What is the Minimum Amount of Physical Activity I Need Every Day?

Sept. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- According to this article, it’s just 15 minutes a day.  That’s half of the 30 minutes per day recommended by most health organizations.  

Researchers in Taiwan conducted a study of over 416,000 people and discovered that just 15 minutes a day of moderate exercise can lead to a longer life - cutting one’s risk of death by 14% and extending one’s life expectancy by three years.  Each additional 15 minutes reduced the risk of death by 4%.  (Bear in mind this was a self-reported, observational study.)

Regular exercise:
 1)  strengthens muscles,
 2)  reduces the risk of some diseases, and
 3)  promotes mental well-being.  

It’s just a matter of doing it, and getting into the regular habit of it.  But now we have a benchmark.

I think there is a fundamental principle here - something is better than nothing.  I see this principle operating in a number of different areas as well.

On the flip side, I read an article about Rahm Emanuel in Bloomberg Businessweek.  He’s the mayor of Chicago and former Chief of Staff for President Obama.  At 51, this is his workout schedule:

 1)  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - swims a mile in a 50-meter pool, then runs two miles home.  
 2)  Tuesday and Thursday - 25 miles on the bike on random level 15, 15 minutes on the elliptical, 100 sit-ups, 50 push-ups, and a weight routine.  
 3)  Saturday - bikes 20 miles outdoors.  
 4)  Sunday - attends yoga class to undo the side effects of his running and biking.

That seems like a lot.  I think I'll set that as the max.  "Perfection" probably lies somewhere in between.

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