Are You Working Out Long Enough?

It’s a pretty simple question right? Are your workouts long enough? Here’s the good news, I have the answer for you.

Yes*

*the real question is how hard are you going?

I do not put stock in the idea that longer workouts are automatically better or more effective. I think that’s total crap. Scenario: There are two people at a gym. Person A walks at an average pace on the treadmill for 30 minutes (which is clearly not exhausting for this person) and then does a machine circuit without any added weight for 30 minutes (again, clearly not exhausting for this person). Person B does 5 all-out sprints on the treadmill which takes 10 minutes, and then does some quick leg work with weights that are pretty heavy for 10 minutes.

So did Person A have the better workout because they were at the gym for an hour? No! This isn’t to say that Person A’s workout was bad – referring back to the top of my post, I believe that any kind of activity that gets you moving in some way is a good workout; however, that doesn’t mean that short workouts aren’t good enough. If you give your all for 20 minutes, that might be all you need for the day!

There are plenty of days where I just do not want to work out because in my mind, I don’t know that I can push myself for a whole hour to get a ‘complete’ workout in. I stop myself and say “if I can give it my all for 20 minutes, that’s a hell of a lot better than not doing anything.” So today, my advice to you is that even when you just don’t feel like working out (exception: if you are sick or injured) then just give everything you can for 20 minutes, 10 minutes, hell even 5 minutes. Do whatever you can possible muster, because I promise you that those little workouts start adding up and making a difference. Granted, it won’t make an immediate difference, but it will do more for your body then sitting on the couch watching TV will.

My challenge to you is to be active every single day for the next 7 days. Whether it’s a serious workout or taking a 5-10 minute walk that you normally wouldn’t have taken. Even when you’re tired and the last thing you want to do is exercise, do what you can.