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Woman running, but how often should you exercise?

How Often Should You Exercise?

June 21, 2013

We all know that exercising is good for you, but how frequently and how long should you be hitting the home treadmill each week? Experts have been debating for years – some say that high-intensity interval training is the way to go, while others suggest that 30 minutes per day is a better goal. So, how often should you exercise?

According to Dr. Michael Joyner, a physiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., it the important to exercise on a regular basis. While working out has numerous long-lasting benefits, including the improvement of overall health, perks like improvements in blood pressure only occur if you stick to a regular routine.

“The key is probably to not miss more than two days in a row,” Joyner told The New York Times, “and skipping only one day is even better.”

Working out on a regular basis can also boost motivation because the positive feeling that is felt after running on a fitness treadmill is still fresh in the minds of exercisers. But how much time should your fitness routine take up each week?

Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that adults get a minimum of two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. This can include anything from dancing to walking.

Adults who participate in more vigorous physical activities like running and jumping rope only need to carve out an hour and 15 minutes of time for exercise each week.

Of course, these guidelines represent the absolute minimum. Adults can maximize the benefits derived from physical fitness by increasing the frequency or length of workouts. It’s always good to challenge yourself, just make sure that any increase in intensity is done gradually so that you don’t promptly burn out yourself.