Interval Training For Weight Loss

When you’re a busy mum, taking time out of an otherwise packed schedule to squeeze in regular exercise can be a challenge in itself.
We know we need to exercise regularly for weight loss (and overall good health) but it’s not always as easy as it once may have been, pre-kids.
Once you’ve managed to find a gap in your day to exercise, the next thing you need to consider is how best to use that time.
This becomes doubly important when time is precious. You want a workout that utilises the time you have available (whether it’s 20 min or 60) and offers the best possible results.
It can be incredibly frustrating to commit yourself to working up a sweat three times a week but not see any real, visible results from the effort that you’re putting in.
If you’re finding that perhaps your workout regime needs a little bit of a kickstart, considering adding interval training to your week could be just what you’re looking for.
Interval training, sometimes referred to as high intensity interval training or (HIIT) is being touted as one of the best ways to minimise your training time while maximising your fat burning and weight loss.
So how does it work? Interval training is all about short bursts of intense exercise, interspersed with periods of recovery. When we’re talking about intense exercise, we mean something that gets your heart pumping and causes you to work hard.
This forms the difference between interval training and other workouts where you’ll often stick at the same pace for an extended period of time. An easy comparison is imagining a 40 minute walk from point A to point B, interspersed with bursts of running, versus a 40 minute moderately paced walk between the two points.
Both these exercises take the same amount of time and will get your body moving and start burning calories BUT studies have found that interval training will encourage your body to use more calories, in turn burning more fat, than a walk that has you remaining largely at the same pace.
Another great benefit? Interval training will see your body continue to burn calories, even after you’ve finished your workout! Bonus!
Incorporating interval training into your life isn’t tricky and can be done without any equipment or a gym membership (though you can always carry out your training on a cardio machine at the gym).
The important thing to remember is that you need to increase your heart rate, allow it to drop slightly, then raise it again.
Start out slowly and ease yourself in with the following:

• A 5 minute warm up followed by: 1 minute power walking/power pedalling/fast swimming – 2 minutes moderately paced walking/cycling/swimming – repeat for 20-40 minutes