Interval training for a robust heart

To exercise in interval training mode, swim one fast lap, rest, after which swim one other fast lap. Image: Thinkstock

It helps construct cardiovascular fitness with short workouts.

Have you heard of interval training but unsure how it really works and if it's best for you? Interval training simply means alternating short periods of intense exercise with short periods of rest (or a special, less intense activity). The payoff is improved cardiovascular fitness.

You can test-drive interval training by changing up your current exercise routine. To get a cardiac boost from interval training, you have to be willing to push yourself near your limits, no less than briefly. Three 20-minute sessions per week can add excitement to your exercise experience and boost cardiovascular fitness.

What is interval training?

The guidelines recommend that men get 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. In practice, this may very well be half-hour of exercise five days every week. A brisk walk is a great example of moderate exercise, but any form of activity counts so long as it requires some physical effort and gets your heart rate up. The guidelines say you may meet your goal with half the quantity of high-intensity exercise (75 minutes). In this case, a classic example can be jogging or vigorous lap swimming.

The observed relationship between exercise intensity and duration is what makes interval training work—but it's possible you'll need to interrupt a sweat. “High intensity basically means you exercise at a higher intensity or pace than you can otherwise sustain for five to 10 minutes before fatigue,” says Knuttgen. In interval training, “you do a high-speed exercise for one minute, then rest, then repeat.”

Some men find it stimulating to push their boundaries. Others find it offensive. “A man might think it's not so fun,” notes Knuttgen. But do not forget that you don't necessarily have to persist with interval training on a regular basis. For example, you may do interval training sooner or later and switch to long-duration, moderate-intensity exercise the following day.

Here are a couple of ways to adapt your normal workout into an interval training session:

swimming Swim one lap as fast as you may. Rest for concerning the same period of time it took you to swim a lap. Repeat.

to walk Walk as fast as you may for a minute or two. Then walk comfortably for a similar period. Repeat.

Gym machines.. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, and stationary bicycles often have a built-in interval training function to place you thru your paces.

What are the advantages?

Interval training means that you can complete the identical amount of exercise “work” in less time. This could make it easier to suit exercise right into a busy day or open up a time slot so as to add in some strength training. If you may reduce your half-hour of moderate exercise to fifteen or 20 minutes of interval training, the cardiovascular profit ought to be the identical.

As fitness improves, you need to feel higher, with more endurance and more squats. However, cardiovascular training doesn't significantly improve muscle strength or power. Even elite marathoners don't have exceptionally strong leg muscles, Nutgen explains. But their hearts and lungs work together at their best.

No matter what form of cardiovascular training you select, it's essential to do it usually to see improvements. “Three days a week is a good recommendation — more if you can, but not too less and definitely not just once a week,” says Knuttgen.

Is it protected?

In an otherwise healthy man, interval training shouldn't pose a serious risk, unless you dive too fast. “If you haven't done it before, start slowly,” says Knuttgen. “As you find the exercise easier, you can increase the intensity.”

If you've heart disease or hypertension, talk over with your doctor before starting interval training or some other latest exercise program—especially in the event you've been relatively inactive up until this point.

You can reduce the danger of muscle or joint strain by starting with a light-weight warm-up before exercise to loosen up your joints and get the blood flowing. Be prepared to “feel the burn” after your difficult latest workout. It's normal to feel sore for a day or two as your muscles heal. A day without work between workouts is a great general practice.

How to get into the aerobic zone Aerobic exercise gets your lungs and heart pumping to deliver oxygen to your muscle cells, which use it to supply energy. You can use your heart rate to seek out the extent of exercise that can get you into the aerobic zone and increase cardiovascular fitness. Subtract your age from 220 and estimate your maximum heart rate during exercise. Exercising between 60% and 70% of your expected maximum heart rate is sufficient to extend cardiovascular fitness. If you may steadily condition your way as much as 80%, the fitness advantages might be much more significant. Using a wearable heart rate monitor can assist you stay within the aerobic zone and show advantages as your fitness improves.