A recent exciting fitness concept has been gaining momentum in the health and wellness community. We’re talking about “Exercise Snacking”.
Dean Zweck, Product Development Manager at Total Fitness has shared his insights on this trendy way to exercise with a busy schedule.
What is ‘Exercise Snacking’?
Exercise snacking is the phrase for bite-sized workouts you can perform throughout the day. These bursts of exercises can be as brief as a few minutes, and they add up over the day. The idea of exercise snacking is to keep your body moving consistently, even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time.
Benefits of Exercise Snacking:
The benefits of exercise snacking are manifold, and you might be intrigued to know how it can positively impact your daily life. Here are some key benefits:
- Breaking up prolonged periods of sitting – excellent for overall health and keeping your body active.
- Aids in weight management and improves posture.
- Quick sets of squats or push-ups between tasks can boost productivity and fitness.
- Boosts metabolism, resulting in additional calorie burning.
- Elevates mood and provides an energy boost even with a few jumping jacks.
Duration and Frequency:
The fantastic thing about exercise snacking is that it’s flexible. You can start with just a few minutes a few times a day and gradually increase the duration and frequency as you get more comfortable. The key is consistency – aim for several ‘snacks’ a day, as long as you can fit them into your schedule.
NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis):
NEAT revolves around the calories burned during everyday activities that aren’t planned exercise. Simple choices like taking the stairs instead of the lift or tidying up the house contribute to NEAT. In fact, it plays a more significant role in calorie burn than exercise itself, with 5% coming from exercise and a substantial 15% from NEAT.
How Exercise Snacking and NEAT Help Achieve Fitness and Weight Loss Goals:
Exercise snacking is an excellent way to incorporate exercise into your daily life, especially for those unable to go to the gym every day. It’s an ideal approach for people looking to increase their daily activity levels. Exercise snacking can contribute to improved fitness and weight loss by keeping you active throughout the day. These mini-workouts engage various muscle groups, leading to improved muscle tone and increased calorie burn. It can also help control cravings and boost energy levels.
