If you’re a “weekend warrior,” you’re not alone. Many people find it difficult to fit in regular exercise during the week, but they still want to reap the benefits of physical activity for their heart health.
Good news for weekend warriors: a recent study found that you can still get heart health benefits from exercising in just one or two days per week. The study, which was published in the journal JAMA, looked at data from over 89,000 people and found that weekend warriors had a similar risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke as people who exercised regularly throughout the week.
What does this mean for you?
If you’re a weekend warrior, don’t despair! You can still get heart health benefits from your workouts. Just make sure to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise each week. You can also break up your workouts into shorter sessions, such as 30 minutes of exercise three times per week.
What about the study’s limitations?
The study did have some limitations. For example, it only looked at people who wore activity trackers, so it’s possible that the results would be different for people who don’t wear activity trackers. Additionally, the study didn’t look at the type of exercise that people did, so it’s possible that some types of exercise are more beneficial for heart health than others.
What else should I know?
In addition to exercise, there are other things you can do to improve your heart health, such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.
The bottom line:
If you’re a weekend warrior, don’t worry! You can still get heart health benefits from your workouts. Just make sure to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise each week.
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