I don’t read any women’s or fitness magazines, but after searching for today’s 15 minute workout, I saw an article from Women’s Health Magazine which caught my eye. It endorses the benefits of an intense 15 minute workout four to six times a week.

The online course I’m currently studying states 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking, five times a week (a total of 150 minutes) is enough to keep you fit. One of the lecturers says you could cut that time in half by doing intense workouts instead. So 15 minutes of intense exercise, such as running or HIIT training, for a total of 75 minutes a week would also work just as well.

Interesting stuff. Food for thought. I wonder … Could this fitfor15in15 plan to raise a daily sweat by exercising for a minimum of 15 minutes each day work just as well if it was for only 15 minutes a day? I’m not about to try this out, as I enjoy the longer walks and exercise videos, but if you were really, really, really strapped for time, could you achieve just as much if you went hard for 15 minutes every day as someone who went for a 30 minute walk each day?

Once again, interesting stuff. Food for thought. I wonder … if I only did 15 minutes per day, really going for it, like doing sprints and burpees, or one of the workouts from these two amazingly fit women at TwoBadBodies, for one month, would I feel the benefits just as much as I have over the past month? Would the time benefits be that noticeable? Maybe when I have a job, I can put this theory to the test, to see if I feel just as healthy and happy as I do now by varying the workout styles and durations in less time.

I’d always have to have variety. But if it could really all be done in 15 minutes … wow! Would people be more likely to do it regularly? Interesting … food … wonder …

Sooooo … back to the task at hand – finding a 15 minute workout, because my body’s tired from yesterday and it’s a horrible, grey, rainy day here today. Time to curl up on the couch with a bowl of Leo’s chili and watch a Scandinavian murder mystery.

Using the article from Women’s Health, I chose The Superfast Total-Body Workout, which focuses on four moves which hit all the key muscle groups in 15 minutes. Squats, chest press, bent-over row (all of those with hand weights) and bicycle. You do the four exercises in a row, then pause for a minute, then do two more run-throughs to make 15 minutes. I finished a bit faster, so did some more squats. I raised a slight sweat, but nothing too heavy. Maybe if my weights were heavier it would be a different story, but for now the 1kg pair are fantastic.

That Women’s Health Magazine link also has Belly-Blasting, Arm-Sculpting and Skinny Jeans Workouts too, if you fancy.

Wishing you a wonderful day.