The Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of moderately intense exercise for adults weekly. And, if you can’t squeeze that in, then 75 minutes three times a week at a higher intensity can still offer you a benefit. In addition, you should manage to squeeze in two sessions of weight training per week doing just abdominal crunches, back extensions and push-ups. Active Older Adults are also supposed to get 150 minutes weekly along with two strength training workouts a week. And finally, for children, they need 60 minutes of VIGOROUS activity daily.
In a recent article in the New York Times called the “Workout Regimes You Can Live With” by John Hanc (October, 22, 2008) the above facts are discussed in this article. So, if I do my math right, that means that the Health Dept is recommending only 20 minutes of exercise a day? These guidelines have not changed since 1996. In addition to that, it seems that vigorous gardening and digging can count toward your goal amount of time. Ten minutes in the AM, ten minutes and lunch and ten more at bedtime, and you should meet your goals for the day. I have seen some programs online that have been successful using this type of schedule in just 15 minutes a day, they say! But, being healthy is not just about how many minutes of exercise you get daily. The emphasis should be on the whole picture, not just the physical. These people could read this and go out and do this and then think a bagel with cream cheese is a healthy choice.
I suppose I am NOT nor are you since you are reading this the intended audience. As I am one of those people who believe that exercise is like life- if you don’t have it, you don’t have a life.
But, in general, when talking to the whole population of the United States, shouldn’t we have higher expectations of ourselves?
What’s my beef with all this? I feel like they are trying to sugar coat the need for exercise by saying you can break down into little bits and if you rake your leaves daily, you are getting enough exercise. Why don’t they come out and say, adults should get 45 or 60 minutes of exercise a day? Why do they think that cleaning your floors should count? To me it’s almost like they are emphasizing the minimum and lowering the standards of what to expect from the public. What happened to high expectations of what is good for your heath?
Edited to add: I don’t have all the answers, nor do I think 20 minutes daily is all you need, however, I know for a fact that you can get a kick ass workout in 20-30 using a kettlebell or BOSU. But, is that enough? Will American’s only look at the minimum requirement and think that’s enough?
8 responses so far ↓
1 MizFit // Nov 25, 2008 at 11:47 am
I get torn with you…in that I do think people will look at the 20 and think thats enough.
and then I talk with my friends who currently dont workout and they think that and *I* think THATS SO GREAT.
it’s a start.
MizFits last blog post..Two Guest Post Tuesday: The Famous Leslie & the Infamous Tornado.
2 Fit Mommy // Nov 25, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I agree Miz Fit. For some, 20 minutes would be a heck of a lot of minutes more than nothing.
3 Katie // Nov 25, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I can understand your frustration. To me exercise is like personal hygiene, it’s not optional. And when I write exercise, I mean 50-70 minutes six days a week (not including daily push ups and crunches). But I also think that everyone is different. My grandmother has always been in excellent physical condition and she’s never exercised the way we do. I don’t necessarily believe that the lack of exercise (as we’ve defined it) is the sole culprit for today’s poor fitness issues. Poor eating and sleeping habits play a big role, as well as just being lazy.
Katies last blog post..Mommy Ran a Marathon!
4 Lori L. // Nov 25, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Speaking of recommendations, my kids’ local public school system recently sent home a list of approved snacks in schools. Let’s just say it included baked Cheetos. The SuperNoots lady. was. unpleased. Come on folks!!! This makes me do my ‘frustrated pirate’ Aaaaarg!!!!!
5 Jill Will Run // Nov 25, 2008 at 6:16 pm
This is a difficult topic. Like you, I couldn’t just limit my exercise to those base requirements. But if breaking it down into smaller chunks would make some of my loved ones move their butts more, that would thrill me. But hopefully once they started doing those minimum blocks they would realize it helps them feel better and would be motivated to add more to their lives.
Jill Will Runs last blog post..Product Review: Emuprofen
6 Joe Hrdlicka // Nov 25, 2008 at 7:45 pm
I just wrote about this subject. You are absolutely correct. Check it out, if interested. There are some links to other professional resources in support of your point here. Thanks!
Joe Hrdlickas last blog post..Is A 10-Minute Workout Going To Net Results?
7 Kara from MamaSweat // Nov 25, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I’m with the thinking that the lower expectation is for those who can’t fathom the thought of exercise being part of their life. But 20 minutes? Maybe that is attainable and maybe they’ll try and if they try then maybe they’ll become like the rest of us who easily meet the requirements and then some. That said, sometimes ALL the exercise I get in a day is sweeping/vacuuming floors (which take more than 20 minutes:-) Sometimes those of us with high expectations need to be ok with lower expectations so not to stress out our lives any more than they are. But I’m OK if all I get to do is sweep my floors on a one day because I know I’ll meet my exercise standards in the days to come.
Kara from MamaSweats last blog post..Dancing Queen
8 Lance // Nov 26, 2008 at 2:02 am
I wonder if we’ve fallen into a state of believing that there is some “medical miracle” out there that will solve our problems – a pill, a surgery, a visit to the Dr. Who needs exercise – I’ll just take this pill for my cholesterol, that one for my blood pressure, etc. I’m not saying there aren’t legitimate uses for these drugs – I’m saying that too many people rely on the drugs – when the “natural” answer is probably proper exercise and nutrition….
Lances last blog post..Ask…And You Shall Receive
Leave a Comment