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Want to Lose More Fat in Less Time?

Interval Training is Proven to Burn More Calories, Faster

Mar 9, 2009 Andrea Chrysanthou

Interval training is a short but intensive workout which alternates periods of high and low intensity exercise and it burns more calories than hours of jogging.

Interval training, also known as fartlek training, has long been used by athletes to improve endurance, cardiovascular strength, speed and power. Now the average people are realizing that this intensive workout, which lasts an average of no more than 20 minutes, is much better for you than long, drawn-out cardio.

This method of training is actually so successful that many Olympic athletes credit it with improving their performance. But it also has many benefits for people who have no interest in competitive sports.

Several studies have shown that interval training not only burns more calories during the actual workout, but that your metabolism stays elevated for up to 48 hours after your workout so you continue to burn more calories even at rest. Your performance in running, cycling, etc. will also improve quite quickly. Some athletes have reported an improvement in speed after just a couple of workouts. Recovery time also improves with this type of training. This means that the rest time you will need between workouts will not need to be as long.

Now, a new study from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland also found that interval training helps improve the body’s capability to process sugar, which could prevent diabetes.

While this type of training means you can get a full workout and get out of the gym quicker, it is by no means an easy workout. An average session begins with approximately 3-5 minutes of warm up and 3-5 minutes of cool-down. The rest of the workout involves intervals of slow jogs and very fast sprints. The jogs range between 1-2 minutes and the sprints are usually 30-60 seconds in length.

Sprinting at this very fast pace on the treadmill can be dangerous if you lose your footing so many experts recommend interval training on a bike.

Because the workout is so intense, it is also recommended that you get the green light from your doctor beforehand. You should also take at least one day off between training and that you chose light cardio on your off days. Finally, make sure you do not skip the warm up or cool down as your heart will be working very intensely and needs to be eased in and out of such a hard workout.

Still, just because it’s tough doesn’t mean you can’t slowly add this type of training to your routine. Begin with shorter sprints and longer jogs and gradually increase your sprint times and shorten your jogs.

The copyright of the article Want to Lose More Fat in Less Time? in Fitness is owned by Andrea Chrysanthou. Permission to republish Want to Lose More Fat in Less Time? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Choose interval training to burn calories faster