Is all exercise equal? How to balance workouts to create the ideal fitness plan
Genaro C. Armas, American Heart Association News
April 28, 2021
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Spring can be an ideal time to try a new exercise routine. Warmer temperatures make it enticing to head outdoors and, this year, more people might be considering a return to the gym after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
While any regular physical activity can benefit your health, the ideal fitness plan requires the right balance.
The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, or a combination of both; plus muscle-strengthening activity, such as resistance training, at least two days per week.
Just Four Seconds of Intense Exercise Can Boost Fitness for Adults
Tanner Garrity, provided by
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According to a recent study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, four-second intervals of high-intensity training could help improve overall fitness in sedentary adults. Exercise physiologists at the University of Texas recruited 39 men and women, aged 50 to 68, and had them train in a performance lab three days a week. While there, the volunteers were put on a specialized stationary bike, and tasked with “sprinting” four seconds a time (followed by a 56 second rest). They did this for 15 minutes, totaling 60 seconds of sprint time.