The latest trends in fitness are leaning toward the ìshorter is betterî philosophy, but do dramatically shortened workouts get the job done?No one can deny that the days of spending hours running, biking or doing any other number of slow, cardio-based exercise sessions (Jazzercise anyone?) are long gone. We simply donít have the time, and have come to realize that these long, drawn-out workout sessions donít give us the best return on our time investment.But how much of this desire for short, efficient workouts stems from shortened attention spans or just plain laziness? Is there true science behind the claims that 10-minute workouts deliver results? In fact, there is a slew of new research that points to the true benefits of short, intense bursts of exercise. This is great news for all of us with hectic schedules. Short, intense workouts are manageable and even enjoyable.Here are the top three reasons that 10-minute workouts are worth your time.Burns fatMultiple studies have proven the effectiveness of both Tabata and HIIT exercise sessions. These techniques take short bursts of activity and create a heart-pounding workout in 10 minutes or less. The key to making these workouts as effective as possible is to crank up your intensity to the max.Makes you happyWe all know that exercise releases endorphins, which makes us feel good in the aftermath of a great workout. But donít fret if you only have 10 minutes to exercise, studies have shown that an intense 10-minute burst of exercise is enough to get those feel-good juices flowing.Protects your heartAccording to researchers in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, people who get just seven minutes of intense exercise each day are 45 percent less likely to die from heart disease. Itís also worth noting that people who maintained their exercise routine for six years or longer saw the greatest benefit.It is crucial to our health and physiques that we make time to exercise ñ even if itís just 10 minutes.Apple Ring PancakesThese apple ring pancakes are gluten free and higher in fiber than traditional pancakes. It’s pretty awesome to be able to enjoy a pancake and still see results! Just exercise portion control and skip the syrup. Servings: 6Here’s what you need:
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup flax meal
- 2 dates, pitted
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 banana
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice and zest
- 3 green apples, washed, cored, and cut into six slices
