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Interval Training For Fat Loss And Maximum Calorie Burning Part One

By Alexander Gruezo

Interval training is one of the most important things you should include in your fitness program! The number one goal for people, in their pursuit to look better and feel better, is, hands down, fat loss. General weight loss doesn't cut it because the fact of the matter is that if the weight loss comes in the form of muscle loss or water loss then this does nothing for your outward appearance or your health. If you lose muscle, you will lose that lean and defined look. If you lose water, to some extent you may be a little more defined, but too much water loss may be detrimental to your health.

The trick then is how does one maintain the muscle while still losing the fat? The answer to that is INTERVAL TRAINING. Up to now most people think interval training is used strictly for cardio but this article will also show you how to apply it to resistance training as well so that not only are you burning fat but you are also gaining lean muscle.

The idea behind interval training is to take advantage of what exercise physiologists call EPOC, which stands for excess post oxygen consumption. I know I know… What in the world is that?

EPOC, in layman's term, basically has to do with the amount of extra oxygen you are taking in after your workout above what you normally would take in if you were to not work out at all. The reason for this EPOC, simply put, has to do with recovery. This extra oxygen is used in processes such as replenishment of fuel stores, hormone balancing, cellular repair, innervation, and anabolism (build-up). All of these processes have one thing in common… They require energy.

When we are no longer working out or are resting, the predominant fuel source to provide this energy is… FAT.

A second fuel source will be carbohydrates. The reason carbohydrates is not the predominant fuel source at rest is because your body would much rather use that when it needs energy to perform moderate to strenuous work such as exercise. So the harder you exercise, the more your body needs to recover. The more your body needs to repair and recover, the more fat is needed to fuel these processes. The more fat needed also means the more fat burned. When is all this happening? That's right…

It's all happening when you are resting!

If you are not using some type of interval training in your fitness routine, then you are missing out on a tremendous amount of fat loss and calorie burning potential. Whether it is resistance training or traditional cardio, incorporating interval training into these two fitness components will only accelerate your fitness goals.

There are three routines I will provide in Part 2 of this article using the concept of interval training but know that you only need to perform one. Option 1 is for those who do not enjoy your standard cardio (jogging, running, elliptical, spinning, etc) and would much rather hit the weights and do resistance training, Option 2 is for those of you who do enjoy traditional cardio, and Option 3 is for those of you who are HARDCORE.

So give interval training a try. I guarantee you won't regret it.

About the Author:

Alexander Gruezo is located in New York, NY. He has an M.S. in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. He holds multiple certifications, which include but are not limited to CSCS, PES, USAW, and KBC Senior Kettlebell Instructor. He is a sought out EXPERT in the fitness industry for people who are SERIOUS about getting in shape and being healthy. Please visit his website at: www.no-bs-nyc-personal-trainer.com