sports scientists believe, may be yes.Anything is better than nothing, even if it's as short as 30 minutes. If that's all you have to spare, GO FOR IT!!! Don't give up on it and write it off as "useless". You might get more benefit to more time, but if you spend none at all, you won't gain anything. Make no apologies. Do it anyway. Push yourself. You'll get more from 30 minutes over time than you ever could skipping it altogether.
mariephi ·
Thank you :) I also thought that 30 minutes (for someone who wasn't doing anything before) was a good start. I mean, it HAS to help, I can't believe it could be worth nothing. If I do a 10 minutes abs routine, it has to change something! That article is really interesting. (except the part where they describe the horribly cruel experiences on those poor animals) I think pole pushes us to our limits (mine anyways) and that's why we can do something new almost every week. I never thought I would get this far, and I'm just starting to invert. I think pole is amazing :D and I'll stick to my 30 minutes a day!
I think especially in reference to pole 30 min is an amazing workout. Defnitely rest 1 day in between all strength training, it gives your body time to rest and actually build the muscle which will build it faster in the end, but stretching can should be done daily. As far as time goes really push yourself for those 30 min. I trade off days doing one day strength/learning new moves and then the next day stretching/transitions/fluidity. Rinse and repeat. Also as you continue to advance your 30 minutes will contain different moves which will work different body parts. Mixing it up is really important because the body can get used to the same thing when its done over and over and that is when it starts to decline in effectiveness. So keep doing what you're doing and don't worry about it! It is an amazing exercise but don't forget to have fun too!! Get lost in the music and don't worry so much about it being a 'work out' :)
I don't think 30 minutes a day is a waste of time at all. I used to go to a trainer that said that 30 minutes was a waste of time but he had me doing an hour of cardio each day he said if you did not burn fat until you had your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes then after that you would start burning fat. He insisted that I do at least 60 minutes everyday. Then ad my weight training for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. I still don't believe that any exercise is a waste of time it may not get you the same results as an intense routine but it should still produce results. Everything active you do helps you to maintain a healthy body.
It is true that you don't start burning fat until after 20 min, but you ate still doing other things in that 20 min that are good for body like increasing blood flow and lung capacity. Anything is better than Nothing!! In the uk the government advise 30 min of exercise a few times a week. I hope they pulled that advice from research not thin air :-)
Viva ·
Actually, I am hearing more and more that short, intense bouts of exercise are more effective at fat-burning than long, slower cardio sessions (much more fun too :)) Instead of "30 min/day" think more in terms of how long over a week -- you will see all those little bits add up! The thing about making exercise sustainable is making it fit into your lifestyle, so that you will keep it up. Many of us can't afford a full hour every day, so half an hour is great! Plus it's plenty of time to work on new moves or get a sweat up, if you train smart and don't fluff around ;) I personally think 10 min of abs daily is enough. I do feel stretching does take a little more time to be effective. Instead of doing a short, full body stretch every day, maybe you could incoporate longer sessions on each area -- eg. front splits, middle splits, back -- but rotate them through the week? I have been doing this and found my flexibility gains to be better than trying to squeeze them all in every day. xx
mariephi ·
Wow thanks ladies, I'll take everything in consideration and organize a new schedule :D I'll post it later this week so you can tell me what you think!
