Get a move on

Consider this: On a minutebyminute basis, your heart muscle labors twice as hard as your leg muscles during a sprint. And you have to work your heart out to keep it working. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise (think brisk walking or cycling) or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise (i.e., cardio thats intense enough to make carrying on a conversation difficult), plus strength training at least twice a week. But the most important aspect of exercise is making it a habit. Time is not as important as frequency, says Scott Danberg, director of fitness at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Miami.