Does Working Out Twice A Day Help You Lose Weight Faster?

The amount of exercise you need to control weight depends on the type of activity, exercise intensity, duration and the amount of food you eat. Working out twice or more in one day may help you burn more calories, which is an important component of weight control. Increasing the duration, intensity and frequency of your workouts can not only aid in weight control, but also boost your overall health.

Frequency

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends working your way up to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise five days each week to promote and sustain weight loss. Exercising for 30 minutes in the morning and again in the evening for 30 minutes can help you accumulate the recommended amount of exercise for weight loss. Depending on how much you are able to exercise, multiple exercise sessions each day may help burn more calories which can contribute to faster weight loss.

Intensity

Your exercise intensity influences how many calories your body uses during exercise -- as does your exercise duration and your weight. For example, a 155-lb. person will burn 149 calories by walking at 3.5 mph for 30 minutes, while a person who weighs 185 lbs. will burn 178 calories walking at the same pace for 30 minutes, according to Harvard Medical School. Your exercise should be done at a moderate intensity, or one that noticeably elevates your heart rate and breathing while still allowing you to carry on a conversation. Adding more vigorous-intensity exercise will also help contribute to an increase in your daily calorie burn.

Calories

Consuming too many calories will offset the effects of exercise -- no matter how many times you exercise per day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that creating a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories is necessary to lose 1 lb. of fat. This can be achieved by eating 500 to 1,000 fewer calories than your body requires each day, in addition to reaching the recommended level of exercise. You can estimate your body's daily calorie needs by visiting with a registered dietitian or using an online tool, including one from the MyPyramid Program.

Considerations

When it comes to weight loss, calories are what matter most. If multiple exercise sessions done throughout the day helps you burn more calories than you eat, you can increase your chances of losing weight. Losing 1 to 2 lbs. each week is recommended for long term weight loss success. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program if you have been sedentary or have a condition that may make exercise unsafe for you. Choose exercise activities that you enjoy to help motivate your exercise plan.