Countdown clocks: helpful or not?

[BamaTanya]

Do you like visible countdown clocks on the screen?

I have mixed feelings. At first, I don't. But, nearing the end (last five or ten minutes of the workout) I think it's helpful to see I'm nearly at the end. KWIM?

Can you think of workouts that only show the clock when you're almost finished?

[laurajhawk]

Some of the Jessica Smith workouts show the countdown only during the last 10 minutes. I think the ones from her 30-day box set, maybe some others?

[rykram]

I used to not care one way or another about them when they first started showing up but now, I like them. I think it is because I do not have as much time to do things so I need to know when it is over. Plus, I have a bad memory so I forget when I started.

[Trixoo]

I used to not care, but now I LOVE them. It’s helpful to know how much longer I have in a workout...not because I want it over, but because if an interruption comes, it’s easy to say “I can get to it in 10 minutes,’ versus abandoning the workout like I used to, because I didn’t know how much time was left.

I’m really bummed that Jessica Smith has switched to a count up timer for recent workouts. If the workouts were 30 mins, I guess I could do the math, but when they’re all different lengths, it’s like not having a time at all...I mean what’s the point of a count up timer? To celebrate how many minutes I’ve been working out? Maybe it’s meant as motivational, but I find it really frustrating.

[sillygirl]

A countdown timer is one of the first things I look for in a workout. Like others have mentioned, I also like to know just how much longer I have to commit to the workout, especially when working out at home with family and work obligations.

Originally Posted by Trixoo

I’m really bummed that Jessica Smith has switched to a count up timer for recent workouts. If the workouts were 30 mins, I guess I could do the math, but when they’re all different lengths, it’s like not having a time at all...I mean what’s the point of a count up timer? To celebrate how many minutes I’ve been working out? Maybe it’s meant as motivational, but I find it really frustrating.

I recently previewed Jessica’s 4 Mile Power Walk DVD while doing housework and kept wondering why the “minutes left” kept increasing when I came back into the room. LOL! At least the circle filling up will give you an idea of how much is left but I agree, a count-up/stopwatch doesn't make sense to me either.

[Gams]

I like workouts that have counting clocks. Some of Jenny Ford’s workouts keep track of the percentage of the workout you have completed. I like that, too.

[Leonana]

I like Jessica's counters, with the counting up and the percentage circle. I get confused with the time left clocks, and think that's how much of the workout I've done, lol.

I always check the length of the workout, so it's pretty easy for me to figure out how much time is left, and the percentage circle helps too.

[jusca]

walk it off in 30 days shows the last 10 mins. I love and require countdown clocks. My dvd play has a visible timer I use a workout doesn't have a grahpical timer.

[Izzy]

I am not a fan of the countdown clocks. I find myself looking at them too much. Workouts are supposed to be my time for me. If I keep checking the clock then I feel I am not devoting the time and energy to the workout.

[Usia]

I'm a big fan of countdown clocks. I like to know exactly where I'm at during my workout and how much time I have left. If I don't enjoy a particular workout, I can always tell myself to do 5 more minutes and oftentimes that helped me to the finish line.