You got it correctly! If you know what you’re doing throughout your exercises, cutting down the amount of time you spend at the gym doesn’t have to prevent you from getting a good workout. In addition, there is not all that much complexity involved.
Interval training is generally seen as the superior method of physical exercise, according to the findings of a recent research that were covered in an article published by Science Daily. The fundamental method? Strive, take a break, and continue. Studies are showing that a more effective way to gain endurance, speed, and strength than going at it steadily for a longer amount of time is to increase your heart rate for one or two minutes, then slow down for one or two minutes, and continue this pattern for the whole of your exercise.
Shorter Workouts Lead To Better Health?
Interval training is said to be beneficial because it helps prevent our wonderful bodies from becoming used to the same kind of exercise that we do on a consistent basis. If you walk two miles every day for many weeks, you may be able to maintain your legs toned. However, after the first week or so of this increased level of exercise, it’s possible that you won’t burn as many calories since your body has accustomed to it. It is possible for you to save time while obtaining a more effective exercise by walking one mile in intervals of one minute at a faster speed followed by two minutes of walking at a slower pace.
Changing the duration of the intervals is the critical step. Perform repetitions of one minute at a fast pace and two minutes at a leisurely pace for one week. Try doing two minutes at a rapid pace (not so fast that you can’t breathe, but fast enough that you’re out of breath) and one minute at a slow pace the following week, or try doing two minutes at a fast pace and three minutes at a moderate pace. This inhibits the body from knowing what to expect.
This might be the answer for those of you who are perplexed as to why you are not losing weight despite the fact that you are consistently exercising on the treadmill for one hour every day. Before beginning a new fitness routine, it is important to consult with your primary care physician, particularly if you have preexisting medical conditions.
Doing interval workouts was definitely the key for me as I tried to lose weight last year while home schooling three boys and not wanting to spend tons of money on child care or a health club membership. In 30 to 45 minutes, I could get a decent workout in and see results fairly quickly, which kept me motivated to keep looking for the time to fit in another workout.
Interval training also allowed me to go from couch to 10k in the space of three weeks last year. No kidding. While I am NOT recommending this route to anyone, I will report that even though I had never, ever run 3 consecutive miles, let alone any race of any length before, I finished the Run to the Pub 10k after beginning my training in late February.
Was I a running phenomenon, taking the race by storm, winning my age group and stunning onlookers with my performance? Please. My form sucked and I was very slow. But I didn’t finish last, I had a great time, and I did something I never would have believed I could accomplish, which included drinking a cold beer after running 6.2 miles.
Here’s another great article on interval training from the New York Times.