EXERCISE: SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING AT ALL

I can’t emphasise enough about the benefits of exercise – right from how you feel and look, to the many values of maintaining your health and wellness, and avoiding diseases. Yet, most people struggle to commit to a regular exercise routine. I often have people talk about having the will to exercise but lacking the will to actually go do it.

Some people struggle with time and many struggle with staying consistent with an exercise routine. I also hear people talk about how sporadic bursts of exercise could do more harm than good. This is untrue. What you must know is that when it comes to exercise, every bit counts. While I always encourage people to get into the habit of exercising regularly, I also encourage them to show up with their sporadic attempts. The benefits of exercise and physical activity are immense whether you dedicate an hour each day or you find small moments of workouts that you do through the day.

Intermittent exercise is an effective way to get into building the habit of regular exercise. Current research shows that the body benefits even if the exercise is divided into smaller blocks of time. Just remember it has to be sustained vigorous activity of at least 10-15 minutes each session. You need to stress the system to build muscle and strengthen the heart. Note here that if you are generally sedentary, short spurts of exercise may induce changes, but if you are in good shape this method may not help see visible changes although you will still benefit from the exercise.

If you have a busy schedule, are new to exercise or get easily bored but in need of improving your health and fitness while reducing health risks, intermittent exercise will be effective. You can start simply by using work breaks to walk briskly for 10-15 minutes at a time, or before or after meals. But if weight loss is your goal, you have to make exercise and physical activity a regular feature of your day. To reduce weight, exercise alone is not enough; you will have to adopt good eating habits.

For those who already exercise but struggle with time, short speed interval training could be your answer. There are numerous ways to create routines that challenge you and get you results. While 10–15-minute workouts are a welcome message for those who struggle to find time to exercise, please note that high intensity workouts are not suitable for everyone. Do consult your trainer before you start one. Also if you know that you are unfit or have a health condition, build up your fitness gradually.