What are the cons of taking frequent breaks between intense exercise?

[Anonymous]

Usually when I begin a new form of exercise, usually done at home, I take frequent breaks (at most 3 mins each) to catch a breath. Although, I know it is important to keep the heart rate up. Even though it takes that much longer, I still end up completing the exercise. I usually exercise before I go to bed and drink A LOT OF WATER. Is this habit before getting used to the exercise really detrimental?

Yes

No

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

i don't think keeping your heart rate up is actually important unless you're doing it for sports because it helps your ability to compete and function at a high heart rate. but even then, it's not that important. for instance, i did track. we would have the dreaded 400m workouts. we would run a quarter mile and stop for 4-5 minutes. get fully rested and do it again. or when we did 200s. run 1/2 lap and walk/jog 1/2 a lap. or pacers for a mile (run the straight and walk the curves).

as for doing workouts before going to bed, that's probably not a great idea depending on what you're doing.

[31yovirgindude]

It is better to do said exercises at the gym and take 1 minute breaks between each workout,, nothing more. You want your heart rate up as much as possible to keep up with your exercises especially lifting heavy.

[Asker]

I don't lift, I usually do Pilates, HIT and cardio

[Asker]

Well HIT usually includes a bit of lifting not much

[Kiwedin]

It's not detrimental, but you shouldn't be giving yourself 3 minutes of a break. Interval workouts are usually done by exercising at a high intensity for 60 seconds and then resting for 60 seconds. it's more effective done this way, but you'll still get a workout either way.

[Nuqood]

Why would you exercise before bed? Doesn't that keep you up?

As for breaks, take as long as your body needs. There's no sense in fatiguing yourself and hindering your form just to be able to say you only took a 30 second rest when your body needed that extra 2 minutes.

[MyNameIsJonas]

I wouldn't say it detrimental to stop, but it will render the program less effective. Try pacing the workouts slower to begin with and work all the way through.

[ChromAzonyx108]

if you're doing reps here's an idea:
set a target number of reps and for every time you stop you have to add on more reps to the total. For example, if your goal is 100 reps then add on 10 reps for every time you stop. By the time you finish you may have done a total of 150 reps. Eventually you'll be able to do 100 consecutive reps.

You could do the same with time. For example, if your target is to run on a treadmill for 10 min then add 1 min for every time you stop.

[CaliSoccerFella]

3 min break between exercise?
I wouldn't even call that a break! You need to catch your breath.. get a drink, thats more then reasonable

[Asker]

So you're implying I'm being too hard on myself?

[CaliSoccerFella]

no... i think its a good length of time

[Asker]

No what I mean is this... I work out for like 8 minutes straight and take a 2 minute break. And the exercise is usually around 32-40 min

[CaliSoccerFella]

Seems totally reasonable to me

[Zanecyber]

it depends on what ur doing, there are many types of exercises

[WhatTheHellAmy]

the best is to keep going until you're done

[Sabretooth]

don't overload yourself