If any of you are watching social media recently, you might have come across this idea of ‘micro workouts’ or ‘exercise snacks’.

The idea is to do several short bursts of exercise throughout the day. This can be anything from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, and it they are designed to prevent lethargy, improve energy levels, combat the issues associated with sitting too long and help to burn calories.

In this blog post we’re going to look at ‘micro workouts’ or ‘exercise snacks’ and see if they’re effective and whether or not you should be doing them.

Defining Micro Workouts:

Micro workouts are short, focused exercise sessions designed to provide a quick burst of physical activity. They’re supposed to be short, making them easy to incorporate into even the busiest schedules. The idea behind micro workouts is to break down the barriers of time and make fitness more accessible to everyone.

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Benefits of Micro Workouts:

  1. Time Efficiency: Micro workouts are perfect for individuals with tight schedules. By breaking down exercise into smaller, more manageable chunks, people can stay active without committing to lengthy gym sessions.

  2. Consistency: Since micro workouts are shorter, they are easier to incorporate into daily routines. This increased frequency can lead to more consistent exercise habits, promoting long-term fitness.

  3. Increased Energy Levels: Short bursts of physical activity can boost energy levels and improve focus throughout the day. Micro workouts are an excellent way to combat the lethargy that can often accompany a sedentary lifestyle.

  4. Adaptability: Micro workouts can be adapted to various environments and fitness levels. Whether at home, in the office, or traveling, these short sessions require minimal space and equipment.

  5. Improved Metabolism: Regular micro workouts can help rev up the metabolism, contributing to weight management and overall better health.

Do micro workouts work?

The answer to this question is… it depends!

It depends on what you mean by ‘work’. If you’re using them as a replacement for your general workouts, then no - they won’t ever be a replacement for a dedicated workout time. You just can’t replicate the prolonged intensity or the targeted nature of a training program in such a short period of time.

Likewise, if you’re training for an event it’s just not going to cut it. For example, you can’t train for a marathon in 5 minute segments.

If however you’re using micro workouts to combat fatigue from sitting down for too long, they’re excellent. They’re an opportunity to get up, move your body and wake you up physically and mentally. Spending 5 minutes away from your desk, performing squats, push ups, lunges etc will be really good at waking you up.

They’re also helpful for burning calories.

If you manage to get 5-6 micro workouts in during your day, you might add anything up to 200-300 additional calories burned in a day! If fat loss is your goal, these additional calories will certainly help you burn additional body fat.

So in conclusion, yes - micro workouts work as an additional bit of exercise. They will help you to stay awake and alert at work, and they help to combat the effects of sitting for too long.

However…

They’ll never replace your main training. You can’t expect to achieve amazing things or peak health with mini-workouts spread throughout the day.

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