@FreeChaos@

>

I think you mean that in your opinion running isn't an interesting or even fun way to get fit. Because obviously one can get very fit from running (heck even walking briskly can keep one somewhat fit!)

peters4n6

@FreeChaos:

Taekwondo is a waste of time and isn't a useful Martial art. Pick any other one and it will be more useful than taekwondo. Body weight exercises only get you so far strength wise.

Pick up some heavy weight and do some Deadlifts and ATG Squats. Heavy compound movements also trigger hormones to build muscle and melt fat.

Interval training is a great way to cut some weight.

P.S.
taekwondo sucks.

Scalvo2

In my opinion, running isn't a great way to get fit. I prefer learning something or doing something while I work out. For example, if I learn taekwondo (which involves lots of squats, isometrics, pushups, situps, etc) I learn a very useful skill *and* I'm getting a great workout. Running... why not just ride a bike?

FreeChaos

@FreeChaos:

Running is fine exercise although it is most effective in conjunction with resistance training and exercises that focus on core strength and flexibility. You will not attain all-around fitness just running or doing taekwondo.

If your time was so limited that you could only pick one activity, swimming is actually your best bet (you'd still need to mix it up with a variety of strokes, use paddles/training fins/pull buoys, etc.), not any of the martial arts. And yes, most serious swimmers incorporate interval training in their workouts.

Deprong Mori

@Scalvo2:

But we do more than *just* taekwondo at our school. It's actually surprisingly useful.

@peters4n6:

Yeah, that's what I meant. Running will get you fit, sure, but it seems boring and like there are better, more productive ways of getting fit.

Or, it may just be that I never got a good pair of running shoes. Not sure.

FreeChaos

I use Podrunner to keep my pace when walking, and tried using their Intervals mix, but it wasn't for me. I lost ~80 lbs, and my legs are still big/muscley from having to carry my old weight. They're great for walking, and the occasional sprint, but for jogging/running, not so much.

[www.djsteveboy.com] is the intervals site.

Git Em SteveDave has a crush on the Swedes

I like where this thread is going....

Brad

@gann: Speak for yourselves, I always give at least 340%. Go for complete internal organ failure, or don't go at all.

rscotta

@jarhead: I know a guy that once gave 200%. He's never been the same since.

Gann

@Gann: 105% will slap you around... but just a little.

jarhead

@jarhead: What if you only give it 105%? Will it just slap you around a little? I imagine at 100% you'd probably just get a harsh warning.

Gann

Not to mention that interval training will so kick your ass if you give 110% (which is a good thing).

@Scalvo2: Agreed! Taekwondo is not a useful martial art. But if it keeps you in shape, stick with it.

jarhead

The ultimate interval workout is Tabata. Basically, it involves doing as many repetitions as possible of an exercise (like pushups) in 20 seconds and then resting for 10 seconds. Do this for 8 sets for a complete Tabata exercise. The idea is that you can do alot more of the exercise this way (and in the same amount of time) than you could of just doing the exercise straight without resting. It works for any type of exercise, including running.

lobo78

These comments are great!

I agree TechTalk WRLR 98.3FM that it should be added in and not your sole reliant form of exercise. The wider the variety, the better. Even though intervals burn more calories, you have to be careful during the "hard" parts as it can be quite taxing. I wouldn't do it every day just as I don't do my weight lifting every day.

That said, I do like running, but I get an equally nice workout from boxing (just hitting a bag), jumping rope, and even backpacking across local trails. If you've got a friend to play, basketball is one of the more taxing workouts you can get, in my opinion.

Also, since martial arts was brought up, what would you all say would be the art that requires the most energy, output, strength, etc.? I've always wondered this, and since it's a topic here, I figured I'd ask.

AbrogatedOrder

@FreeChaos: You think running isn't useful? Just wait till the Zombie Apocalypse, and you'll wish you were a Kenyan ;)

AndyMan1

just wanted to say there was an article in a recent men's healthy magazine with basically the same idea and a 10 week plan

ive been on it for 3 weeks and changed my diet only minorly, i lift on a regular basis, but run almost every day on this program, it takes no more than 20-30 minutes

since ive started im down 15 lbs, and lifting alot more than i used to, this is a really really good plan, IT WORKS

hydawo

inre some of the negative feedback ... hopefully no one reads one of these articles and says 'aha! thats the one exercise i will now do for the rest of my life, bar none' ... these are just tips and tweaks for a well-rounded exercise routine.

Kind of like if spinach is known as the food highest in 3 essential vitamins (i'm not saying it is so stuff your comments already, this is what's known in the biz as a hypothetical statement) doesn't mean you should then eat spinach for every meal ... but it does mean you should consider adding it to your otherwise healthy and well-rounded diet.

vis a vis, adding interval training to your other cardio and anaerobic exercises.

