Is Interval Training the Most Effective Way to Burn Fat?

Lots of people seem to think it is, so let’s take a closer look

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ou have probably heard a lot about interval training lately and have some questions about what it is, and how it is done. This has also been called high intensity interval training (HIIT) and shown up on TV in magazines, at the gym and about everywhere else you look. But what the hell is it?

Well this is basically how it works. You do some cardio but instead of just going along at a steady pace for an hour you mix it up and sprint, peddle really fast, swim hard, or whatever you are doing all out for about 30 seconds to a minute then return to your normal pace. Instead of doing an hour of the exercise you reduce it to about 20-30 minutes and up your intensity to really push yourself hard.

The same concept can be applied to weight lifting. For example instead of doing 3 sets of 8 of bench press and then 3 sets of 8 of bent over rows with 90 seconds of rest between each set you up your intensity and do it like this.

• Set of 8 Bench press – rest 30 seconds
• Set of 8 Bent Over Rows – rest 60 seconds
• repeat for 3 sets

So you have reduced your overall workout time, upped your intensity and you keep your heart rate elevated. The advantage of this style of training is three-fold.

1. It is something you are probably not used to so you get better results because you are exposing your body to a different style of training.
2. You burn more calories because you are mixing spurts of high intensity with periods of active rest
3. It is a lot of fun, which keeps you motivated and training harder longer

So now that you know what interval training is and how to do it, you probably have more questions like:

• Can I build a whole program around it?
• Can I do this every day?
• How can I mix this with my regular program?
• What kind of diet should I follow?

Well, unfortunately this is where I have to defer to an expert on the subject. Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness. Craig has an outstanding program called Turbulence Training that answers all these questions and lots more I have not brought up. If you buy Turbulence Training from this link you also get lots of free bonus e-books that are a tremendous value. Right now this is the absolute best book and program on interval training on the internet and I suggest you get it now before the price goes up or the free bonuses go away.

Good Luck and Train Hard!

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