[Beach Patrol]

I am almost 48. When I was in my 20's/30's I was high on exercise - specifically weight lifting. I've never been much into cardio, altho I've always enjoyed things like swimming & biking, and walking with a friend (walking/talking).

Now that I'm older, I have found that the weight is much more stubborn than ever to get off. I have some health issues that prevent me from doing anything too "cardio-ish" (I love making up my own words, LOL) - when I sweat, which is what cardio does if you do it right - I get crazy hives all over my body that lasts up to 6 weeks! (4 different docs have failed to figure out what my body is doing here!) plus I have rheu. arthritis, which is painful at any length... ANYHOO....

So basically I can swim & that's about it. For the past 3-4 years, during swim season (I have a pool) I've been swimming 45min-1 hour a day at least 4 days a week. It has done NOTHING to help me lose weight, even tho I've dieted, etc. (altho it may have helped me to NOT GAIN weight... hmmm....)

I started lifting weights again, and since January, I've lost a measly 10 pounds (better than nothing, tho!) Then I remembered that many people walk (or bike or jog/run, whatever) by breaking up their daily time -such as, instead of one exercise routine of 45 minutes, do 15 minutes in the morning, 15 at lunch, and 15 after dinner - or however. So yesterday I started that. 15 minutes 3x a day is much easier to accomplish than a straight 45 minutes.

Has anyone accomplished their weight loss goals by breaking up the time frame? Or have you discovered that your body needs that straight 45 minutes (or however long) in order for your body to lose the weight?

[fitness4life]

Good question. My professional response would be that anything less than 15-20 minutes of cardio is a waste of time, but that response is only considering increasing your cardio-vascular endurance. You will still burn calories, just not get any better cardio-vascularly.

I think the value in trying this method for you would be just to "shake things up". When we encounter a plateau, we need to do something entirely different to break through it.

I'd say, try it for 3 months. It certainly won't hurt (unless your goal is to run 5 miles) and you'll know by then if it's working. If you get zero results after 3 months, abandon the plan and try something else.

Sorry to hear about your hives. That must suck!

[Beach Patrol]

thanks for your response! -
yes, the hives suck - esp. because I'm an outdoorsy person, I love summer, and I live near the beach ... & waaaah!

So you think I will still burn calories but not get any better cardio-vascularly? I always hear how "every little bit of exercise helps" and how people are often advised to do such things as take the stairs, not the elevator, park at the end of the parking lot, etc. I imagine that may be helpful to someone who has been a couch potato all their life, but those of us who have exercised, I just don't see it adding up to much. But I will try it (like you said!) for 3 months. We'll see!!

[fitness4life]

I was disappointed nobody else gave their two cents here. After thinking about it a bit, I would guess that you're gonna see zero results. But I don't know. "Every little bit counts" rings true, too.

Anyone else have an oppinion?

[Nola Celeste]

I am very much of the "every little bit counts" school of thought. Some years ago, I did nothing at all different except changed from a hectic retail job to a sedentary desk job and gained sixty pounds in a year. I never thought of my work as exercise, but the fact that it packed five pounds a month on me when I stopped doing it tells me that it was.

Somewhere around here, there's also a thread about the importance of moving around even if it isn't designated exercise. A recent study suggests that even regular exercise doesn't offset hours-long blocks of sedentary living. The obverse of that would be that--as you said--every little bit counts.

There's also the "can't hurt, might help" school of thought, too. Whether it'll help you with weight loss, I can't say--but I can say it'll probably affect your mood, energy level, and self-confidence in a positive way. You've got nothing to lose (except maybe a few pounds ) from trying it, right?