Will I still burn calories doing the same exercise every day?

I have been pretty consistent with my early AM workout -- I typically do 45 minutes on the recumbent bicycle. I know I should switch it up a little so my muscles don't get used to it ---- but its so hard for me to stick with anything else. Sometimes, I'll do a walk or rollerblade in the park at night. But the only thing I have really been able to stick to is the biking when everyone is asleep early in the AM. Helps that I can do it in my living room while watching TV. As long as I am burning something....I wil be happy? I am still working up a sweat every morning? Are my efforts useless since I am doing the same exercise everyday?

Wed. Aug 2, 2:14pm

You are still burning calories. However, your body is getting more efficient at what you are doing and you'll be burning less over time. Try switching it up with your resistance levels, or doing short hard sprints to keep your body working at a good pace. Even if you stick on the same equipment, you can give yourself a very different exercise experience.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 2:22 PM

You might try getting some dumbbells and doing some resistance work for an added challenge.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 2:43 PM

Yes, you burn calories, But your body adjusts for the SAME exercise

Your body adjusts when you do the same exercise day after day. One lady had a habit during her lunch hour of walking for 30 minutes. After 5 years, she began to gain weight, she ate less, but did not increase her activity.

At the end of the year, she had gained another 10 lbs.

Upon the recommendation to walk for the entire hour and not make any adjustment to her diet except cut out cookies -- she lost 10lbs in three months.

Just 100 calories over what your body needs a day, like half a Mrs Field cookie, or three oreos -- and you will gain 10lbs in a year.

Diet and changing your exercise is imperative for you and your body. That why trainers recommend working on a different muscle group every day -- upper body, lower body, abs then off, then upper body, lower body, abs again with a cardio program.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 2:50 PM

I agree with changing up your exercise on the same equipment. Stick with what you KNOW you will do! I went through the same thing with running. Now I mix it up on the treadmill. Some days I run slower but for much longer, I do intervals and sprints, also change up the incline. I've had great results with it!

Good luck!

Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 3:01 PM

if you like the bike, stay with the bike. I would try to add a few minutes a few times a week. You can also up the level in intensity. Try some of the programs. Once every 2 weeks, try something else for a few minutes, just to see if you like it or not

Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 4:08 PM

If you are watching TV while you bike and don't want to be a slave to clock on the bike...try doing commercial intervals. What I mean is, warm up, then bike at a steady pace, then when a commercial comes on either speed up or up the resistance, then when the commercials are over, go back to the steady pace. This will get your heartrate going up and down. Also, you could do the same thing with weights or some other exercise (crunches or pushups are easy and cheap!)....bike at a steady pace, during commercials, jump off the bike and do crunches one commerical, pushups the next, then back on the bike.
I mean...who needs to watch commercials anyway? :) (Oh, except for that really funny one from Nextel with the guys in the office dancing to Push It by Salt N Pepa....stop all activity for that one!!) :)

Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 4:27 PM

4:27 poster that is a great idea!!! Thanks!

Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 4:38 PM

I am working with a personal trainer to gain strength and build muscle and he tells me constantly to mix up my workouts. As a result i have a stronger and leaner body.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007, 4:42 PM

Being a creature of habit I really tend to fall into that trap and after a couple months you can just feel it afterwards that it's not quite the workout it used to be. Love the idea of the commercial intervals. I also try to really change things up on the weekends and go do things that you can't do in the gym.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007, 5:33 PM

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