Here’s The Least Amount Of Exercise You Need To Remain Healthy

Christopher Campbell / Unsplash

We all like to think that we have the mindset to just start up a five-day-a-week, intensive workout and “get on track” at any time — maybe we’ll start Monday, right after our aunt’s birthday party where we know there will be that coconut cake we just can’t resist. But the truth is that many of us don’t have that mindset, and that’s okay to admit. Minimum effort exercise isn’t accepting that we’ll never get to five days a week. It means we just need to get started on the right path. Here’s how much you really need to exercise to stay healthy:

In a study published by JAMA Oncology, 300 minutes of exercise a week was directly linked to the greatest weight and body-fat loss. That equals about 43 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.

Dominik Wycislo / Unsplash

But what about those who don’t necessarily want to lose weight and just want to remain healthy?

The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine suggest cutting the initial standard in half to about 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise, alongside a few weekly moderate strength training sessions.

You should still be hitting the 50 to 70 percent zone of your maximum heart rate to get an effective workout and really make the limited time count. This rate can be easily achieved through power walking or a fairly relaxed bike ride.

Staying healthy does not require an intense workout plan or a personal trainer, but just 22 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per day could help you avoid any long-term health issues. Also be sure to pair your exercise with a healthy diet, of course, to achieve maximum health.