High Intensity Training & Body Fat

Like many people out there, you may believe that burning body fat requires a lot of cardio especially if you are trying to tone your thighs and butt.

Although cardio can help you burn extra calories and fat, you may want to rethink things a bit.

The truth is, cardio is just okay when it comes to burning body fat. All in all, it may not really help you reach your long-term fitness goals.

So what’s the answer? High intensity training.

High intensity and high intensity interval training (HITT) are actually more effective methods of attaining a lean, toned body and burning crazy amounts of fat in shorter periods of time.

High intensity training involves really intense bursts of energy and physical activity that typically can only be maintained for a minute or so. A good example is sprinting, which effectively increases your heart rate in just a few seconds and has you burning a ton of calories and fat in the process.

High intensity training is also great for improving your lung capacity and for building lean muscle mass. You also won’t burn any muscle tissue, which is a major problem with sustained low intensity cardiovascular exercise, like jogging. These old methods of weight loss are not going to give you the toned physique you’re looking for.

In fact, I would recommend replacing all of your traditional cardio workouts with high intensity training. Sprinting is one great option. You can also make use of the cardio equipment at the gym by introducing intervals to your routine (check out my workouts Ultimate Treadmill Workout Routine & Elliptical Workouts). Rather than a steady pace, try alternating between 2-minute intervals of high and low intensity. This will help you make major gains in your cardiovascular capacity and have you burning a lot more fat.

Burpees are another great option for high intensity training, as are walking lunges. You can also incorporate high intensity training into your typical weight training program by alternating quickly between single sets of exercises that target different muscle groups. For example, performing a set of bicep curls followed quickly by a set of tricep kickbacks. Throw in some sprinting for good measure, and you’ll be working up a sweat in no time.

If you’re looking to change things up and get intense about your fat burning efforts, here’s what to do: For the next month, dedicate 2 of your workout days to high intensity training. That’s right, all you’re going to do is high intensity training exercises. These workouts probably won’t last as long, but trust me, you’ll feel the burn in no time.

Sprinting is a great option if you’re starting out and looking to get intense. It can be done outside, or you can make use of a local gym. But if you can’t find the right space, then utilize some cardio equipment and try interval training. Just make sure you really push yourself! It’s the only way to see results.

Make sure you follow up your high intensity training sessions with a good protein shake. Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion is a great option. Combined with a good post-workout supplement like Scivation Xtend, you’ll be on your way to seeing major reductions in body fat and a more toned physique!

Have any questions or feedback about high intensity training and body fat? Please leave a comment below…

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