What if you only have a few minutes?

One of the things I love about exercise science is that it continues to evolve. As new research emerges, we have opportunities to refine what we know and, perhaps more importantly, how we apply it to everyday life.
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Last week, we explored research suggesting that approximately 90–120 minutes of resistance training per week may provide the greatest long-term health benefits.​
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As encouraging as those findings were, I found myself thinking about a different question.
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What about the person who isn't there yet?
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What if you're just beginning?
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What if you're living with a chronic health condition, recovering from an injury, or simply trying to figure out where resistance training fits into your week?
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What if ninety minutes still feels like too much?
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These are the conversations I have every week with clients. Most people don't question whether resistance training is beneficial. They're wondering how to get started in a way that feels manageable.
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That's why this newest study immediately caught my attention.
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​Researchers recruited adults over the age of 65 who were inactive and already experiencing difficulty walking. Instead of prescribing lengthy workouts, participants completed a brief, home-based functional strength routine each day for 12 weeks. The exercises focused on everyday movements like standing up from a chair, stepping up, pulling, and pushing.
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The results were encouraging.
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Participants improved lower-body strength, balance, and functional mobility—abilities that help us get out of a chair, climb stairs, and remain independent as we age. Even more encouraging, participants completed the program on more than 80% of the days during the study. To me, that speaks to something just as important as the results themselves: the program was realistic enough that people actually did it.
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To be clear, the researchers aren't suggesting that a few minutes of exercise replaces the current physical activity guidelines. Rather, this study reminds us that even a small amount of well-designed functional resistance training can improve the movements that matter most in everyday life.
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That was my biggest takeaway.
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Sometimes we become so focused on what is ideal that we forget to ask,
"What can I do today?"
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For some people, today's answer might be ninety minutes spread throughout the week.
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For someone else, today's answer might be a few purposeful minutes.
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Both answers move you forward.
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​If you'd like to try the routine used in this study, I've recreated the exercises as a downloadable PDF inside the MedFit Movement Studio.They're simple, functional movements that provide a practical place to begin if you're looking to incorporate resistance training into your own routine.

​Remember, we don't have to wait until we have more time.
We don't have to wait until we feel stronger.
We simply begin where we are today.
One small step still counts.
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Stay well and happy moving,
Lisa