If you were told that 10 minute of exercise would be beneficial, would you continue to say that you didn’t have time to exercise? New research suggests that the age-old excuse of not having enough time, has little to no premises.

Study Summary

The study, which included 25 individuals, found that:

• 10 minutes of exercise (two minutes of biking, followed by 20 second sprint and 2 minutes of slow biking, all repeated twice) was as beneficial as exercising for 50 minutes (two-minute warm-up, 45 minute bike, three-minute cool down) when both were done 3 times a week over the span of 12 weeks.
• Both groups had improved cardiovascular endurance, insulin resistance, and enhanced muscular energy metabolism.

This study is limited by sample size.

The Hearty Take

Sometimes, more exercise does not mean more benefits. The type of exercise the group which only exercised for 10 minutes performed is called interval training - short bursts of intense exercise followed by periods of low-intensity activity or rest. Short on time? Not an excuse to live a sedentary lifestyle. Dial up your interval training - it doesn’t require much time, as suggested by the study, for the benefits!