So, Do Smaller Chunks Work?
Yes, the good news is doing small amounts of exercise throughout the day is just as effective as doing one long session.
In fact, it may have some additional benefits.
A 2019 review of 19 studies looked at this question, involving more than 1,000 participants. It found multiple, shorter “chunks” of exercise in a day improved heart and lung fitness and blood pressure as much as doing one longer session.
And there was some evidence these chunks actually led to more weight loss and lower cholesterol.
The most common way this exercise was compared in the 19 studies was with one group doing three ten-minute bouts of exercise five days a week, and another doing one 30-minute session, five days a week.
There is a time and place for sweating: deep into the wrong half of a karate class, when you’re so tired from whatever weird exercise senpai had everyone doing that you would die if only you could move. He’s your best mate but you f’n hate that guy right now.
No sweating otherwise. It’s unseemly.