How the ‘simplest exercise trick ever’ will tone your body ahead of summer: ‘Just three minutes can change everything’

Incorporating three-minute workouts into your day could be the key to strengthening your physique and improving your well-being, experts claim.

Nutritional therapist Natalie Fader from Canada explained how ‘exercise snacks’ ā€“ a quick routine of three to five exercises performed for a few minutes ā€“ can provide a range of health benefits.

Ms Fader has tried out the latest fitness trend herself, claiming her body shape is already changing and she can hold a plank for three minutes instead of 30 seconds.

‘Despite all my “I don’t have time to exercise” people are listening! It turns out that if we do these short, small workouts randomly throughout the day, it pays off big time,ā€ Ms. Fader further wrote. Instagram.

“You’ll build muscle that has tremendous benefits such as improved sleep, hormone regulation, improved mood/mentality, etc.”

The health trend consists of performing three to five exercises for a few minutes several times a day

Nutritional therapist Natalie Fader from Canada said ‘sports snacks’ can provide health benefits. The health trend consists of performing three to five exercises for a few minutes several times a day

What are some examples of sports snacks?

Do three to five of the following:

ā£1. Plankā£

2. Wall sitsā£

3. Squatsā£

4. Leg liftsā£

5. Ab exercise of your choice

‘I tested this theory exactly a month ago. In between my client sessions, I would eat three to five ā€œexercise snacks,ā€ Ms. Fader added.

During the workday, she alternated between planks, wall sits, squats, leg lifts and abdominal exercises to reap the health benefits.

‘ā£Did one exercise for the entire song and then continued with my day until I could fit in my next practice snack. Some days I did all five, other days I only did a few,ā€ she continued.

‘ā£The reward? My body shape is changing, my clothes are starting to feel different and my plank time is increasing!

‘A few years ago I was doing four- to five-minute planks. I stopped training like I used to for about a year and noticed I could only get 30 seconds. I reached the three-minute mark today.ā€

The movements performed are decent bodyweight exercises that activate the core muscle groups.

The 'exercise snacks' can help improve sleep, mood and hormones, along with strengthening muscles (stock image)

The ‘exercise snacks’ can help improve sleep, mood and hormones, along with strengthening muscles (stock image)

WHAT ARE WORKOUT SNACKS?

An “exercise snack” is a routine of five different exercises, such as single-leg squats, sit-to-stands, or single-leg quarter squats, performed continuously for one minute with a one-minute passive recovery break in between.

The concept could be enough to maintain exercise and improve quality of life

Source: Deakin University

The short video has since gone viral and has been viewed a whopping 7.8 million times

‘Simple but brilliant. Thank you for introducing me to this conceptā€¦ this sounds feasible and sustainable,ā€ one person wrote.

‘Happy to see people turning movement into a movement!! Practice snacks for the world,ā€ another added.

“Why didn’t I ever think of this before?” asked a third.

Although others scoffed at the phrase and wanted to eat snacks while exercising instead.

“When do I get a snack?” one joked, the other said, “I’m mad at you because you say ‘snack’ and then offer me exercise.”

Another said: “I thought we were getting snacks.”