Take a Workout Break
Posted on October 11th, 2007 by ErinPosted in Exercise
A study recently conducted in Japan shows that taking breaks during your exercise routine will actually help you to burn more calories than exercising straight through.
Researchers compared the fat metabolization of exercisers who worked out for a straight 60 minutes with exercisers who worked out 30 minutes, rested for 20 minutes, and then continued to exercise for another 30 minutes. These findings go against the previous belief that extended exercise was what helped burn fat and calories most quickly. Furthermore, those that took the 20 minute break also and a pronounced increase in their bodies’ free fatty acids and glycerol in the last 15 minutes of exercise.
The study may be the first of its kind, but the results are encouraging to those of us who enjoy working out: it’s not just okay to take a break, but good to do so. Not only does this apply to working out at the gym, but it also means that you can break up your kinds of exercise. You’re encouraged to play a few rounds of tennis, take a break, and then head out on a run. You can jog down to the river, take some time to people watch on the banks, and then jump into your boat to row for awhile. You’ll be able to play a quick game of pickup soccer, take a break to say goodbye to your teammates and friends, and then do a speedy aerobics workout. Break it up because this kind of exercise is good for you.
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