No excuses

The most common reason for not exercising is, I don’t have enough time. However, a new study on the effects of a home-based fitness plan compared to the recommended 150 minutes a week of moderately challenging exercise seems to prove that you don’t need that much time.

Researchers in Liverpool asked 32 obese people to complete a 12-week exercise program. The participants did one of the following three exercise programs. A supervised interval training program on stationary bikes or 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or a home-based high-intensity program of body weight exercises. All three groups exercised three days per week.

Although it is a very small study the results prove that there really are no good excuses to not exercise. The home-based interval training group did exercises that were suitable for people with low fitness levels, reduced mobility and they did not need any equipment.

The results?

All the participants faired equally well on reducing cardiovascular risk, improving body composition and improving blood sugar with any of the three programs. Proving that doing it is the most important factor when it comes to improving your health.

When people ask me what is the best exercise, my answer is “the one that you will do.” If you like to go for long moderately challenging walks or push the pace for short intervals. If you like to go to the gym or do body-weight exercises it doesn’t matter. If you want to improve and maintain your health, they all work.

To see specific results or to improve your fitness, you need a different training plan, but for health improvements “just do it” is more important than anything else.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla

Here is an easy workout you can do with a park bench!