You want to go to the gym. You plan to go to the gym. You don’t go to the gym. But it’s OK: Short bouts of activity can be just as beneficial to your health as a full-blown sweat session, according to a new Oregon State University study.
The researchers assessed 6,000 Americans’ physical activity and health risk factors. To their surprise, people who were active throughout the day–even for just one or two minutes here and there–were nearly as healthy as the people who crammed a full day’s worth of exercise into a single session. In fact, 43 percent of the people who didn’t purposefully exercise met the physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes of daily exercise, anyway.
The bottom line: Moving more takes very little effort but adds up throughout the day. And while short bouts of activity won’t necessarily help you lose weight or keep it off, everyone can benefit from a little more movement—especially when you can’t squeeze in a proper workout. That said, there are plenty of super-simple ways to be more active without screwing up your whole schedule. Just check out these suggestions from Women’s Health Twitter followers! Then pin the ideas you promise you’ll try.
Women’s Health asked…
TELL US: How do you sneak more physical activity into your day? #FitTip
— Women’s Health Mag (@WomensHealthMag) January 29, 2013
Followers answered:
@womenshealthmag Just by waking up earlier. I may be tired but it’s so worth it!
— Heather TJ-Palmer (@HeatherTJPalmer) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag shower calf raises, belly dancing while dryin hair, crunches b4getting dressed, p-ups after, ballet stretches while cooking
— Shan (@ffwickswife) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag side leg lifts and leg circles to firm up the glutes in my spare time. I have a job where I stand all day. #sneakyglutes
— Whitney Wettstein (@whitwettstein) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag A pedometer. The guilt will make you move. Not that I have any experience of that ..;)
— A Lot More of Magic (@ALotMoreofMagic) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag drink a lot of water so you have to keep going to the bathroom! (and go to the bathroom upstairs)
— bettinatam (@bettinatam) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag I always tell my self that a day has 24hrs, and if i use just 60min for physical activity,then i will still have 23hrs
— Peter Mugisha(@peter_musharip) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag old school tip. Park as far away as I can from my destination! #getfit #everystepcounts
— Catherine Grych,RD (@SportyCatRD) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag I sit on a gym ball for a few hours each day & do some mini workouts whilst working. It’s a great energy booster too!
— Hayley (@catladyhayz) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag fidget…
— s l harrison (@shaluv7) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag do star jumps to dry my hands in the bathroom at work
— Rebecca Wallace (@Fergaroo) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag I purposely take the long way to the bathroom at school if I’m downstairs ill go upstairs!
— Fitcurvesaresexy (@missionfitgirl) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag longer dog potty walks in the city. Taking the stairs. Squats while brushing teeth.
#FitTip
— Nicole (@NicMarie17) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag I am trying a standing work setup at work #FitTip twitter.com/fitbelleatl/st…
— Amelia Pavlik (@fitbelleatl) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag I take the stairs and do them by two’s if I’m home.
— Gabriella Stark (@GabbyTalkingSex) January 29, 2013
Squats during commercials! “@womenshealthmag: TELL US: How do you sneak more physical activity into your day? #FitTip”
— Whateveruwantittobe (@curligirlibabe) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag lunges in the lady’s room #FitTip
— Audra Achiu(@aachiu) January 29, 2013
@womenshealthmag #fittip dance in my home office every 30 minutes or so.Play a great song from #spotify and shake it #nooneiswatching
— Helea (@helea03) January 29, 2013
More from WH:
Motivate Yourself to Work Out!
21 Ways to Bust Out of Your Workout Rut
Workout Playlists to Pump You Up
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