Interval Training

So you want to know how Interval training can be a fat burning workout?  Interval training is a short finite burst of aerobic activity followed by timed easier activity.  For example, if you are out walking, you may walk really fast for 30 seconds and take the next 30 seconds-minute for regular paced walking.  Just keep alternating high intensity bursts and lower intensity recovery periods .

This is called the Fartlek training principle.  Fartlek means “speed play.”  This type of training can be used by everyone, however, if you are a beginner, get comfortable with your workout routine first then add in some interval training.

When doing interval training and preventing injuries, start off with a warm up, to warm up your joints and get the blood flowing.  You can increase your intensity in a variety of ways.  For our example, I am going to stick with indoor walking on a Nautilus T514 Treadmill .  The first way to increase your training is with speed.  You can speed up the treadmill and walk fast or jog for 30 seconds & revert back to your regular pace for 30 seconds to 1 minute.  Another way to increase your intensity is to lengthen the amount of time to do your aerobic activity and recovery time (1 minute fast walking 1 minute recovery).  Finally, increase the incline on the treadmill to add intensity to your workout.  The higher the incline the harder you’re working and the more calories you bun.  You could walk 2 minutes on a steep incline and then 2 minutes with a lower incline.

There are a few things to keep in mind with interval training.  How fast is your pace?  How often you do your training?  Finally, how long will your intervals be? These are good variables to add to the intensity of your interval training.

Then you ask your self what are your fitness goals…weight loss, endurance, or speed?  Interval training will address all these questions.  Interval training can be done anywhere by anyone.  Of course, consult with your doctor before pursuing any kind of fitness regimen.

When you add interval training to your regular routine, it will keep you motivated, burn more calories, and blast through weight loss plateaus.  Another bonus is that you will get less muscle soreness by reducing the build up of waste products in your muscles.

In conclusion, interval training can be done jogging with short bursts of sprints.  It can be done on an Nautilus E514 Elliptical Trainer , a stepper, Nautilus R514 Recumbent Exercise Bike or even a walk outside at a park.  As long as you increase your energy output raising your heart rate, and then lowering it you will have a great fat burning workout!