Breaks during workouts

[lesliemarie]

Hi cathe!!! I was just doing KPC but during all the workouts I have to take a lot of breaks with sips of water, is that ok? am I still benefiting from the workout? I also take a break as soon as I feel some pain in my knee's my left knee is still healing from Jumpers Knee but I wear a good support brace I got from a physical Therapist. But I was getting kind of concerned about the breaks I have been taking and if it is effecting the weight loss I want to achieve?

 

[balletgrrl]

I am not Cathe but I am in a similar situation as you are. I would say that taking breaks is not hurting your progress or lessening the benefits of the workout. I say this because I used to have to take a lot of breaks during certain workouts (particularly MIC and the IMAX's) but now I can pretty much do them straight through. I figure that if these breaks were taking away from the benefits of the workout, I wouldn't have progressed so quickly. I think working towards taking fewer and fewer breaks is a good fitness goal.

Some other thoughts: remember that your body is smart... it tells you when it needs to stop (for whatever reason). I learned the hard way that it is best to listen! Lastly, I would make sure that your breaks are not too long. Going quickly from when end of your heart rate zone to the other is not good for you... I would try to limit the breaks to no longer than 30 sec. to one min. This approach worked very well for me. I hope this helps you! Good luck with your goals!

Alison

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Leslie! Yes, you are definitely still getting the benefits, yippee I noticed Alison pretty much said everything that I was going to (thanks Alison). This is perfect advise. Breaks are fine when your body tells you it needs one. Again, don't let the heart rate drop too far before getting right back on it. Take Care!