I don’t know about you but I LOVE “studies” that provide insight and new discoveries.

Like the one that tells us how long a shrimp can run on a treadmill or the one that tells us how we, as Americans, ride bikes or the one that tells us again that diet soda is bad for us (I know, I’m addicted). 

A new one has come out from the University of Utah and is promoting a groundbreaking discovery.  Are you ready?  Are you sitting down?  Here it goes:

Every minute of physical activity really does count, new study shows

The study went on to explain how every minute of physical activity counts towards the 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity that we are all supposed to be getting.

Here were the results of the study:
For the women studied, each minute spent in higher-intensity, moderate to vigorous activity was associated with a .07 drop in body mass index, a measure of fat based on height and weight. For a 5’4″ woman, that means a drop in weight of nearly half a pound. The effect in the guys was a little less substantial: a minute of exercise was associated with a .04 drop in BMI, translating to a .27-pound drop in weight for a 5’8″ guy.

My opinion is that this isn’t groundbreaking information.  I have always subscribed to the idea of “Do what you can, when you can.”  Every workout doesn’t have to be a stellar long run or sweat session in the gym.  It’s ok to squeeze fitness in where ever and whenever possible. 

So I think this is good news for that portion of the population just wants to stay fit.  If the study shed some light on the fact that it really can be done.  Fitness is truly achievable.  What this study is doing is taking away the excuse that there isn’t enough time.  There is time, in small one or two minute increments..that can be enough to make a difference in your body and health. 

Obviously this doesn’t apply to those that are working towards a fitness goal but this study isn’t really for them anyway.

In honor of this study, I decided to provide some ways to squeeze fitness into any day.  Kids and Dogs can make the best personal trainers.  🙂

At Home: 
1. Push ups while watching the kids bathe
2. Squats while dinner is in the oven
3. Race the kids to the end of the street and back
4. Jumping Jacks during commercials
5. Walk the dog
6. Play fetch with the dog..but try to beat the pup to the ball after you through it.
7. Take the kids on a bike ride
8. Or chase them around while they bike
9.Wall Sits while folding clothes
10. Calf Raises while ironing clothes
11. Take the kids on a walk
12. Do walking lunges with the stroller
13. Take your kids to the playground and PLAY
14. Walk or jog the field while watching practice.
15. Rake leaves
16. Shovel snow
17. Mow the lawn
18. Garden
19. Sign up for your first race 
20. Wash the car

At Work:
1. Use a headset and walk around during conference calls
2. Park far away from the building and enjoy the walk in to work
3. Take the stairs
4. Take 15 minute walk breaks every couple hours
5. Do these At Work Moves
6. Select the furthest printer from your cube when printing then hike
7. Keep your food in the refrigerator so that you have to walk and get it. 
8. Pushups against the file cabinet
9. Follow this practical guide to squeezing in a workout during lunch

What do you think of the study?  What are your favorite ways to squeeze in fitness during the day?