Trade time for intensity

If there is one thing we can all use more of, it's time. It's this shortage of time that keeps us from doing the things we want to be do, regular trips to the gym notwithstanding. That's why workouts frequently get placed on the back burner, right next to the vat of Mac and Cheese we're making for dinner because we don't have time to prepare a proper meal. I disagree, Mick Jagger, time is NOT on our side!!

Still, our health is far too important to be relegated to the back burner. We need to find a way to utilize the little time we have to fit in a workout and get the most out of it possible. Fortunately, there is a way to do just that. Want the good news or the bad news first?

The good news is that this is very possible. The bad news is that it requires a great deal more intensity.

According to the American Heart Association Choose to Move program, certain activities yield better results than others. Generally speaking, the more vigorous the activity, the less time is required to see results. Conversely, the more leisurely the activity, the longer you're going to have to spend doing it. For example,15 minutes spent climbing stairs or jumping rope, or sprinting a mile will give you the same workout results as walking 1 3/4 mile in 35 minutes, or dancing fast for 30 minutes. The same applies for riding your bike; bicycling 4 miles in 15 minutes will get you the same fitness results as from mowing the lawn for 45 minutes.

Making time may be a near impossibility, but making your body work harder is not. It's a worthwhile compromise if you're serious about your health.