Exercise Snacking: The Bite-Size Plan This MD Loves For Curbing Hunger

While we acknowledge the importance of moving your body however you can, it can be difficult to fit consistent workouts into your schedule.

You've got things to do, people to see, and you might not have time to dedicate an hour or two at the gym (at-home or otherwise). If this sounds like a familiar scenario, let us introduce you to a simple hack that will transform the way you view movement: exercise snacking.

When you hear the phrase "exercise snacking," you may think it has to do with nutrition—but it actually refers to small movements you can seamlessly blend into daily activities. Think of it as a bite-size workout (get it?), whereas you might consider a longer gym session the "meal."

Considering we're big fans of short spurts of movement around here, it's no surprise this fitness hack got our attention. It's a very Blue Zones way to think about exercise: Rather than dedicating an hour or two in the gym, you're consistently moving throughout the entire day, which experts say is a stellar plan for longevity.

What constitutes an exercise snack, you ask? Technically, it's any short spurt of movement you can integrate into your day.

Gundry shares some of his favorites: "When I'm brushing my teeth, I do deep knee bends, squats," he says. He also suggests doing jumping jacks when you're watching TV (or, say, listening to the mbg podcast), or walking up and down stairs for a minute. In fact, research found that brief stair climbing was a time-efficient strategy to boost fitness in a group of healthy, sedentary women.