I used to be one of those people who would say “how many calories have I burnt in my workout?”
A lot of us have a magic number (especially us girls) and those numbers can cause us all kinds of havoc. For example, scales, clothes, calories burnt.
When it came down to burning calories, my magic number was 600 per workout.
I would spend 60 minutes most days doing LSD (long slow duration) training either running or using the crosstrainer.
My results; I was hot, sweaty and a little tired. I wasn’t seeing much change to my body, but I was reaching my magic number of 600.
With there being very little change after all my effort I realised something had to give.
I started doing different forms of HIIT (high intensity interval training).
Tabata was one of my favourites because it was quick. One belt of exercise lasts only 4 minutes.
How it works: Take any exercise (burpees, mountain climbers etc) and give it your all for 20 seconds. After the time is up, take a 10 second rest. In total you will complete 8 rounds.
Simple and effective, but bloody hard work.
The first time I attempted a Tabata workout I experienced nausea (not to put you off). I completed 4 belts (16 minutes exercise) and I couldn’t of done more if I tried. I was exhausted which wasn’t a feeling I was used to.
A few weeks after starting HIIT the feeling of exhaustion had past and was replaced with energy.
My results; I was burning more fat, getting leaner and my recovery was improving tenfold. I was starting to see and feel a change and exercise was taking up less of my time.
HIIT isn’t the only training method that gets results. Anything can work, but you need to keep changing exercises/routines. When it comes to training, change is good.
Whatever exercise you do, do it to the best of your ability. Make sure you give it your all and remember if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.
Kate (SMPT)