Now is the perfect time to take advantage of our beautiful weather and get fit for summer at the same time! Many people believe that getting beach ready means logging endless hours of boring cardio. Not so. The best way to burn off the winter fat is to hit the trails or hop on your bike and do higher intensity interval training. New research from the University of New South Wales in Australia has shown that running intervals (sprints with intermittent rest periods) burns three times as much fat as running at slow consistent speeds. Athletes looking to improve performance can benefit from intervals of two to five minutes, but for fat-burning effects, a simple 60-second interval is very beneficial. Most of us know that an active lifestyle is crucial for disease prevention and overall health, we just need to get out and do it! Monotonous workouts can zap the best motivation, so utilize this super-charged fat burning workout to get a lean, healthy, athletic look.
Below is a simple interval session.
• Stretch adequately and then warm up for five minutes.
• Work at 80 percent intensity for 60 seconds.
• Work at 30 percent intensity, active recovery, for 60 seconds.
• Repeat this cycle six to eight times followed by a five-minute cool down and light stretching.
Note on intensity: your intensity level will vary according to your fitness level, 100 percent intensity is as fast as you can and 0 percent is being still.
To gain the most from your fat burning interval training program:
• Make sure to perform a proper warm up and cool down and stretch before and after your session to prevent injury.
• Be sure to stay hydrated, especially if exercising in the summer heat.
• Interval training sessions should be performed three times per week.
• Change your interval training workouts every four to six weeks.
As Southern Californians, we have the luxury of being able to enjoy beautiful weather most of the year. Get out there and enjoy the outdoors as you get fit. Consider chiropractic care to help you create or maintain a strong and healthy body.
For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Willis, DC of Aligned Health Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 661-295-5200. The office is located at 27875 Smyth Drive, Suite 100 in Valencia.