running

this might be a stupid question..

if i run for 5 mins in the morning, 5 mins in the afternoon and 5 mins in the evening, will it have the same effect as running for 15 mins all at once? 

Im an avid runner.  Love it!!  I dont think its a stupid question.

Running 3 times a day for 5 min each isnt the same as running 15 min straight.  When you run 15 min straight your keeping your heart rate up for the full 15 min, which means your burning more calories and its better for your cardio to do the full 15 rather than splitting it up.  If your just starting out then and you dont normally do cardio this might be a good way.  Just try to up each run by a couple of min gradually and then you might possibly be able to make it to a full 15 in one workout.  Good Luck!!

thanks! yeah i havent been able to exercise for a long time and i obviously want to build it up gradually so thats why i was thinking about splitting it up. but i can see how i need to build it in one block. i start tomorrow, woo! 

Glad to see this question. I have started to add a small amount of jogging into my walk and my goal is to push myself just alittle farther every day. It will be a slow process because I am horribly over weight but I dont think walking alone is going to make the scales moves so I am adding jogging no matter how little.

Nonsense.  Walking will make the scale move just fine.  The more you weigh, the more calories you burn doing an activity.  It should be easy to burn 500 calories walking, no problem. 

I don't walk anymore because it isn't a challenge, but being M, 6'0, 195lbs, I can still burn 400 calories in an hour @ 4.2 mph walking.  Seven months ago when I was 320, walking was excruciating, but that is what helped me lose 130 pounds.