The best ever way to get fit for people who don't have time...
Most people have been sold on the idea that 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week is the least amount they need to get fit. To get better results, more is better. After all, if 20 minutes is good, then 40 minutes must be better, right?
Get fit
While it's true that exercising for longer is one way to get fit sooner, there's growing evidence to show that shorter workouts might in reality be more valuable ? offering a answer to people who want to get fit but don't want to fritter away time in the gym.
After six months, half of all people who begin an exercise program will have given up, deciding they simply don't have the time to train on a regular basis. However, there are usually two reasons behind the decision to quit your ?get fit? plan ? the real reason, and the one that sounds good! People who claim that "they don't have the time" are often hiding the fact that their prospects were not met. Simply put, they were not making the kind of improvement they expected.
While training for longer is one way can improve progress and get fit quicker, it's important to note that the link between the amount of time you spend in the gym and the results you get isn't as simple as we are led to believe.
The 80-20 Rule
The relationship between input and output is not necessarily a balanced one. The fact is, most workout routines usually mean spending at least 60 minutes in the gym. Yet, according to the 80-20 Rule, it's actually only 12 of those minutes that deliver 80% of your results. Just imagine, for a moment, how much time you would save if you could strip away the wasted time and effort, and focus on the "magical" 20% that really counts. Less time in the gym could equal more results that you can actually see!
More interesting still, the 80-20 rule could also apply to certain forms of exercise. In other words, 80% of your results come from 20% of the things you do. Let's take a typical workout routine as an example. Most people start out with 5-10 minutes of low-intensity aerobic activity, such as walking or cycling. Then, they'll spend another five minutes stretching, followed by another 30 or 40 minutes of aerobic exercise. In reality the most results have probably come from those first 5 minutes when you thought you were just warming up!
All the info you could need to get fit and healthy! | |
