5 Minutes Is All It Takes! By Nikki Walter Nemickas

 From Nikki Walter Nemickas ( @_nikkiwalter )

If you’re running out of time to exercise today what is one thing you can do?

I’m often hurrying to tidy up before I’m off to another meeting or after school activities and errands. Im always listening to music and I often do this mid day just to add something extra to amp up my calorie burn.

Not kidding, mid-cleaning the kitchen, I grab a chair and allow five minutes to do at least one exercise that day and I dance between reps.

Yes, it is possible to reap the benefits of working out with sweat sessions as short as five minutes. It’s not to replace your workouts, but to keep you moving. A little extra thing to push you a smidge harder. ANYTHING helps, especially my fellow friends over 40!

A five minute workout if done consistently, added with cardio, such as walking the dog or taking the stairs every chance you get, will all add up to get you in shape. Splitting exercise up into short chunks makes some sense when it comes to appetite control.

The simple act of contracting your muscles can help improve insulin sensitivity and improve heart function.

Those little bits and pieces of exercise you do throughout the day can add up to something big. In fact, even a single “brisk” minute of moving can have a noticeable impact.

Example: Every day 5 minutes.
I like to do 30 -45 seconds rest 15 sec.
As many reps as you can in that time.

Around the House or in the Office:

  • Chair Tricep Dips
  • Stand Incline Push UPs on a wall or counter top
  • Wall Sit
  • Stair run (if you have stairs)
  • Calf Raises on floor or step

I like to pick one exercise for the week, but sometimes the place varies so I do what I can in that setting.

Yes there is a lot to get done, but stop focusing on what we can’t do or do not have time to do, and focus on what one quick thing we can do for 5 minutes. The important thing is that you find something that works for you!

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