If you're at all unconvinced, here's my top 5 reasons that high-intensity interval training is superior to traditional (boring as hell) slow cardio.
1. Laws of Physics always prevail!
When you're giving it your all, it takes more fuel. It's like stepping hard on the gas pedal in your car! If you burn more fuel, your body mass decreases. That means you burn more fat. Simple!
2. Increased Metabolic Rate = More Fat Burning 24 hours a day!
High-intensity interval training has a significant effect on 24 hour energy expenditure. This means you continue to burn fat day and night!
Are you going to tell me you'd prefer to limit it to JUST the time you spend on the exercise bike watching reruns of Dr. Phil?
Please, allow me to hammer my head against the wall... I think it would be less painful!
Which brings me to the next point...
3. High-intensity interval training is ANYTHING but boring!
High-Intensity interval training can involve hundreds of different exercises, and when you have to give it 100% at all times, boredom does not even enter your mind!
Trust me on this one... my bootcampers are ANYTHING but bored!
Isn't that right guys?
4. Develop Strong Powerful Muscles!
High-Intensity interval training exercises impose significant loads and high rate-of-force development, creating much stronger, and far more powerful (expression of strength) muscles which improves overall athleticism.
5. Prevent Overuse Injuries
Traditional, slow, boring, low intensity cardio trains your body to economize fuel. Not burn through it like crazy. And while economizing fuel, your body also tends to get "movement" lazy, and repetitive stress injuries are common.
Whether it's the arches of the feet, the ankles, knees, hips, low back, or even shoulders, slow cardio makes it easy to practice poor posture, and lazy movements which can result in all sorts of overuse injuries.
Does all this mean slow cardio has zero benefit?
Not at all!
And slow cardio can be used to supplement high intensity work. It can even help with recovery between high-intensity workouts.
But reliance or over-reliance upon slow cardio for fat-burning... is the big mistake!
Thanks for clarifying why I have not seen any change in losing body fat over the past year. I am already feeling different in my energy level and strength since I started your bootcamp doing high intensity interval training. I can't wait to see the changes because I know something is happening already!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Andree!
ReplyDeleteAnd you will see changes... I guarantee it!
:)