Why Lower Intensity Workouts Are Great For Weight Loss

Why Lower Intensity Workouts Are Great For Weight Loss

Lots of people (myself included!) have touted the benefits of high-intensity interval training (hiit for short). And you know why?

Because it’s great!

You burn a huge amount of calories in a shorter amount of time, and you keep burning calories even after your workout is done!

However, you don’t have to do hiit training in order to lose weight. According to recent research, lower intensity training is another totally viable option

Avoid these exercises at all costs!

Low Intensity Workouts Are Great For Weight Loss

Canadian researchers have done an experiment where overweight subjects were split into two groups – one performing high intensity workouts for a short amount of time and the other performing low intensity workouts for a much longer workout. Do you know what they found? Both groups burned almost the same amount of calories from their different workouts, and lost the same amount of weight as a result. And they also lost a similar amount of fat.

low intensity workouts are great for weight loss

Here’s why strength training is great for women.

It’s an important thing to remember, because people who are intimidated by hiit workouts should know that they can easily workout at lower intensity and lose the same amount of weight.

It’s a trade-off, either you want to work out more intensely for shorter periods of time, or work out at a lower intensity for longer periods of time. Either way, you’re going to lose the same amount of weight, it’s just about which is more comfortable for you.

One thing that’s worth pointing out is that in that study, the subjects who used hiit exercise did have lower glucose levels than those who did lower intensity exercises.

Watch out for this dangerous fitness trend.

And since high blood glucose has been linked with diabetes, if you’re at all at risk for diabetes then maybe hiit training is better for you.

But if not, this is a great refresher that the holy grail of exercising is not hiit, it’s exercising at all.

You don’t have to push yourself to the max in order to get the results you want, far from it. You can exercise at a much lower intensity for a longer period of time and obtain the same results.

It’s all about whatever feels right for you, and at the end of the day, if you’ve made it to the gym and done your workout, you’ve already won the battle.

If you loved this article, then check out these other must-see related posts:

Top 6 low-intensity workouts

Low-Impact Exercises

What Kinds of Exercises Are Considered Low-Intensity?

27 comments… add one
  • "Leah Evers" March 19, 2017, 8:53 pm

    What a relief!!! hahaha I’ll have to take note of the difference between the results I see after an intense vs low intensity workout

  • Maureen April 17, 2016, 12:23 pm

    I myself have noticed when I do low intensity workouts I lose more weight. I was beating myself up because I thought of it wasn’t high intensity it wouldn’t be effective. I will eventually do higher intensity workouts, but in the meanwhile I’ll stick to lower intensity. Less stressful on my joints. Thanks for the article.

  • Filomena March 12, 2016, 11:59 am

    Wow, that’s seems a great deal worse compared too just spoiling all-time low of thee stove.
    Thanks for the warning Filomeena from chdap oven cleaning peterborough

  • Angie Holler July 2, 2015, 8:36 am

    I have been doing yoga for about one year now and I cannot believe how good my body feels. As a beginner, I consider that a low intensity workout.

  • PattyCakesMom July 2, 2015, 8:23 am

    Great tips. I argue with friends all the time that feel they need to be burning up inside in order to get a good workout. Lower intensity is good for the body to heal, which it needs to do throughout the week as well.

  • Julia Brooks June 29, 2015, 5:02 pm

    Lower intensity workouts are good for older folks and those that might be rehabbing an injury. Otherwise, you just have to buckle down and put in a good workout.

  • Mellie W. June 26, 2015, 2:59 pm

    I always try to tell others that they do not have to get the heart rate up to some out of this world number in order to get a good workout. It is all moving and not getting used to the recliner.

  • Samantha S. June 26, 2015, 2:43 pm

    I am just like many of the others here. As long as you are up and moving around, you are better off than the guy or girl that is sitting around watching bad television.

  • Cindy Cartman June 26, 2015, 2:21 pm

    Just like with a regular workout, a low intensity workout will keep your body moving and your metabolism higher compared to sitting on the couch all day, right? What are some very good, low intensity workouts that I could try?

  • Hettie Thomas June 22, 2015, 6:12 pm

    The low intensity workout is better for your joints in the long run. I always feel about the same with either workout.

  • Veronicah. June 22, 2015, 4:40 pm

    I am going to have to agree with everything you said here. There is nothing wrong with low intensity workouts. It is a great way to stay on track without busting your ass each day.

  • Casey B. June 22, 2015, 4:20 pm

    I prefer to do a low intensity workout. It is better on my joints and at my age, that is just as important as making sure I get a workout in each day to begin with.

  • Tiffy June 22, 2015, 3:45 pm

    Totally agree. If you are going to workout, just getting a little extra movement in your body is better than nothing. It does not always have to be an HIIT workout to see the results.

  • Cherry Cake June 22, 2015, 1:14 pm

    I feel the same way. As long as I am not sitting on the couch all day long and get some reps in that I feel good about, I feel good. So many people obsess over their workouts and at the same time run into issues with poor diet and injury…is that worth it?

  • L. Wholler June 22, 2015, 12:02 pm

    Great work these workout posts. People should understand that you body can really get a good workout even with low intensity. When you overdo things and increase the chances of getting hurt, that is counterproductive.

  • Kaylee June 22, 2015, 11:36 am

    HIIT workouts are a great way to get you started with exercise and weight loss, but after a while, the low intensity is good for “resting” between them.

  • Darria June 19, 2015, 12:33 pm

    Well, when the day comes that certain time of the month, you do NOT want to have to be doing a major workout. These are great days to just “relax” and workout at the same time. Yoga wins here every single time!

  • Ginger W. June 16, 2015, 6:11 pm

    When I think about the weight loss from working out I get more stressed. I tend to just keep in mind that working out is better for me as a person and the weight loss at the end of the week is just a bonus!

  • Casey Smith June 16, 2015, 4:10 pm

    Low intensity workouts are just as good as the ones that make you work your butt off. If you can get your routine to match up with a good, heavy workout with a low intensity one for off days, that is good.

  • Cherry Morca June 16, 2015, 3:36 pm

    I like the fact that I do not ALWAYS have to bust my butt to get great results. The lower intensity workout is good for “down” days.

    • Tina N. June 29, 2015, 4:47 pm

      I totally agree! I feel the same way and I think it helps me stay on track without have to do the same workout all the time.

  • Melinda Miller June 14, 2015, 3:47 pm

    While lower intensity is still good, if you can afford to do a more intense workout, you should. Unless you have all the time in the world and do not want to see major benefits to workout hard for your body.

  • Alexi Moore June 14, 2015, 3:36 pm

    Just like with any workout, even the low intensity ones are good for you. Get up off the couch and do something, even if it is low intensity.

  • Kendra June 10, 2015, 7:24 pm

    I always tell my lady friends that doing ANYTHING is better than doing nothing. Get out there and do ANYTHING.

  • Nancy June 10, 2015, 7:13 pm

    I love knowing that I can take it easy and still get a “workout”. This is a good thing to show those out there that feel they have to go nuts every day.

  • Holly Stevens June 9, 2015, 9:45 am

    Low intensity is good also because you are getting more in tuned with your body and mind at the same time. I like to relax with a little yoga to keep things limber.

  • Charyl June 9, 2015, 9:29 am

    As long as you are doing something, I feel that you are better off than the guy or girl that sits on the couch all day. Low intensity is perfect for “rest” days when you are weight training.

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