by Blake Herzog
Anyone who doesn’t like to exercise can wave away the idea with a simple “I don’t have time,” and a lot of people away with it. They do have demanding jobs and family lives that keep them hopping, maybe not literally but enough to keep their schedule packed.
However, just because you can’t cram in the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity a week doesn’t give you license to skip all of it. Every little bit counts toward your goal of staying active and keeping your heart, brain and everything else in good working order.
Even a five-minute strengthening or cardio workout can make a significant difference in staying fit and strong — and we’re not just talking about HIIT here, though it’s great if you have the stamina to do it.
With HIIT, or high-intensity interval training with bursts of activity performed at 80% of maximum heart rate or above, the estimated calorie burn is 20 per minute. The biggest benefit comes from the faster metabolism that can persist for hours afterward. Don’t attempt this if you haven’t exercised in a while, but it is possible to work your way up to that level of activity.
Most five-minute workouts are structured with a series of five exercises done for 45 to 60 seconds each, with a 15-second rest in between. You can put together nearly any five that you enjoy doing and can easily segue between — five bodyweight movements can work, or you can alternate a couple with cardio exercises like marching or running in place.
If you’d be more comfortable following a routine put together by someone with more experience with this kind of thing, there are countless videos on YouTube for you to peruse. Watch them all the way through before attempting them, and try to stick with those by reputable trainers, or find a trainer at your local gym to get their feedback.
And remember, just finding a way to fit routine physical activity into your schedule is the most important thing of all.
