Must Fitness or Weight Loss equal Torture?
I suppose to some people, breaking a sweat at all is torture. Most of us, however, know that if we want to:
- lose weight
- get fit
- stay fit
- improve our health
- improve our stamina
We will have to put some time and effort into it. But the thought of getting home from work only to change into workout clothes and go to the gym for another 2 hours becomes very unappealing very quickly. It is not a surprise to learn that 50% of people who actually start an exercise program give up within 12 months or less. Or that the average woman spends 12 hours per week vegging in front of the TV, which is TEN times longer than the average woman spends in the gym per week!
What if you could achieve your fitness or weight loss goals by exercising a mere 10 minutes or less just a few of times a week? It’s a real possibility according to some recent studies. One technique is high intensity interval training, (HIT, or HIIT), and is advocated by exercise physiologist Martin Gibala, of McMaster University in Canada.
Dr. Gibala’s test subjects cycled as hard as they could for 30 seconds, then rested for four minutes, and repeated this four to six times. They did this short workout three times a week. When he compared them with control subjects who cycled continuously for up to an hour a day, five times a week, the HIT subjects showed similar gains in exercise capacity, muscle metabolism and cardiovascular fitness. The studies show that HIT improves the structure and function of crucial arteries that deliver blood to the heart and muscles, just like typical cardio training.
Another study by Jason Talanian, (University of Gelph), found that after high intensity interval training, the body’s ability to burn fat increased. The effect persisted even during lower intensity activities that followed later, in other words, when the test subjects went about their normal daily activities.
The quicker, more intense workout has its drawbacks, though. In order to compress the time of the workout, you must spend most of the short workout going all out. The researchers admit that it is not for everyone, but if time constraints or thoughts of drudgery from long workouts keep you from getting the 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day that most public health agencies recommend, then this may be for you.
Steven Hill is a devoted fitness buff and online product reviewer. Learn more about the short workout methods that will revolutionize your weight loss or fitness program by visiting:12minuterevolution.weebly.com
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/must-fitness-or-weight-loss-equal-torture-999149.html
