Exercise- A Little Goes A Long Way!
We have all heard the popular excuses for not starting or continuing an exercise regimen- I’m too tired, I don’t have time, I can’t afford a gym membership, I get bored using an exercise machine everyday. But there are ways around these common excuses- exercise is a fun, energizing, and effective way to lose weight and keep it off for good![pullquote_left]I’m too tired, I don’t have time[/pullquote_left]
Research has shown that people do not need to hone over an elliptical for hours at a time and burn 1,000 calories at the gym everyday in order to lose or maintain your weight. In fact, studies have shown that several small bouts of exercise (10-15 minutes) throughout the day provide similar results as one long bout of exercise (30 minutes or more). So, for those who lack the time, energy, or attention span for long bouts of exercise, splitting your routine into several small bouts could be the answer to break through your exercise plateau!
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently established Daily Reference Intakes for exercise, and recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise daily at a high intensity, or 60 minutes of exercise daily at a lower intensity. However, a recent study conducted by Hill and colleagues in 2006 stated that small changes can lead to big effects for prevention of weight gain. The researchers found that if people could affect their energy balance by as little as 100 calories each day, this can help maintain weight.
So you may be wondering, what are some practical ways to incorporate small bouts of exercise into my day? The following exercises are quick, easy, and fun ways to burn 100 calories throughout your day!
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For a more accurate calculation of your energy expenditure, use this calculator for your daily exercise:
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/interactive/burned.asp







