Interval Training for Weight Loss

So you want to lose weight.join the crowd. Unfortunately, figuring out the best way to lose weight can be extremely confusing because of all the different magical elixirs and miracle plans available today. However, when in doubt, just keep it simple and stick the basics. It doesn't get any more fundamental than working out. Here's some information regarding interval training for successful, sustainable weight loss.

Essentially, interval training is a combination of spurts of high intensity workouts with low intensity periods of recovery. The magic behind this type of training is that your body stimulates both aerobic (involves oxygen) and anaerobic (doesn't involve oxygen) systems at the same time. This way, your body receives a full spectrum of benefits, simultaneously. Through interval training, you can actually get a full workout in under an hour, making it excellent for those of you who only have enough time to work out during your lunch breaks or briefly before or after work.

Now, as with any workout, it's crucial that you include a warmup in your workout program. Without a warmup, you risk the chance of pulling muscles or causing undue stress on your heart. To avoid those risks, start with a light pace by running in place or doing a light job on a treadmill. Once you get your pulse up to a good pace (take your pulse for fifteen seconds and multiply it by four or use a heart-rate monitor), then you can begin your burst of high intensity work. So, if you began with a light jog, you can now unleash your speed and get going into a nice sprint. It's important to note here though that everyone's body is different, and one person's sprint may be another person's jog. So make sure your burst of high intensity workouts are calibrated to your body's abilities. Don't over do it; everything should be gradual.

Because you'll actually be causing your body to lose some of its ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide (what most runners or gym goers refer to as "feeling the burn"), you won't be able to hold this intense pace for long and your muscles no longer have the same contraction power. When you feel this burn after a short period, then gradually reduce your pace just enough to where you can sustain that current pace for a longer period of time-this is the recovery period and marks the end of the cycle. Just keep repeating this cycle for healthy weight loss.