The Early Show

Minimum Workout For Maximum Health

By Polly Leider

April 21, 2006 / 5:29 PM EDT / CBS

Everyone is looking for way to roll back the years, to look and feel younger. While exercise is a key element for any health plan, fitting it into a busy life isn't always easy.

A new exercise book called "RealAge Workout: Maximum Health, Minimum Work" offers some good advice on how to get into the best shape possible with the least amount of work. Author Michael Roizen joins The Saturday Early Show to explain the program.

Dr. Roizen's RealAge exercise plan is broken into four 30-day phases to move toward better health:

Phase 1: Walk 30 minutes every day - either all at once or 10 minutes or more at a time.

Phase 2: Increase your level of activity by adding 7-10 minutes of strength training of your foundation muscles (abs, back, buttocks, quadriceps, hamstring, and rotators) every other day.

Phase 3: Increase your level of activity by adding 8-10 minutes of strength training of your non-foundation muscles (chest, shoulder, biceps, triceps, and forearms) every other day.

Phase 4: Increase your level of activity with 21 minutes of stamina or aerobic exercises three times a week.

Roizen's RealAge Workout Scale helps gauge the proper level of exercise intensity.

To read an excerpt from "RealAge Workout," click here.