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Are You Getting Enough Exercise?

By Wendy Korn Heppt

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How does your workout rate -- subpar, bare bones or top notch? Take the Live Right Live Well exercise miniquiz to find out how your workout rates:

1. I exercise:
a) when I'm in the mood
b) three to seven times a week

2. I usually work out:
a) until I'm bored
b) for 20 to 60 minutes

3. I keep moving until:
a) I start to sweat
b) I'm exhausted

4. It's a cinch for me to do:
a) eight push-ups and 24 crunches
b) 24 push-ups and 48 crunches

Give yourself two points for every “a” answer and four points for every "b." If you scored 12 or less, you need to crank it up. But by how much, you ask?

"Any amount of exercise helps," says Harvard epidemiologist I-Min Lee, M.D., Sc.D. "There's a 'dose-response' relationship between the amount of aerobic physical activity performed and the prevention of chronic diseases. So any activity is better than none, particularly for those who are habitually sedentary, and more activity is better than a little," she advises. But to maximize overall health and minimize your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other serious health conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (such as brisk walking) five or more days a week. Can't swing it? Amp up your workout to vigorous intensity (say, jogging instead of walking), and you can reduce the time commitment to 20 minutes a day, three days a week, notes Dr. Lee.

To get the most health benefit with the least time and effort, consider these seven ways to crank up your workout routine.

• Have fun The best way to make exercise a regular part of your life is to find something you enjoy doing. When working out is a pleasure, not a chore, you are more likely to stick to it and increase frequency. Hate the idea of going to a gym? Try an exercise video in the comfort of your own home. Not a jogger? Consider dancing or swimming instead. With so many different fitness activities to choose from, you’re bound to find something you like enough to do several times a week if you just keep looking.
• Take baby steps Not up to a heavy-duty workout? Schedule a moderate yet brisk 10-minute walk every other day for a week. Increase to 15 minutes the following week, gradually building up until -- before you know it -- you're up to 30 minutes of continuous activity.
• No cheating A workout that doesn't break a sweat or elevate your heart rate doesn't qualify even as moderate exercise. "Moderate intensity is when you feel you're beginning to perspire, but you can still talk effortlessly," explains Cedric Bryant, Ph.D., chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise. "Vigorous intensity is when it gets difficult to carry on a conversation."
• Give it gusto Experts now believe it's the effort more than the duration that counts, so the harder you exercise, the shorter the session can be. Studies show comparable benefits can be achieved by either 60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 20 minutes of vigorous activity, notes Dr. Bryant.
• Break it up If you can't invest a solid chunk of time toward your daily exercise quota, try a cumulative approach instead by dividing your energy expenditure into two or three 10- or 15-minute miniworkouts.
• Vacuuming counts "Moderate-intensity activities, like vacuuming or gardening, can also count toward your goal as long as you do them for at least 10 minutes continuously," adds Dr. Lee.
• Multitask Multitasking exercises that target several muscle groups at once can help you achieve more in less time. For instance, squats work your gluteals, quadriceps and hamstrings. Push-ups strengthen your chest, shoulders, triceps and core. Raised-leg crunches target both upper and lower abdominals.

Wendy Korn Heppt is a New York City-based health and fitness writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Health online, We Go Bridal online, Prevention, Self, New York Daily News, Newsday and Golf for Women.

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