Is firming & toning considered 'exercise'?

[KimRaye]

I'm just curious, as I'm in the September Challenge, but do you all consider 60 mins (or any minutes) of toning & firming (with a tape), to be exercise? Granted, it was hard on my muscles, but I didn't break a sweat, and I ALWAYS sweat, even if it's just a little sometimes.

And for WW, if you DO consider it exercise, would you say it's low, moderate or high, on the AP calculator??



TIA

 

[catherine]

Hi Kim Sorry, I can't help you with the WW's part of the question, as I know nothing about that!

I'm also doing the exercise challenge! I think that toning and firming is part of an exercise routine, and I would therefore count it in your total minutes of exercise.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

If it doesn't count, I'm screwed.
Really though, I think strengthening your muscles definitely does count as exercise. Building muscle increases your metabolism so you burn more calories, even when you're doing nothing!! It's just a different form of exercise than cardio where you will work your heart and lungs more and work up a good sweat by using the large muscle groups in your legs and butt.

 

[ohMom]

well i'm not in the challenge but i agree, it should absolutely count!

as for WW I go by this

light -- no sweating
moderate - sweat after about 10 mins
heavy - intense workout with lots of sweating!

i tend to not like to give myself too many AP and usually cap myself off at 4 a day; just helps me stay in a losing phase


for me -- when i do pilates, yoga, light strength training/firming exercises I consider it light. if I go to the Y and spend 20 mins or so really using the weights and I feel my heart pumping I go moderate. it's really your call

 

[KimRaye]

Whew! Thanks everyone, I'm glad you agree that it counts for something.

 

[sm4987]

It does count. I do the firm which is a lot of muscle training. I do sweat though, a lot as some cardio is sometimes mixed in. Anytime you get moving and warming up the body and those muscles, it's exercise!!

 

[CruisingCA2005]

Yes, toning should be counted as exercise.

I believe weight training is considered low/moderate. I plugged in 60 minutes of weight training & got 3 points. It's 2 points for 60 minutes of yoga & 7 points for running at a 9 minutes per mile pace.

 

[TigerBear]

I definitely think that toning counts as exercise!

I do have a 20 minute yoga tape that I don't really count as exercise. It is so relaxing though - I truly look forward to it everyday!

 

[wtpclc]

According to Curves, you burn fat best when you're working between 60% and 80% of your maximum heart rate. It really does not take too much to do that. So when in doubt, check your heart rate.