Interval Training

WHAT IS IT ?

Lets look at a method of training called interval training. I don’t know if you have heard of this before, but here I will  explain what it’s all about. So read on…

Interval training is often a method used by long distance runners but can be used for all types of cardiovascular exercises such as cycling, swimming and rowing for a few examples. This method of training is based on bursts of high intensity work followed by low intensity work, which is the interval. Then you would repeat this again and so on. So if you were on an exercise bike you might do two minutes of flat out peddling and then slow this down for a couple of minutes to recover and then go for it again. The high intensity part you are putting in everything you have and then the low intensity part you are letting yourself recover and prepare for the next high intensity cycle.

So how good is this method ? Well I haven’t tried it myself yet but am going to fit it into my cardio work to see what results I achieve. The belief of many people in the fitness industry is that interval training is the best method of training to burn fat. Is this true ? as of yet I don’t know because I haven’t used it yet, but I can’t wait to get started.

My own opinion on how this is probably more effective than normal steady same pace cardio is that you are hitting your system from all angles. If you are running say at a steady pace for 3 miles 4 times a week then your body will get used to that and your fat burning and cardio improvement may become stagnent. But if you are running half a mile sprinting then you run half a mile at a slower jogging pace, then you repeat two more times you have covered the same distance but I bet you would have burnt more calories.

So I don’t know what you think, but I am going to give it a go. I will be changing my bike riding from now on. So I will let you know sometime in the future how I am getting on with my interval training.