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Do you really need to work out five days a week to stay fit?
Researchers also tookbody mass index (BMI)and waist circumference into consideration.
Previous research has found that any amount of exercise has beneficial health effects.
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Theres nothing special about when that exercise happens.
Age, fitness level, and past injuries all play a role in determining whats safe when starting out.
Its important to start slow and gradually build up.
Katzmarzyk emphasized that any amount of exercise is better than none.
You dont have to limit your workouts to weekends, and the 150-minute guideline shouldnt feel overwhelming.
The key is to move whenever you could.
Being consistent is so much more important than doing whats optimal, Katzmarzyk said.
Does the throw in of Exercise Matter?
Aerobic exerciseis typically associated with heart health benefits, he explained.
These benefits can be seen in people who exercise only a few days a week.
It may also helplower blood pressure.
Resistance training or weightlifting can count as strength training.
If youre losing weight from aerobic exercise, youll need to strength train to prevent losing muscle mass too.
Plus, changing things up can help keep boredom at bay and encourage motivation while targeting different muscle groups.
Experts emphasize that any amount or bang out of exercise is better than inactivity.
Theres really a great benefit to being active.
What This Means For You
You dont have to work out every day to stay fit.
However, intense sessions may not be ideal for everyone, so its important to start gradually.
Experts say the key is consistency and any movement is better than none.
2017;177(3):335342. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.8014
