How Effective Is Interval Training
The Definition of Interval Training
For most athletes to maintain their speed, agility, and to strengthen their endurance, they have depended on interval training which is a type of physical and cardiovascular exercise that they do every day. Depending on their training program, there are varying degrees of intensity from slow rate, to moderate, to high speed, then to slow rate again which could be repeated several times. For effective results and for consistency purposes, training instructors time the athletes for an equal duration per interval with a required period of time per interval that is strictly followed.
How It Is Done
Interval training is done systematically for a specific period of time such as:
- Low speed to warm-up. This should be from 3-5 minutes.
- Moderate speed to high intensity. This is done by doing the moderate speed for 1 minute and then shifting to high intensity for another 1 minute, doing the same interval 6 to 8 times.
- Low speed to cooling-off– this is 3 to 5 minutes of low speed as you gradually slow down to cool off.
For the first phase of the three phase interval training, the above mentioned gives you everything on the basic and standard training. The second and third phases are intended for well conditioned athletes but you can still do these phases if you really want to level up your interval training. But you may want to start with the standard or the basic steps for several months. You can use the same basic routine for calisthenics, jogging, running, as well as bicycling or rowing.
How to Go about It
Now that you know what interval training is, how can you start your own interval training routine. This can simply be done by watching a video on athletes using an interval training program, familiarizing yourself on how they do it. Or you may be able to get a hold of some instructional videos regarding interval training. The preferred method would be to have a personal trainer who knows how to effectively use interval training.
You can either watch a video on interval training being performed by athletes, or you can get hold of some instructional videos that show how to do interval training step by step. Another option, which will give you better results, is to find a personal trainer or coach that will train you in the right way.
Since interval training has been widely used by the athletes, there should be no doubts about it being effective. If it wasn’t effective then most athletes wouldn’t bother to do this type of training at all.
Interval training could be a great choice for average individuals who want to drop the pounds fast. With interval training, it enhances the speed of the body’s metabolism that enables the body to burn fat faster. Making it easy to lose a great deal of weight in such a short period of time. This has been proven countless of times with athletes.