Treadmill users seem to always be looking for a way to get the most out of their machines so they can lose weight faster. Many people find their search is over when they discover that doing HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) on their treadmills is the most efficient way to lose weight. The reason so many treadmill users stick to the HIIT program is not only does it work, but workouts are fast, efficient and interesting.

HIIT really became popular for treadmill owners when a study came out about a decade ago. The study involved test subjects who were put on exercise programs for five months. The subjects were put into two groups. The first group did steady pace cardio for 45 minutes. They started out at 60% of their maximum heart rate and by the time the study was over they were working out to 85% of their maximum heart rate.

The second group only did HIIT training for half an hour segments during the entire five months. Their exercise program consisted of warming up to 70% of their maximum heart rate, followed by an interval of ten seconds of exercise which lowered their heart rates. Then, the group did a 90 second intense interval of exercise that elevated their heart rates back up, followed by a less intense interval that brought their heart rates down. The entire 30 minutes of the workout, this was repeated over and over.

After the study was done experts concluded that the second group that had been doing HIIT used less energy and time working out during the five months. It was also found that the second group lost three times more fat than the other group, and the fat group two lost was primarily the fat that many people find so hard to get rid of, subcutaneous fat, or the fat that is directly beneath the skin.

HIIT is so effective because it makes your body need more oxygen. This is referred to as EPOC, or Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption. After a HIIT workout your body needs more oxygen to get back to a resting state. This means your body will still be burning calories hours and hours after your workout is over. One study that was completed in 2002 reported that the resting metabolic rate of the individuals they monitored was still increased two days later. HIIT lets you say goodbye to slow metabolism and hello to weight loss!

HIIT on a treadmill is fast and easy, but it is intense. Workouts should last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. Once you have warmed up, get your heart rate up to its maximum heart rate range. Follow this by intervals of exercise that will lower your heart rate and then raise it back up again. Change up the length of the intervals, or the number of intervals you do, depending on your personal preferences.

Experts recommend that HIIT be done two or three days a week. They don’t recommend doing it back to back because it is so intense. To relieve the stress on your body, put a day or two in between your HIIT routines. Don’t feel guilty on the days you aren’t doing HIIT, relax and know you are still burning calories and losing weight!

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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 5th, 2008 at 4:46 am and is filed under Exercise. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.