Can I Get Fit With A 10 Minute Workout?

It is hard to believe but even if you only have ten minutes a day to spare to workout, you will benefit from even a small amount of exercise. If you can spare ten minutes a day, three times a day, you can really put yourself on the road to physical fitness.

Since your schedule is so tight you have to look for ways to incorporate your short workouts into your daily routine. If you work in an office building get to work a little early and walk the stairs for 10 minutes to start your day. Maybe you could park a little farther away from the office and get in a 10 minute workout on your way to work and then on your walk back to the car afterwards.

The secret to the 10 minute workout is to be creative. If the dog has to be taken outside when you get home from the office, squeeze in a short walk as you take him out to do his business. Going out for the evening? Get up on the dance floor and kick it for you ten minute workout.  You can find more ideas in our previous article on working out on a time crunch here and here.

There are a number of video workouts for sale that promise to help you get in shape ten minutes at a time. Tony Horton’s 10 minute workout routine is a staple of late night TV; the infomercials show how to do all the exercises in rapid succession to achieve maximum benefits. Since you only can workout in short spurts it probably isn’t worth joining a gym so routine like that are perfect when you find you have a few extra minutes at home.

Whatever you choose to do for your 10 minute workout, the secret is to get your heart rate up quickly and continue to work hard in your target zone for the duration of your routine. Target zones will vary depending on your age; for example, the target heart rate for a 35 year old is 93 to 138 beats per minute. It is important to keep the activity intense enough to be above 93 beats per minute but not too intense that your heart is beating over 138 times per minute. When you start your workout routine; aim for the lower number in your target range and then work your way up.

Got any fitness tips for working out on a time crunch? Let’s hear about them in the comments.