Short Workouts Can Be Effective!

15 Minutes Can Burn 100 Calories OR MORE!

No, this isn’t a Geico commercial… Studies have shown that if you move quickly for just 15 minutes, you can burn up to 125 calories, slash stress, and as a result, curb sugar cravings.

I’m Wendy Corr, with your Daily Wellness Tip!

So, TRUE CONFESSION TIME… I’m not a fitness junkie. I don’t really LOVE to exercise. Oh, sure, give me an hour of dancing or a few hours of hiking, and I’ll be there – I LOVE to move in those ways! But when it comes to the necessary daily workout, it’s not something I look forward to.

HOWEVER… I know how absolutely essential it is to make my body strong! If I want to age well, if I want to continue to fit into my clothes well, if I want to FEEL well, then I know it’s NECESSARY for me to work out 5-6 days a week, for at least a half hour.

Exercise helps you control your weight, reduces your risk of some cancers, strengthens your bones and muscles, improves your mental health and mood, and increases your chances of living longer!

However, you don’t need to workout for hours, or even a half hour, to see benefits.

A secret to achieving a maximum fitness benefit in 30 minutes or less is called high-intensity interval training, or HIIT. HIIT is a type of exercise that involves short bouts of exercise followed by brief recovery periods. This sequence is repeated several times in a row, usually for a duration of 20 to 30 minutes. Studies have shown that this type of interval training results in increased fat loss and muscle production, and can improve cardiovascular health.

Another short workout that achieves maximum results is called Tabata. Tabata runs on what’s called a 20/10 principle – 20 seconds of all-out exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated eight times, for a total of four minutes. The doctor who invented this principle, Dr. Izumi Tabata, conducted a study that found that over a six week period, the tabata group improved both in its low-intensity and high-intensity fitness levels, compared to the control group that did one hour of moderate intensity exercise five times a week.

And even the little activities seem to add up. Martin Gibala, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University, says taking the stairs or parking your car farther away from your destination can actually help our  health– your movement seems to accrue throughout the day, so even if you’re not “exercising” formally, any activity still counts.

Of course, if you’re not used to exercise or you have existing health concerns, you should always consult your doctor before beginning any type of workout program!

What will you do TODAY to move your body? Don’t put it off – your body will thank you!

Thanks for tuning in to Wellness with Wendy! I’m a certified holistic nutritionist, a mom, an entertainer and a radio personality – so finding balance is the key to my life. I love sharing tips and tricks to help you live your best life – so for more health and wellness news and advice, follow my blog on mybighornbasin.com. See you again next time for Wellness with Wendy!