Health Tips : Long Cardio Workouts And Fat Loss
The Internet could be a good resource for health and fitness information, but it’s great that you are double-checking your findings.
In particular because there isn’t much support for the claim that long cardio workouts cause your body to store more fat. Nonetheless, there is good evidence that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an effective fat-buster.
HIIT, or interval training, is characterized by alternating between periods of high- and low-intensity activity during a workout.
For example, instead of running at a steady pace for 30 minutes, you may alternate between sprinting for one minute and then walking or jogging for two minutes. This fast/slow technique seems to maximize fat-burning.
As reported by a research study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, participants burned more fat (and showed improved cardiovascular fitness) after only seven sessions of HIIT over two weeks.
HIIT might work by training mitochondria (the cell’s energy centers) to burn fat calories before carbohydrate calories.
In general, high-intensity or aerobic exercise burns more fat than low-intensity exercise. For example, you will burn more fat calories by running for 30 minutes compared to power walking for the same period of time.
What counts as “high” or “low” intensity exercise varies from individuals to individuals, and also depends on your heart rate.
Be sure to check out Body fat and exercise intensity to calculate your target heart rate during a high intensity workout.
Nearly all fitness professionals also recommend mixing up your workouts to incorporate weight training along with aerobic activity in order to build muscle and burn fat more efficiently.
Locating a selection of ways to train that you truly enjoy (whether it’s cycling, dancing, running, or yoga) will also help you burn more fat in the long run – if you’re having fun, you could be more likely to train longer and more often, and avoid burnout.
Before you begin interval training or begin a new exercise regimen, you could want to speak with your health care provider.