Answer: Interval Training / Sprinting

Interval Training is a type of physical training that involves burst of high intensity activity followed by low intensity activity. An example of this type of training could be running on a treadmill at a slow pace for three minutes and then increasing your pace for one minute…followed by decreasing it for another three minutes, then increasing it again for one minute. Another example would be sprinting. You could sprint 50 yards, jog or walk back to your starting point and sprint another 50 yards.

Interval training is considered one of the most effective methods of reducing fat. This type of training not only burns more calories than low intensity training but it also can be done in a shorter amount of time. It also stimulates your metabolism well after the workout is complete. Running has always been considered a great exercise to help shed unwanted fat. One drawback with running is your metabolism only speeds up during and maybe a short period after your run is complete. Interval Training / Sprinting on the other hand will boost your metabolism for hours and hours after your workout is complete, turning your body into a fat burning machine throughout the day!

The below plan is just one example of interval training, you should be able to use this technique with any fitness activity.

My Plan: I am going to incorporate interval training into my weekly workout schedule. I am going to start off by jogging 2 miles. I will treat the first mile as a warm-up so I will pretty much maintain the same pace the whole mile. Once I enter the second mile, I will increase my pace for 1-2 minutes and then slow it back down for another 2-3 minutes. I will repeat this process until the second mile is complete.

I am then going to run 40 yard sprints. I will at least do ten sprints but my goal will be twenty. I will determine a starting point and begin my sprints from there each time. Once I sprint 40 yards, I will jog back to the starting line and immediately sprint another 40 yards making that my second sprint.

If you include the two mile run and assume I did twenty sprints, this workout should be completed in less than 35 minutes. The results from this workout will far exceed a 35 minute same pace low intensity workout…so you basically get a lot more bang for your buck!