The days of hour-long workouts are long gone who has time to do that, anyway? and today, it’s all about short but powerful exercise routines. Taking up as little as 10 minutes of your day, these high-intensity workouts have become incredibly popular in recent years and show no signs of slowing down.
How long you should exercise depends on what you want to accomplish
It depends on what you're trying to achieve. If you want to build muscle, you'll need to spend a lot more time in the gym than if your goal is weight loss. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 90 minutes (for less intense workouts) and up to 120 minutes (for high-intensity interval training) for physical fitness benefits. However, there are benefits to shorter workouts too.
Endorphins & Fat Loss - Short vs Long Exercise
Studies indicate that people who exercise for longer periods of time often have more success with weight loss and fitness improvement. Studies also show that long-term, long workouts tend to increase endorphins in the body, which release an appetite suppressant. But sometimes we just don't have the time or desire to exercise for longer periods of time. Even if it seems like shorter workouts might not be as effective, there are a few reasons they may be worth it in certain circumstances.
Better Fitness? - Short vs Long Exercise
An interesting study from Appalachian State University found that cycling for ten minutes at a very high intensity is as good as cycling for one hour at a lower intensity. They found that the benefits of cardiorespiratory fitness after 10 minutes are similar to those achieved in a much longer bout. This supports the common belief among trainers and coaches who recommend quick, high-intensity intervals over prolonged periods of moderate-to-low intensity exercise.
Full Muscle Gains - Short vs Long Exercise
One thing that many people don't realize about exercise is that more doesn't always mean better. Intensity (the level at which the body responds to an exercise) is important too. Now, it does take a little more time for muscles to develop, but with these studies combined, we can come to a conclusion about whether or not working out for shorter periods of time yields better muscle gains than long-term workouts.
What Will Boost Cardio Results – Long vs Short Workouts
The question as to whether shorter workouts are more effective is difficult to answer. On one hand, shorter workouts provide the opportunity for increased intensity and are typically less time-consuming. But on the other hand, a 30-minute workout at a moderate intensity will probably burn more calories than a 15-minute high-intensity interval training session. There's not enough data out there to say definitively what will yield better results – long vs short workouts.
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