If you don't have time to spend an hour at the gym each day, you'll be pleased to learn that even low levels of exercise can give significant fitness benefits. A study performed by the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that as little as 75 minutes of exercise performed in a week had positive benefits. Not only did the study participants show an increase in peak oxygen consumption, but they also showed a decrease in the circumference of their waists. The bad news is that this limited exercise routine didn't cause significant weight reduction or a decrease in blood pressure or cardiac risk factors.
If you have a large amount of weigh to lose, this may not be the ideal plan for you. If you're of normal weight and want to improve your fitness level and reduce your waistline, this fitness plan may be just what you need. Most people can spare ten minutes a day to do some brief exercises. It's good to know that even if you have limited time, you can still achieve some improvements in your fitness levels.
What does this mean for you? If you haven't exercised before and you don't want to initiate a full blown exercise routine, consider adding a fifteen minute brisk walk to your daily routine five days a week. This should be enough to increase your fitness level and, potentially, decrease your waist circumference. Reducing your waist circumference has been shown to help prevent the development of diabetes which is becoming more and more common in this country and can have a major impact on your health and longevity.
As your schedule allows, you may want to expand the amount of time you spend exercising, particularly if you're trying to lose significant weight. On days when you are more limited for time, you can always revert back to your 10-15 minute routine and know that you're still doing something good for your health.
If you're time strapped, give this fitness routine a try. It's good to know that it doesn't have to take hours at the gym to improve your level of fitness.
