Interval training: More workout in less time (and you can do it)

You’ve heard it a million times — exercise benefits your body, your brain, and your quality of life. You’re sold, but the problem is it can be hard to carve the needed time out of a busy day. If your schedule is putting the squeeze on your workouts, there may be a way to get the same fitness benefits in less time: interval training. Interval training uses short bursts of strenuous activity to ramp up your heart rate and boost your fitness. The word strenuous probably sounds a little scary if your fitness level is closer to couch potato than super athlete, but interval training can work for almost anyone. “If done properly, it can be safe for the vast majority of people,” says Dr. Meagan Wasfy, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. The trick is to define “high intensity” based on your fitness. For an elite athlete, high intensity might mean grueling wind sprints, but if you’re not that fit, it might be as simple as incorporating a few brief periods of speed walking or slow jogging into your morning walk. Getting started with interval training While interval training is safe for most people, it might not be appropriate for those with heart problems, breathing disorders, or other medical conditions. So, as with any new exercise regimen, it’s always a good idea to get clearance from your doctor before you begin. Once you get the go-ahead, you can start incorporating intervals into your fitness p...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Diet and Weight Loss Exercise and Fitness Health Source Type: blogs