Don’t Have Time For A Big Workout? Try ‘Exercise Snacking’

After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is exercise vigorously.Just thinking about it is exhausting, especially when you’re trying to balance a workout with dinner, time with family and friends, and other things on your to-do list.How can you possibly do it all?

This is where the “exercise snack” comes in.Instead of encouraging you to do a big workout every day, it encourages you to do some exercise in shorter bursts throughout the day.

The goal is to move your body in ways that make you feel good or productive.Exercise snacking can be casual or formal, depending on your preference.Informal snacks can be walking the dog, stretching your legs, doing open and close jumps while watching TV, climbing stairs, or using a resistance band while working out.

You can do all of this without really impacting your day.

Even a small amount of exercise can improve your health.

Exercise snacking is not only easier to fit into your busy schedule, but it’s also good for your health.

Snacking while exercising can improve leg muscle function and size, according to a 2019 study in the Journal of Aging Research.Research from McMaster University and the University of British Columbia Okanagan suggests that even climbing stairs for a few minutes during the day can improve cardiovascular health.

Exercise snacking can also improve your daily life.It energizes you and improves sleep quality.So, it can help you fight the afternoon burnout that can occur after lunch.

If you’re feeling frustrated, unmotivated, or unable to focus, exercise snacking can change that.It increases mental clarity, improves mood, and generally benefits your mental health.

Since this type of workout is usually easier to fit in, it can also help you feel more accomplished, like you were able to achieve your goals.

It’s an easier option for those who find exercise irritating or difficult on the body.

For people with exercise addictions, it can be difficult to understand what a “healthy” workout looks like and to stop when necessary.Exercise snacking is intentionally short to minimize stimulation and feel more natural than going to the gym.

For those who have medical conditions or find it more difficult to exercise,Proper exercise snacking means they don’t put too much pressure on themselves too soon.

Exercise isn’t always an option for people with chronic conditions like back pain or heart disease – especially for long periods of time.It’s best to consult with your doctor (preferably one who is well-versed in No Size is Too Big or Too Small for Health, a holistic framework for promoting health equity), but according to the Cleveland Clinic, short bursts of low-intensity exercise (such as walks or resistance bands) can be a good “snack.”But again, check with your doctor first (and listen to your body), as too much exercise can make things worse for people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Here’s how to make your own “exercise snacking”.

So think about what you want your exercise snacking to look like when you exercise.What works best for your day, most feasibly?

There are no hard and fast rules – again, we’re trying to get away from the idea that you have to move for a while for it to count.

However, if you need some more formal ideas to start your workout, one option is interval training.

Select four exercises, set an interval timer, perform a 30-second workout, 20-second rest, and then repeat the workout for snack time, [e.g.] eight minutes.

These workouts can be push-ups, sit-ups, squats, planks, lunges, or whatever you find most enjoyable.(Remember: If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t want to do it, and it will be harder to develop a habit.Plus, you deserve to enjoy it.(Working out doesn’t have to be something you dread!)

With that in mind, being with yourself in terms of time and exercise means you can do what works for you

When it comes down to it, exercise snacking is a whole new (and maybe even better) way to workout.

It takes away the idea that a workout has to last a while to be effective.Everyone works out differently.