A typical complaint with people getting on cardio workouts is they begin with a good deal of enthusiasm and see some immediate loss of weight. This motivates them to continue along the same workout route, but at some point they plateau. It will not take long for the enthusiasm to wane, and then the exercises lessen and then end. So why will our bodies give us this small teaser, then shut the door with a bang?
The primary reason for this is the reason why humans have survived quite effectively throughout the ages: we are very adjustable. And that factor that has allowed humanity to endure quite well is the reason we arrive at these weight-loss plateaus. Even if we're on a vigorous exercise routine, through the long run our bodies will adapt to the regimen, it'll call for more calories to maintain itself, and weight loss comes to an abrupt halt.
As with many things, we have to trick the body, or not let it get with a routine that it can get comfortable with. As a result in the last few years interval training has taken on greater popularity. It is physical exercise which entails bursts of high-intensity work interspersed with periods of lowered-intensity cardio.
These exercises can entail cycling, running or rowing, but any activity that is anaerobic exercise is going to work. This kind of training has grown to be increasingly accepted with athletes, as it simulates the elevated-intensity periods followed by rest periods we'll see in basketball, football, soccer, hockey and almost all others. Those of us trying for weight loss could utilize it as it is known to provide a greater boost for our metabolism as opposed to normal long-duration cardio.
But perhaps the most important advantage of interval training is you will get more benefit for your body with decreased time. There is no question that traditional cardio is good for your heart and can burn calories. But the more you do of it the greater damage it will be to the ankles, hips, knees along with most of your other body joints. So obviously if you are able to achieve more while you work those body joints half the time will mean reduced wear-and-tear, and more recuperation time. Advocates of interval training maintain that a 30-40 minute workout three times a week would be able to provide you with the aerobic exercise you will need, plus won't be nearly as boring due to the diversity of your workouts.
You build in this diversity by steadily altering and increasing the exercise intensity, select varying exercises to focus on the same muscles, and give correct bounce back time between exercises. The body won't ever be able to enter a pattern or rhythm it can adapt to, and you will be on your way to weight loss. Many specialists in cardio conditioning now maintain these cardio workouts are the best exercises for burning fat.
Men's Health magazine has a suggested workout that I use called the pyramid structure. After a five minute warm-up, do 30 seconds of high intensity, after that one minute of reduced intensity. Next build that to 45 seconds high intensity, one minute low, 60 seconds elevated, one minute decreased, 90 seconds high, one minute low, 60 seconds high, one minute low, 45 seconds high, one minute low, 30 seconds high, and one minute low intensity. Finish your training having a five minute cool-down. You're in and out from the workout quickly, and have achieved more fat-burning cardio work than you would with an hour of regular cardio.
Author Resource:
Interval workouts are a form of training that anyone interested in burning calories and losing weight should consider. Find out more about working out on our website http://muscle4weightloss.com/ . Rich Carroll is a writer and health enthusiast living in London.
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