Can you stay in shape with 15 minutes a day?
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Anonymous
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The basics: I'm 43, generally pretty fit, but have lost a step in the last 5 years due to a tough pregnancy and then some resulting health issues. I walk a ton but have had to stop running, and I simply don't have the time to work out as much as I used to.
For the last 18 months, since rehabbing a back problem, I've been working out in fits and spurts. I'm struggling to find consistent times to work out. I like to do a 45-60 minute circuit workout, strength focused, a few times a week. But between work and parenting and just being a person, it's not happening. So I signed up for a couple online subscriptions, and for the last month or so, I've been doing 15-30 minute workouts at home. Mostly 15 minutes because I can pretty much always squeeze that in either first thing in the morning or between school drop off and the start of my workday. Mostly HiiT, some high impact barre, also some yoga or pilates. I'm using my heaviest weights and getting as much out of it as I can. I definitely feel sore some days, though nothing like I used to with my longer workouts. Is it possible stay in shape with just 15 minutes a day? Especially at middle age? Not looking to lose weight, just to maintain current weight and continuing to push myself strength wise. I get lots of incidental exercise (walking, standing desk, hiking with kids on the weekend, etc.) but this is my only targeted working out. Is it enough? |
Anonymous
| No, but you can do 15 minutes twice a day and that's good. |
Anonymous
| No 15 minutes won’t keep you in shape. Especially in middle age. But it’s better than nothing. Keep doing it |
Anonymous
| Stop worrying about whether it's enough. Do what you can now to stay in the habit. Add a second 15-minute workout if you can. Keep walking and hiking and having impromptu dance parties with the kids. Add more as you can. |
Anonymous
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It’s better than nothing. And combined with the other things you mentioned (incidental walking, weekend hikes, etc) it can be that extra bit that makes a real difference.
Keep doing what you can - a regular and sustainable 15 minutes/day of intense targeted workout is better than trying something more ambitious and giving up after a week. |
Anonymous
| Do what you can at this stage in your life and try not to compare it to what you used to do. This is what you can do now. Some day when work or parenting or life allows, you can add on. But for now, be proud that you are doing what you can. |
Anonymous
| If you can do 15, you can do 30. And that would be enough if you do it every day |
Anonymous
| I’m 46 and work out 20 min a day plus a one mile walk. Keeps me in shape too since I can’t run anymore. |
Anonymous
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Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.
I've recently added a 20 minute walk and a 5 minute or 10 minute stretching or toning video. Is it "enough"? Probably not. Is it better than what I was doing before (which was nothing)? Yes. |
Anonymous
You must not be in good shape if you think a mile walk (20 minutes?) is enough walking. |
Anonymous
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I don't know - I think 15 minutes of high quality weight training 5x a week is sufficient, as long as you do cardio outside of the that, which would include some longer walks, hikes, runs or bike rides. But it sounds like I'm in the minority.
During my busiest times I do 15 minute runs on my treadmill 3x per week plus I do 15 minutes of a strength class from Peloton and it keeps me in pretty good shape. They key is the runs include a lot of sprinting and I use heavy weights. |
Anonymous
DP. Before you snark on someone, make sure you get the facts straight. PP works out 20 min PLUS a one mile walk |
Anonymous
Oh I got that fact right. 40 minutes of movement is not good shape, it's sedentary-light exercise. |
Anonymous
| Look up Dave Asprey's book "Smarter Not Harder" |
Anonymous
DP - So? The idea is that everything is better than doing nothing. 40 minutes is plenty especially if you are at good weight. |