Sprints

[MOuellette]

I was reading a recent study which showed that if you don't want to spend a lot of time in the gym a good workout to lose bodyfat is a sprint workout.

Basically, the article stated that by working out in short, but intense spurts your growth hormones are working harder after your workout than if do a long aerobic workout.

I was wondering if anyone had tried this type of workout and if so did they have any success with it.

The article is located at: http://www.musclemedia.com/magazine/v87/v87_research.asp

[KValley]

Hi Mouellette,

I haven't read this article, but I think sprints would be considered "interval" training, or a form thereof. Interval training basically means alternating spurts of high intensity exercise with periods of low, or "recovery", before you take up the intensity again.

THe idea behind interval training is that you burn more calories in less time and boost your metabolism and aerobic capacity.

The literature I've read recommends no more than two high intensity interval training sessions a week (say, a 30-40 minute session on a piece of cardio equipment at the gym)- complementing this with endurance training sessions (say, a 50-60 minute workout on a cardio machine at a lower, steady intensity).

The December issue of SHAPE magazine has an article and sample workouts on just this topic.

Since January, I've been incorporating a high intensity interval workout a couple of times a week a la SHAPE. I really like it- the sweat just rolls off- and I've been able to increase my resistance on the cardio machines during endurance or just lower intensity workouts at a faster pace. I think it really is making a difference in my endurance and strength. It also breaks up the monotony of gym workouts and got me through a winter slump.

I'm editing this message because I am just now reading through this article and all sorts of warning bells are going off for me: it really knocks doing any endurance aerobic exercise in favor of high intensity only.

Again, I plead in favor of balance, for long-term benefits. I like to hike long-distance, so I really need/want to continue endurance training for stamina, as well as continue the high intensity for a metabolism boost and increased aerobic capacity.

Besides, the article knocks the shape of marathoners and I've seen some pretty fine bodies of long-distance runners, men and women alike! And there is something to be said for genetics- no amount of sprinting is ever going to make me built like Jackie Joyner Kersee...



[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 03-29-2001).]