Exercise For Time, Not Distance
If you plan or are starting out an aerobic exercise program, one of the most helpful tips I can give is to exercise for time, not distance.
The only reason to exercise with a distance goal in mind is if you are training for some sort of test or marathon.
Since most of us just want to trim that extra bulge in our bellies, training for distance doesn't work for us.
The goal of our exercise is to improve overall health.
This means that we are trying to get our heart rate up and keep it up for a period of time, not trying to see how long it takes us to run a mile.
The problem with exercising for distance is that it does not scale with your fitness level.
If we make our goal to walk or run two miles, we will make our goal, but if your fitness level is high, then you can do it much quicker, and therefore you won't get the benefits of keeping your heart pumping for a longer amount of time.
It is much better to make time goals and increase those, especially when you are starting out.
Twenty minutes is a good time for beginners.
It should be challenging but very doable.
If you think walking for 20 minutes, 3 times a week won't increase your fitness level, or give you all those awesome health benefits, think again.
Just that much will make a difference, and remember you can and will move on to bigger and better things that will increase your fitness level more dramatically.
So make the investment in a stopwatch and exercise for time.
Starting with 20 minutes, 3 times a week, increase your goal every week or two.
This part is more subjective, as you should increase your time goals only if you think you can handle it.
This is the beauty of the time goal, because even if you stay at 20 minutes for three months, you will be going faster and father and still increasing your fitness level will be increasing.
With the distance goal, if you keep it the same for months, say one mile.
You will reach a point where you will plateau because it will take you the same amount of time to go that distance, so your heart rate will only be up for that short period of time.
The only reason to exercise with a distance goal in mind is if you are training for some sort of test or marathon.
Since most of us just want to trim that extra bulge in our bellies, training for distance doesn't work for us.
The goal of our exercise is to improve overall health.
This means that we are trying to get our heart rate up and keep it up for a period of time, not trying to see how long it takes us to run a mile.
The problem with exercising for distance is that it does not scale with your fitness level.
If we make our goal to walk or run two miles, we will make our goal, but if your fitness level is high, then you can do it much quicker, and therefore you won't get the benefits of keeping your heart pumping for a longer amount of time.
It is much better to make time goals and increase those, especially when you are starting out.
Twenty minutes is a good time for beginners.
It should be challenging but very doable.
If you think walking for 20 minutes, 3 times a week won't increase your fitness level, or give you all those awesome health benefits, think again.
Just that much will make a difference, and remember you can and will move on to bigger and better things that will increase your fitness level more dramatically.
So make the investment in a stopwatch and exercise for time.
Starting with 20 minutes, 3 times a week, increase your goal every week or two.
This part is more subjective, as you should increase your time goals only if you think you can handle it.
This is the beauty of the time goal, because even if you stay at 20 minutes for three months, you will be going faster and father and still increasing your fitness level will be increasing.
With the distance goal, if you keep it the same for months, say one mile.
You will reach a point where you will plateau because it will take you the same amount of time to go that distance, so your heart rate will only be up for that short period of time.
Source...