In October 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued exercise recommendations for Americans. People can promote health and wellness by exercising at a moderate intensity for 150-300 minutes per week or exercising intensely at 70 percent effort or more for 75 – 150 minutes per week. Walking is an example of moderate-intensity exercise, while jogging is an example of intense exercise. Rebound exercise with a mini-trampoline can be classified as an intense exercise when you have built up to the point where you are running in place on the rebounder.

The government recruited a committee of experts from leading universities and medical schools to make these recommendations. The committee concluded that people don’t have to devote long hours to achieve most of the benefits of exercise. Breaking up walks into 10 or 15 minute sessions promote weight control and good health. That is if you park a few extra blocks from work or the grocery store, walk briskly in the shopping mall before buying anything, take the stairs rather than the elevator in multi-story buildings, or go for a stroll on a home treadmill as soon as you get up in the morning and before going to bed at night. You will get even more benefits if you eat a balanced diet and do your workout first thing in the morning before you eat breakfast.

Separate reports for professionals and for the general public are available free on the Internet at  http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/.