| If you're one of the many people struggling to | | | | Whenever you begin exercising your metabolism |
| keep up in the fast-paced world of cell phones, | | | | speeds up, and then it slows back down when |
| pagers, and laptops, with little time left for fitness, | | | | you finish. But with interval training, your |
| then intervals may be just what you're looking | | | | metabolism remains elevated, sometimes for as |
| for... | | | | long as 24 hours; so you're burning fat all day long! |
| For years, we've all heard if you want to lose fat | | | | The same can not be said for aerobics - once |
| you need to spend endless hours on a treadmill or | | | | you stop, your body returns to your normal |
| riding a bike. But thanks to new discoveries in | | | | resting metabolism. |
| cardiovascular training, that's no longer the case | | | | One of the more popular interval programs is the |
| as comparisons have shown that intervals (short | | | | "Sprint 8 Program". In essence, it's a 20 minute |
| bursts of get-out-of-breath sprints) are superior | | | | workout consisting of eight 30 second sprints with |
| to aerobics (long, slow distance training) for fat | | | | one and a half to two minutes of rest in between. |
| loss! | | | | It can be done by swimming, inline skating, |
| Here's why... | | | | running, power-walking, cycling or even running the |
| Interval training stimulates your body to release | | | | bleachers at your local high school or college. You |
| "growth hormone," or HGH. This hormone is | | | | can also use your favorite cardio machine - the |
| responsible for height growth in children, but once | | | | stair stepper, treadmill, cycle, or elliptical trainer. |
| you finish growing, it changes roles. HGH is the | | | | If you're ready for a fitness transformation, then |
| anti-aging hormone in adults; it signals the body to | | | | begin with a 10 minute warm-up and gradually |
| burn fat and grow muscle. Researchers have | | | | ramp up your speed on the first three sprints. Be |
| shown that a 30 second all-out sprint can increase | | | | sure to slow down for at least 90 seconds |
| HGH by as much as 530 percent! | | | | between sprints to recover for the next one. |
| Intervals also protect your muscles so you don't | | | | After completing the first three sprints, push |
| use them for fuel. This type of training drives | | | | yourself as hard as possible on the rest. Then |
| your muscles to exert a lot of force. So rather | | | | finish with 10 minute cool down. This program |
| than use them for energy, your body burns more | | | | works best if done every other day. |
| fat, thereby "sparing" your hard earned muscle. | | | | Interval training definitely requires a bit of |
| This effect is evident if you compare the | | | | motivation to crank up the intensity. But if you're |
| physique of a top sprinter to that of a top | | | | looking to embrace a healthier lifestyle, and are |
| marathon runner. | | | | short on time, intervals are the way to go! |
| Another benefit is the "metabolic" effect... | | | | |