Snacking can be good for you, and it comes in the form of exercise! Interesting new research out of UBC Okanagan and McMaster University promotes the benefits of including brief periods of activity in your day.
Just three short bursts of physical movement, like taking the stairs, can improve cardiovascular fitness. It’s like food snacking, but you’re on the move!
This month, try exercise snacking with these bite-size suggestions:
Snack 1: Take the stairs
Climb three flights of stairs, three times per day.
Snack 2: Jumping jacks
Start and end your day with a set of 30 jumping jacks. Have a spare moment at lunch? Add another set.
Snack 3: Walk it out
Take a 10 to 12-minute walk after each meal. Walk outside, on a treadmill or on the spot.
Snack 4: Just dance
Pick three of your favourite songs and just dance. Space them throughout the day to provide both your brain and your body a break!
For those with differing abilities or limited mobility, feel free to replace any of the snacks with aerobic activity alternatives (e.g. rowing, water sports, dancing, seated sports, hand-pedalled biking, etc.)
An additional delicious idea: embrace the “rule of threes”
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) suggests that adults get 30 minutes of exercise per day1. If this seems daunting to you, try breaking down this timeframe into three, ten-minute sessions. These sessions can be spread out throughout the day.
The best part of this approach to exercise? All of the above are easy on your schedule, as well as your wallet.
References: https://csepguidelines.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSEP_PAGuidelines_adults_en.pdf
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- HR
- Healthy UBC