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Earlier we reported on the long-time debate between diet and exercise. The post referred to the existing “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans” published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Given the importance of working daily exercise into our lives, we also wanted to offer more guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They ask (and answer) the question: “How much physical activity do adults need?”

Adults need at least:

• 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) every week and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms); or
• 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity(i.e., jogging or running) every week and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms); or
• An equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).

And if you don't have that kind of time — or (sorry for the pun) only want to bite off what you can chew?

The CDC further states: “10 minutes at a time is fine.”

“We know 150 minutes each week sounds like a lot of time, but it's not. That's 2 hours and 30 minutes, about the same amount of time you might spend watching a movie. The good news is that you can spread your activity out during the week, so you don't have to do it all at once. You can even break it up into smaller chunks of time during the day. It's about what works best for you, as long as you're doing physical activity at a moderate or vigorous effort for at least 10 minutes at a time.”

The site offers more tips for those who want more rigorous exercise, as well as an instructional video.