How Much is Enough?

Hey, it's Deanna Busteed, Bentley's resident nutrition and fitness expert. It's time to answer a question I get ALL the time...how much exercise is enough?

Last July, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)  released new recommendations on the quantity and quality of exercise for adults.

They recommend that most adults to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate- intensity exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week. A good way to tell if you are exercising at a moderate intensity is the "talk test". If you can talk while exercising but can't sing, then you are exercising moderately. Some examples include, brisk walking, cycling less than 10 mph, swimming, dancing or tennis. Jogging and cycling uphill are examples of vigorous-intensity workouts.

There's no right way to get your 150 minutes--it's whatever works for you, your level of fitness and your schedule. Some people may choose to exercise 30 minutes, 5 times a week, others may elect for longer duration workouts less frequently. Still others work in short workouts throughout the day. The most important thing is to get moving!

Remember, besides going to the Dana Center gym, you can join an intramural team, take free ballroom or latin dance classes or watch a fitness dvd or sign up for classes in the Slade Wellness Studio.

If these options don't work for you, I really like this dorm room workout.


Below are some videos we created of three exercises you can do in your room too!

Don't be afraid to contact our office with any nutrition, fitness or health questions--781.891.2222.

Until next time..B Healthy and B Fit!

-Deanna

Deanna Busteed MS, RD, CSSD, LD
Clinical Dietition/Sports Nutritionist/Coordinator of Fitness Classes
Center for Health and Wellness