Have you ever tried interval training?
Interval training is one of the most common trends in the fitness world today. If you’ve had any interest in trying it, you have to know what it’s all about:
Here is your guide to interval training:
How to Interval Train
You may be able to figure out from the name. Interval training is training in intervals. Basically, you alternate between short bursts of exercise and short periods of rest. In doing so, your heart rate is elevated, and you get a good workout.
Interval training can be done with any form of exercise. For instance, if you are a runner, you could alternate between running hard for 30 seconds and jogging or walking slowly for a minute or two.
Interval training works the same way in the gym. If you’re lifting weights, try to lift a lighter weight for a short period of time, such as 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds. You’ll definitely feel the burn.
The Benefits
So why do interval training? Here are a few reasons:
It burns a lot of calories. Even though you rest more often, your heart rate will be elevated to a calorie-burning level. As long as you keep up the intensity, you’ll get a great workout.
It’s time efficient. If you find yourself without enough time to get a workout in, interval training might be good for you. If you are diligent and disciplined about your intervals, you can get a fantastic workout in less time than a traditional workout.
It can improve your endurance. If you push yourself during your working sets, your aerobic conditioning will improve. Over time, you’ll find yourself doing more intense work in a shorter amount of time.
You don’t need any equipment. If you’re motivated and disciplined, you can get a good workout with no equipment necessary. You can do interval training in a million different ways. The only requirement is effort and consistency.
Interval Training Examples
If you need some ideas for what interval training to do, check these out!
HIIT (High intensity interval training):
This is probably the most popular form of interval training. It is also open for interpretation. Basically, you work as you can for a period of 30 seconds to 3 minutes, then rest and repeat.
AMRAP (As many reps as possible):
If you’ve taken a Virtual Team Training Class on the FNS Online Training Center, you’re probably familiar with AMRAPs. Basically, an AMRAP is a circuit of workouts that you complete as many times as you can over a given time.
Example: 10 pushups, 10 squats, 10 burpees for 5 minutes.
Fartlek: It’s a funny name, but it’s Swedish for ‘speed play’. Fartleks are very popular with runners. To perform a fartlek, run (or do whatever your desired exercise is) at a fast pace for a certain period of time, then rest for the same amount of time. Repeat several times.
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