Will doing random exercises throughout the day make any difference?

[Anonymous]

I'm on a health kick and I'm eating clean and exercising. I generally go to the gym everyday, but while I'm watching a movie or before bed or whatever, I'll do random exercises. Might be seated pull ups, crunches, squats - whatever. Will doing 30-50 reps randomly of these make any difference or am I just wasting time and energy?

Thanks!

[WeaponZero]

1. Only exercises that engage the muscles in the lower body (glutes, hamstring, thighs) or upper back (lats) burn a significant amount of calories as the other muscles in the body are too small to place significant strain on the heart when activated.

2. Generally speaking, if a resistance training exercise is "easy" enough to where you can comfortable do more than 15 reps with good form without pausing for rest, you won't be getting much benefit from it at all. Increasing resistance somehow so that you can't do more than that without taking a break is the only way to ensure your muscles will benefit from the exercise.

3. Unless you're already warmed up or the exercise in question is very high in intensity (such as sprints), doing little bouts of it here and there will not have a significant impact on calorie burn.

[Asker]

Thank you! That was really helpful! Definitely makes me want to increase the weights I use as well. Cheers!

[StevenVW]

Yes, those will make a substantial difference.

Due to a busy schedule I only rarely ever have time to exercise so when I do have time to exercise I always spend that time running/sprinting for stamina and cardio.

But all of the exercises aimed at increasing muscle mass and muscle power are exercises that I tend to do throughout the day like yourself and it certainly works, just as long as you don't give yourself slack during those 'in between of things' type of exercises.

[MyNameIsJonas]

Yes.

I do V sit ups off the bed or flutter kicks on the floor while watching TV or just hanging out. You don't have to be at the gym to exercise. It all adds up.

[martyfellow]

Hey, over he course of a month, these short exercises add up to thousand osf crunches and squats. They WILL make a big difference long term!

[smallguy]

Yes depending on the activity leel but generally they do help

[Anonymous]

defiantly just make it a habit