High Intensity TrainingTransform Your Body in No TimeHigh Intensity Training is arguably one of the most demanding, yet effective training methods known to man. The beauty of this training technique is that it lends itself to inducing a whole host of physical benefits including fat loss, conditioning, increased muscle tone, size and strength and increased cardiovascular fitness. Exercise intensity refers to how hard the body has to work to complete the exercise. The greater the intensity, the more demand placed on the body and the greater the stimulus for physical adaptation. As a general rule of thumb, exercise intensity is disproportional to exercise duration. In other words, the greater the intensity, the quicker fatigue sets in and exercise intensity must be reduced or the bout ceased. For example, a heavy set of kettlebell swings can be tolerated by your average fitness enthusiast for a few minutes before fatigue becomes such that the exercise intensity must be reduced. Enter HIIT!Traditionally, high intensity training has been strongly associated with resistance or weight training. However, in recent years a new kid on the block has appeared – High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT. This type of intense training employs the use of exercises such as high rep kettlebell training, running, cycling, rowing and callisthenics.HIIT comprises of repeated bouts of very hard exercise interspersed with periods of recovery. The recovery periods are crucial as they enable the trainee to perform at the required intensity repeatedly before excessive fatigue sets in. Exercise selection is key when employing HIIT. Choose exercises which stimulate large amounts of muscle mass as the greater the muscle mass used, the more calories are burned off. I personally suggest using full body kettlebell exercises such as the kettlebell swing, snatch or jerk. Alternatively the exercises listed above, or a combination of all has been used to great effect by many of my clients and other trainees. Notably when performing HIIT exercises such as running, the level of intensity required should be sufficient to elicit a heart rate that is approximately 90% of maximum. It is possible to burn off a significant amount of calories using HIIT due to the intensity of the exercise. This fact alone is why high intensity training is becoming incredibly popular amongst those looking to lose fat quickly. Another benefit of employing HIIT is that it can help to substantially increase metabolic rate which also has major implications for fat loss programs. The days of performing endless hours on the treadmill in the fat burning zone are drawing to an end as scientific research indicates that high intensity training has much more to offer! The great thing about performing high intensity workouts is that they can be kept short due to their intense nature. More is definately not better with this type of training! This lends itself very well to those who find making the time for lengthy workouts difficult. I personally recommend that high intensity training sessions should take no longer than 45 minutes to complete including warm up and cool down! The articles listed in the following section have been written by me to help explain how high intensity works so well. In addition you will find information containing sample workouts that can be completed in as little as 4 minutes. That’s right folks, 4 minutes can be enough to induce a significant training effect! IMPORTANT:- The articles on this web site have been written for information purposes only. Prior to engaging in any program of physical exercise please visit your Doctor or G.P. for a thorough health check. High Intensity Training Articles and ResourcesThe Concept Behind 20 Minute WorkoutsMy Favourite 20 Minute Workouts. Super Charged 10 Minute Workouts. 4 Minute Fitness, The Tabata Method. Kettlebell Fat Loss e-book Review Sandbag Workouts - Simple and Effective. How to Make Your Own Sandbag Cheaply.
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