| Everyone knows that the best cardio workouts that | | | | muscle if you're not careful. Remember, the more |
| produce the best results require pounding the | | | | muscle you have the more calories you burn |
| pavement (or the treadmill) for up to an hour at a | | | | throughout the day. |
| time...wrong! Unfortunately, this seems to be a | | | | So, what do I mean by interval training? Interval training |
| misconception that can put your weight loss efforts at | | | | revolves around regular bursts of intensity followed by |
| a standstill and leave you incredibly frustrated. | | | | longer periods of recovery. For example, your treadmill |
| As a personal trainer, I am confident that performing | | | | workout might consist of 30 seconds at a high intensity |
| your cardio session in the form of interval training will | | | | (fast run) followed by 90 seconds at a lower intensity |
| blow your weight loss plateau out of the water. As a | | | | (jog). You would repeat that cycle 6-8 times. The good |
| mom, I am even more excited to tell you that it is going | | | | news is a workout of this type shouldn't take any |
| to require less time at the gym. I know what you're | | | | more than 15-20 minutes and it can be performed on |
| thinking...sounds too good to be true. | | | | any type of cardio machine. So, with a warm up, a |
| Let me explain. Over time your body has the ability to | | | | cool down and even some stretching you should be |
| adapt to long sessions of steady pace cardio. As a | | | | out of the gym (or off the pavement) within 25-30 |
| result, your body will conserve energy and burn fewer | | | | minutes. The bad news...well, it's not really bad news. |
| calories (plateau). On the other hand, interval cardio | | | | You just should not perform this type of intense |
| keeps your body guessing. Since a greater demand is | | | | weight loss workout on consecutive days in order to |
| placed on your body during the workout, your | | | | prevent injury and let your body recover. Two to three |
| metabolism can increase by up to 15 times its basil | | | | times a week is plenty. That means there is still a |
| metabolism (Making the Cut, Jillian Micheals). It also | | | | place for those long distance runs 1-2 times a week |
| produces an "after burn" effect meaning that your | | | | that we love so much...or is that just me? |
| metabolic rates stays elevated for hours after an | | | | Remember, weight loss comes down to burning more |
| intense interval session in an effort to return itself to its | | | | calories than we take in. Yes, you're going to have to |
| pre-workout state. Such energy is not required after a | | | | sweat and get out of your comfort zone a little. |
| long low-intensity cardio session. In addition, long | | | | However, the results are worth it and more time with |
| sessions can actually sacrifice your hard earned | | | | family is a bonus! |