Exercise snacking is like one of those days where you don’t have time to fit in a proper workout. You can apply the concept of snacking on a bite when short of time to exercise. Whether it’s a short walk, HIIT routine, yoga session, or strength workout, focus on getting in smaller chunks of movement throughout your day.
A recent study (https://www.livescience.com/54796-short-workout-interval-training.html) found that a 10-minute interval training workout, which involved just 1 minute of total sprinting time, was just as good as a 50-minute endurance workout done at a moderate pace in terms of getting people fit.
5 Benefits of Exercise Snacking
Exercise snacking goes beyond the benefits of regular strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Intermittent exercise throughout your day will:
1 Give Your Brain Power a Boost
Studies have shown that regular physical exercise improves cognitive function. By inserting short bursts of exercise into your day, you’re not just giving your brain the break it needs to fire up and stay focused again. Your body is responding to psychological effects that promote cognitive health and an overall feeling of well-being.
2 Help You Reach Your Weight Loss Goals
When it comes to weight loss, science shows that it doesn’t matter when you get in your workout, it just matters that you do it. Participants in this study all lost weight regardless if they did their workouts as one longer session or in multiple sessions per day.
3 Reset Your Stress Levels
When you’re having one of those days, thinking about working out can feel like an additional layer of stress. We’ve all been there when we feel the clock ticking like we need to use every second towards checking off to-dos. However, short bursts of exercise can give you the relief you need to be able to push through a chaotic day, stay centered, and get everything done. Short bursts of exercise release endorphins, the feel-good hormone, put you back in the present moment and reduce levels of anxiety. Yes, please! Can we get a round of peace for the table, please?
4 Give You The Perfect Pick-Me-Up
When you’re fatigued, exercising may not sound all that appealing. However, getting in a quick workout can actually give you the perfect energy boost. Even just ten minutes enhances blood flow and sends more nutrients to muscle tissue which gives your energy production an oomph.
5 Allow You to Live Your Life… and be fit
Most of us are busy crushing other goals outside of fitness. But guess what — you can have everything you want, including a fit body and amazing, full life. Exercise snacking allows you to do the things you love and get in the exercise that will help you look and feel your absolute best.
This approach is particularly beneficial for those with busy schedules who find it hard to carve out a full 30-60 minute workout. However, for significant weight loss, it’s important to pair exercise snacking with a calorie-controlled diet.