FITNESS AND EXERCISE : Who Doesn’t Have Time to Exercise Now?

What if you could get the same results with six minutes of cardio exercise each week, as
opposed to six hours? Well, if recent research is any indication, you can.
In a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, 23 reasonably fit men and
women were timed to see how fast they could cycle 18 miles. They were then divided
into three groups. One group cycled two hours a day at a moderate pace. Another group
biked 10 minutes a day in one-minute bursts. The third group biked for a total of two
minutes a day - an all-out sprint for 30 seconds, followed by several minutes of rest
(repeated four times).

After two weeks, the subjects repeated the 18-mile test - and all of their times improved
to virtually the same degree. Additional tests showed that their muscle enzymes (essentialfor preventing diabetes) and the ability of their muscles to absorb oxygen also improved
to the same degree.

Granted, this is a small study. But it does show that you can reduce your workout time
(and get the same or better results) if you're willing to endure some discomfort.