30 minute workouts

Ok.  I am back on CC after a very long time (7 months).  My life has changed a lot and work has taken over.  As such I only have about 30 minutes to work out in a day.

I would love thoughts and examples on good 30 minute workouts that help tone, tighten and loose body fat.

Welcome back dcgril, I am also back after a hiatus, and I only have 30 minutes a day.

I dont know if you are joined to a gym, but i go every day and do the following.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 30 mins cardio (I am doing the couch to 5k challenge so that takes up 30 mins on the treadmill)

Tuesday, Thursday: 30 Minutes of circuit weight lift training and some ball work.

I was doing this last year when i was heavily dieting and i was losing about a inch off every measurement area every 2 weeks.

Hope that helps and good luck

I have a gym in my corporate apartment and I have been doing cardio and weights when I can.  Just trying to commit more.

On the Tue/Thurs of circuit, what exactly do you do?  whats the workout?

i personally would recommend HIIT, whether you do it on a treadmill or outside I like to sprint 1 minute jog 1 minute.. after about 15-20 min if you're doing it right you'll be EXHAUSTED and will have burned as many calories as you would doing moderate exercise for 45 min... I've also read that by doing interval training you tend to burn more calories throughout the day

When I am on the treadmill I normally do the following..

minute 1-2 speed 6.5

minute 2-4 speed 7.5

Minute 4-5 speed 8.5

and I repeat that until I get to 30 minutes.

It gets me close to 400 cals.  Does that constitute HITT?

I'm also a fan of HIIT & high-intensity work in general. Here are two "general physical preparedness" drills I do when I'm short on time. The first one takes 10 minutes & the second takes 20. Warning: These are not for beginners!

GPP #1

Burpees x 30 secs
Jumping jacks x 30 secs
High knee raises w/ 3-lb db x 30 secs (basically sprinting in place)
30 secs rest

Repeat 5x

GPP #2

Burpees x 30 secs

Jumping jacks x 30 secs

Split jumps x 30 secs

Burpees x 30 secs

Jumping jacks x 30 secs

Mountain climbers x 30 secs

Rest 30 secs

Repeat 6x

 

 

 

I used to love the Tae Bo 30m workout videos! Also, you can do a decent circuit of lifting in 30 minutes.

But honestly, I think you should take a little more time for yourself. Even if it means waking up an hour earlier, it will be worth it for health reasons, but also to de-stress from all those hours of work!

Workout videos are the bomb

Try belly dancing. It's fun, expressive and a good workout. You can find lots of inexpensive videos on Amazon. 

i'm no HIIT expert.. but when i do it i alternate 2 speeds on the treadmill.. 7.5 for 1 min then 4.8 for 1 min after 10 or so sets and a cool dowm i've burned close to 300 cals.. not bad for 25 min =)

Sorry its taken me so long DC girl,

on the Tue and Thur I do a set of wieghts that I had set out to me by a personal trainer, but before that I would use a yoga ball to do sit ups and tummy exercises and squats those things are so versatile. and 2 8lb dumbells to do some arm exercises.