Ask Dr. Del

If I only workout for ten minutes, is it doing me any good and am I burning any fat?

A recent scientific studyconducted at the University of Ulster compared the effectiveness of doing three 10 minute bouts of exercise on aerobic conditioning, heart-disease related factors and overall cholesterol, with the traditional 30 minute exercise session. Twenty one sedentary men and women in their mid-40s participated in either a brisk 10-minute walk three times per day, or a brisk walk lasting 30 minutes once per day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. After a 2-week rest period, the groups switched walking routines and followed the other group`s instructions for another 6 weeks.

Their conclusion? "Three bouts of 10-minute brisk-walking sessions spread out over the course of the day are at least as effective as a 30-minute session at improving blood lipid profiles and enhancing psychological well-being of sedentary middle-aged people."

So if you only have ten minutes to spare, why not follow along with one of the ten-minute workouts in my book Del's 10-Minute Total Body Workout. Remember, ten minutes per day everyday adds up to almost five hours each month. Is this the same as doing a 30 minute workout twice per week? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!! Is that better than doing nothing at all? You bet it is. Will it help you to burn more fat? Why don't you get off the couch or stop telling yourself how "busy" you are and find out.