One of the reasons I have a rough go when I try to exercise is that I never seem to have enough time for it. I may have a spare hour one morning but then only 15 minutes another afternoon. And with all the back-and-forth, I wonder if I'm actually doing anything good for my body.
But now it seems that all of my scheduling issues are solved. I've heard about high-intensity interval training before, but a new study has actually revealed that 20 minutes of interval training is enough to replace the usual recommended 30-minutes-a-day that you should be getting of regular exercise. So is 20 minutes all I need? I think that might be doable!
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Unlike the high-intensity interval training (which pushes your heart rate to 100% of its maximum), the study concluded that you can get enough exercise with 20 minutes if you work to make your heart rate 90% of its maximum for one minute, then spend a minute recovering. Repeat this for 20 minutes, which is really only 10 minutes of exercise. And yet it equals 30 minutes of regular exercise. Amazing, isn't it?
To determine what the right heart rate is, simple do this math: 220 minus your age equals the maximum heart rate times 0.9 equals 90% heart rate (220 – age = max. heart rate x 0.9 = 90% heart rate).
Now that I know I don't have to spend an hour at the gym, I'll definitely be able to exercise a little more. I'll even probably do some cardiovascular fitness at home, like jumping rope or running around the block. One thing I know for sure: with just 20 minutes of intense exercise, I'll be ready for bikini season in no time.
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What is your favorite kind of exercise? Are you going to try the 20-minute interval workout?
Image via naturalturn/flickr
