Exercise - Is 20 Minutes per Day Enough?

[jag90]

I have several videos of 20 minute exercise routines (mostly Denise Austin). I am trying to help DD11 trim down and get more active. Twenty minutes seems to be just enough to keep her interest and prevent her from whining and complaining. (I know, I know...Hard to believe an 11 year old girl would EVER whine or complain! Hey!!! That looks just like my DD with the eyes rolling. However, she usually has the open-mouthed "I can't believe you are such an idiot" look instead of the slight grin! Tweens...Gotta love 'em! Especially given the fact that almost everything else I have considered is illegal!)
Anyway...My question is...Is 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week enough for an 11yo? Is 5 days per week too much? Is 20 minutes really enough to even get the blood pumping and the fat burning?
DD is relying on me to help her and, considering I have been a selfish contributor to her lack of activity and less than stellar eating habits, I am determined not to let her down this time! I just want to make sure I am leading her down a path to success.

 

[JMD]

20 minutes a day is good place to start. If her activity level is low to begin with then, 20 minutes should be enough to get some results. If her progress starts to slow a bit, just increase the time.

What kind of workouts are they? High/low intensity?

Also, the main factor in her losing weight will be her diet.

 

[lovinaz]

I am no expert, but I think if she has been sedentary for a very long time, 20 minutes will be plenty. It's better than the 0 minutes she was getting before, right? I think 5x a week might be a bit much to start out. Try 3x a week (every other day) for starters until she builds up some endurance. She won't get burned out as fast that way either.

Have you considered sports? My DD6 LOVES soccer and plays in AYSO from Sept-Dec (1 practice & 1 game per week). Lots of running. She also does ballet and tap. Gymnastics is another good thing, as is tennis, volleyball, basketball, softball.

For an 11 year old, I think more emphasis should be placed on doing kid activities, like bike riding, playing on the playground, rollerblading, etc. Anything that gets them moving is going to help, just make sure she doesn't overdo it and injure herself! And yay for you for being such a caring parent that you want to help her out. I hope everything works out for you guys!

 

[calena]

Good for you to be helping out your daughter! I have a DD,10, and she enjoys bike riding when I go jogging/walking. This gives us both a workout. She tried going walking/jogging with me and did not enjoy that. So now she rides her bike and I jog/walk and that works well. I find she does best going for 30-35 minutes on alternate days (Mon, Wed, Fri). On other days she swims with her brothers. The idea is to get moving some way. I also have her enrolled in swimming classes in the summer and ice skating classes in the winter, so this keeps her moving. I was a sedentary kid, just loved to play dolls and was no good at sports, so I try to give my kids the tools to be athletic and active.
Guidelines vary, but I read two places recently that 20 minutes a day is enough. It is a good place to start. I would just vary the activities a bit.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Thought i just read that the recommendation for kids is an hour a day. So maybe a tape plus a bike ride later?
Or if she has a Game system, buy the Dance pad and Dance,Dance,Revolution for exercise that won't feel like exercise.

 

[lajones81]

Personally, I feel 20 min. is better than nothing! Kick those pounds to the curb!