in Fitness, Lifestyle

‘Movement Snacks’ Are Little Nibbles Of Exercise You’ll Want To Try Today

by Amy Oshier November 2, 2022, 1:46 pmupdated November 2, 2022, 1:47 pm 120 Views 18 Comments

Forgive me if you knew about this one. But I am stoked about a new style of exercise called movement snacks. It sounds yummy to me and most of the busy ladies I hang out with.

It is nearly impossible to avoid the movement monitors on your smart watches and apps. Mine is pretty much a flat line, until I hit the gym. Aside from that peak, it is otherwise stagnant. I’ve wondered what good it does to be virtually inactive all day then have a spurt of exercise and whether that’s enough to make a diff. Which is why the idea of a movement snack is so tantalizing.

A movement snack is a few bite-sized intervals of exercise split up across the day. And studies show they can be just as beneficial as a jumbo-sized workout. Another big plus is that movement snacks are less dependent upon a gym or equipment. It can be as simple as a walk or a few jumping jacks; these move breaks are basically tidbits that you can slip in almost anywhere, anytime.

We all know the harm that comes from being sedentary. It increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. On the flip-side, adding to your exercise minutes has the potential to better your health by improving sleep, increasing mood-enhancing endorphins like dopamine and serotonin, as well as lowering blood pressure while adding strength and controlling weight.

Some people like to incorporate snacks into their daily workflow. For example, doing leg stretches while you’re on a conference call. Or spending part of you lunch break with a walk outside. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If you’re at home, pick up some hand weights and get pumping. You can call it a workout, but I just call it living efficiently.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends two strength workouts along with 150 minutes of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of intense exercise) each week. But, and this is a big ‘but,’ it doesn’t have to be taken in continuous time blocks. Everything you do adds up, and some believe movement snacks represent a high quality effort because it keeps your mind, body and muscles active and engaged throughout the day.

There is a lot to love about these tiny tidbits of exercise. While I’ll still hit the gym, it is nice to know you can still get health benefits without it. With my Apple watch storing my progress, it is gratifying to see all of my ‘rings’ closed even on days when I couldn’t fit in a dedicated fitness class.

And I’d be lying if I didn’t say I prefer the zigzag pattern on my movement graph compared to a sad straight line. For me anyway, the sprinkle of snack movements is a perfect way to break up the day.