Workout Wednesday: The One-Minute Workout

workout-of-the-week---4-min

Time.

Many of us never seem to have enough time in a day. Between work, family, school, social commitments, and a seemingly endless list of other things, one of the items that falls pretty far down on the to-do list for most people is exercise.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “60% of Americans don’t get the recommended amount of physical activity.” What’s worse? “25% of adults aren’t active at all” (Source).

Lack of time may be the reason for these statistics, but it could be something else altogether, too. However, for many people, the response given when asked if they exercise or why they don’t exercise has to do with the issue of time.

I just don’t have the extra time.
There’s not enough time in the day.
I have more important things to do with my time.

While it’s true that we’re all pretty busy, there’s always time to squeeze exercise in. Notice I used the word squeeze there? Good. You’ll love this week’s workout then!

The One-Minute Workout

This week’s workout comes courtesy of Brooke Burke-Charvet, whom is the co-host of the popular show Dancing with the Stars. No, this entire workout cannot be done in one minute. However, each exercise can be done in one minute! Take a look at the infographic below:

4-minute-workout

No More Excuses

This week’s workout should take you around four minutes to complete. Great, right? The best part is that these moves, while fairly simple, are working a number of different muscle groups. Yes, the workout is only four minutes, but you’re still burning calories, and you’re still improving your overall health.

With a four-minute workout, there’s no reason to say you don’t have time. It can be done in the morning before work. It can be done on your lunch break. It can even be done at night before you go to bed. It’s okay if you can’t spend hours at the gym every day. The point is that you need to exercise to better your health, and this workout is perfect for those of you who are in a constant time-crunch.

Cool-Down & Recovery

Yes, even a short workout like this one warrants a cool-down session. As always, it doesn’t have to take long. A short five-minute walks is perfectly fine. The idea is to help your heart return to a regular beat rate and to also col your muscles. After al, you just worked a number of them pretty quickly.

While many people opt for water to support their post-workout recovery, it’s important to add protein as well. The length of your workout doesn’t matter when it comes to recovery. Proper hydration and protein consumption are always important. If you’re curious about some good post-workout recovery options, take a look at the list below.

Have you tried short workouts like this one? We’d love to hear how they’re working for you and how you fit them into a busy day. Leave us a comment below!

Featured Image Credit: khengsiong via Flickr.