You know you should exercise more. You want to exercise more. But sometimes it's tough to squeeze a full workout into your busy schedule. The good news: A number of published studies show that you can stay in shape and burn enough calories to maintain or lose weight by doing mini-workouts throughout the day. In fact, research has shown that short bouts of exercise are just as effective as long ones, provided the total cumulative workout time and intensity level are comparable. Try this quick metabolic conditioning (AKA "metcon") plan to fit a little fat-burning into your jam-packed schedule.
How it works: Perform each exercise for 60 seconds, resting 20-30 seconds between each move. Do the full circuit 1-3 times, depending on how much time (and energy) you have. Even one 6-minute circuit is a killer workout! For best results, do this routine up to 4 nonconsecutive days per week.
You'll need: A set of dumbbells (5-20 lbs) and a mat (optional).
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