Sunday, April 5, 2009

30 Minutes Doesn't Cut it Anymore



Seems like everyday there is a new study that voids pretty much what we learned yesterday. This is particularly true in the area of nutrition and fitness.

For the longest time, the American College of Sports Medicine recommended that if you are under 65 years, you should try to engage in moderately intense cardio exercises at least 5 times a week for 30 minutes each time. If you engage in any vigorously intense cardio exercises, they recommended 20 a mins a day, 3 days a week. This was said to help maintain a healthy weight and to prevent chronic disease. Now, there seems to be a slight change in recommendations.

Greater amounts of physical activity than currently recommended may be necessary to prevent people from gaining weight, and to help them lose weight and keep it off, according to updated guidelines issued by the American College of Sports Medicine. It is now recommended that to lose weight or maintain weight loss, 60 to 90 minutes of physical activity at least 5 times a week (averaging 300 minutes per week) may be necessary. The 30-minute recommendation, as mentioned above, is for the average healthy adult to maintain health and reduce the risk for chronic disease but not necessarily for weight management.

I guess it goes back to same old saying: Nothing worthwhile comes easy!