For many of us the hardest part about working out is motivation. This could be due to the fact that you haven’t made fitness a priority; when you’ve always got something more important on your plate it’s all too easy to put your health on the back burner.
Or maybe you’ve been exercising diligently and you’re simply not seeing the results you want, a situation that can be frustrating and discouraging.
It could even be that you simply don’t find your exercise routine particularly challenging or fun.
Whatever your reasons for skipping the workout day after day, the truth is that you need to find ways to get motivated, and interval training can provide you with several benefits that might just move you to get your butt off the couch and into gear.
Here are a few benefits of interval training to consider:
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Burn more calories.
Whether you’re trying to lose weight or you want to bulk up, your potential to burn calories can play a big role in getting the results you want faster. But how can it work both ways? Burning calories is obviously necessary when it comes to losing weight. But when you’re trying to bulk, utilizing exercise routines that help you to cut fat even as you’re building muscle are essential to ensuring that your increased caloric intake becomes muscle rather than fat. This is where interval training can help you to meet all of your fitness goals.
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Build or tone muscle.
Weight training and a high-protein diet is the best way to bulk. But if you want to continue to see results it’s a good idea to cross train. Interval training can offer an excellent supplement to weight lifting because it helps you to use many of your muscle groups simultaneously in ways that are designed to keep you toned or even build muscle. In addition, high-intensity routines can get your heart pumping, improving cardiovascular function. In short, interval training can benefit your body on multiple levels.
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No equipment or facilities required.
Although you can certainly use weights, bands, and other equipment throughout the course of interval training in order to up the intensity and challenge yourself, all you really need is your own body weight to see results. Further, many types of interval training can be done at home, outdoors, or in any locale you choose. So whether you’re running, jumping, doing push-ups and pull-ups, lunging, or squatting, you’ll no doubt enjoy the ability to practice your routine anywhere.
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Stave off boredom.
The awesome thing about interval training is that you can change it up every time you work out. Unlike plodding along on a treadmill or a stair climber, this free-form activity allows you the flexibility to create new routines constantly and even change your setting. This makes it a great option for those who easily get bored with an exercise routine. For some exercise ideas, check out the Swole post about HIIT training.
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Boost your metabolism.
Studies have shown that interval training actually increases the production of human growth hormones both during and after exercise for up to twenty-four hours. This means that your metabolism speeds up, helping you to burn fat. If you’re looking for alternatives to the Atkins or HCG diet when it comes to losing weight or cutting, this is a great way to avoid supplements and fad diets alike.
Combining high intensity interval training with weight training, can help you evolve your physique and conditioning to the next level. Even interval training alone can make the difference between a 6 pack and a ‘keg’. Don’t wait any longer though. Try interval training tomorrow and I can promise you that you will want to add it to your regular routine.
Tags: Conditioning, fitness, high intensity interval training, high intensity training, hiit, interval training, intervals, Weight Training, weightlifting
Great article, interval training is great to throw in as variety when you get bored of your regular workouts.