Score One More for Exercise

Good news for your female staffers: Just five minutes a day of certain types of exercise may help women control their weight.

It’s hard to believe that a mere five minutes of anything could make a notable difference.

But a new study suggests that taking up biking and brisk walking might be an effective way to minimize weight gain as women enter middle age.

Over the course of the 16-year study, researchers found that women who biked five minutes a day gained 1.5 pounds less than those who didn’t.

Women who extended their biking workouts to 30 minutes achieved greater results, gaining about 3.5 pounds less than women whose routines stayed the same.

Brisk walking (defined as 3 miles per hour or more) is also beneficial, and researchers found that women who increased their time spent walking briskly gained 4 pounds less than those who did not.

Slow walking, on the other hand, did not prevent weight gain, and women who were overweight to begin with saw even better results.

Perhaps this information will serve to inspire women who have a hard time fitting exercise into their busy schedules. While five minutes of physical activity a day isn’t a lofty goal, it’s better than none at all.

And it’s a starting point that could lead to a more active lifestyle and improved overall health and fitness.

Walking and biking are two ideal activities for beginners. With no special equipment required other than your own two feet (and a good pair of shoes), walking remains a popular exercise for good reason.

Invest in a pedometer to track your progress and motivate you to add steps every day as your stamina and fitness level increase.

Biking makes a low-impact and fun workout that you can customize to meet your fitness needs.

In the beginning, for example, you can spend some time cruising a flat trail; as your endurance increases you might take on hillier terrain or longer distances.