TechTalk WRLR 98.3FM

@jarhead: LOL, I can't top that.

rscotta

In defense of taekwondo, it does help with overall balance and coordination, plus you can beat the living CRAP out of middle school kids (unless you're also a middle school kid). Grappling/wrestling seem more effective at conditioning, though.

All that said, hell, if it gets you outta your seat, do whatever you enjoy.

rscotta

@rscotta: Careful there wild man... hit 500% and you disintegrate... it's entertaining to watch but messy nonetheless.

jarhead

WARNING: don't anyone ever try to exceed 100% of their capability because the result is instant death. If indeed it were possible to exceed 100%, then 100% would not be 100% would it?

anyways, I like interval training. If I decide to ever do exercise again I will probably try to utilize interval training into my routine.

Fierock

@Jarhead: Yeah but what if the cop is giving 120%? (Couldn't resist.)

rscotta

@AbrogatedOrder: Good q re: martial arts. I would think boxing would be a contender -- I read earlier today that it's essentially the upper-body equivalent of sprinting. Plus, the fights last longer, so there's more energy spent. Just conjecture though.

rscotta

@AndyMan1: Zombie Apocalypse? On the happiest day of the year? How cool would that be?

But seriously... running is very useful. How else are you going to out run the doughnut-eating, 300 pound fat a@@ cop that you decided to smack upside the head just for fun?

jarhead

Apparently I'm more ignorant about exercise than I thought, I've never heard of interval training. This sounds perfect for me as I really don't have a lot of time to commit to a long workout. I'll have to find some more info. Thank you LH!

@FreeChaos - I agree about the whole running thing. I'd much rather ride my bike.

smartfather

i second the suggestion for tabata routines. I think the article is a little misleading into thinking that "intervals" are the key. It's sprinting that's effective and jogging that's not. Moderate exercise just does not compare to hardcore exercise. The only reason why you do intervals is because your (or most ppl's) body cannot sustain the sprint for very long... hence you rest and repeat.

substance12

Will this help deflate man boobs?

tonynyc

@tonynyc: Yes but I highly suggest buying a manzier for the proper support. You don't want the moobies flopping around during sprinting, it's dangerous and can also cause chaffed nipples.

hummer13

a) TKD does not, inherently, suck. ANY martial art can suck if it's not practiced/applied correctly. It is far more accurate to say, "THE TKD I'VE SEEN TENDS TO SUCK.." or the like. I used TKD quite successfully in many street situations while living in DC.

It's not the Art but the artist that matters.

b) Interval training does not refer solely to running/sprinting exercises. Do anything (heh) with great intensity for a short period and you'll burn far more calories than you would in far longer, less intense activity.

I read somewhere recently that FOUR SECONDS of maximum exertion on a spinning cycle was the cardio equivalent of something like 20 MINUTES at a more leisurely pace.

The hard part, according to the researchers, was finding people willing and able to push themselves to that exertion limit.

Try it: crank the tension/resistance on a cycle or rowing device and try to get it going as fast as humanly possible. Go flat freaking out for 10 seconds from the moment you get it to max speed. It will take you far far longer to get your heart rate back under control than if you'd plodded along for 20-30 minutes on your normal setting.

Note: Gyms tend to hate when you do this to their equipment.

gyffes

An *easy* interval training exercise. Warm up 2min jog then run flat out as fast as you can for 15 seconds, then rest 45. Repeat X5 all in a row. Cooldown jog/ walk for 3 min. There you go 10Min is all you need and you got a good workout. Depending on your fitness level you might need to add more 15/45. They key thing to do is really, really give it your all when you run. When you use this in conjuction with proper weightlifting and timed carb diet I can 99.9% Guarantee you will see massive results. Even Just interval exercises will help greatly.

Although I thought they were called interval because you do these in between your other workout days and mainly do this to actually get cardio in. As say bodybuilders would do this every other day on their rest day to maximize fatloss and get the effects of cardio. Do not do intervals with low intensity/long periods because it is pretty much a waste of time to do so.

thesupreme1

@FreeChaos:

Ride a bike..... why not run?

EricCartman

Crossfit anyone?

I use weights for a cardio workout... try doing as many chinups/pushups/situps/squats as you can in 4 minutes and you'll know what i'm talking about :)

I'm a personal trainer, and I get all my clients doing intervals. I think it compliments the human design more than other styles of exercise (resistance training, long distance training etc)... the results speak for themselves.

Humans have evolved over 150,000 years to perform in intervals i.e. hunting,foraging etc. It makes sense to be true to our physiology, and intervals do exactly that.

I whole heartedly recommend anyone to give it a go. Not only do you save time, it is an incredibly effective way to get fit.

More info here: www.cavemanpower.com

matthendrix

@tonynyc: We so need a cure for moobies...

jarhead

Running obviously isn't for everyone, but for me it is one of the few exercises that I really enjoy. Some of the best things about it are:
1) It is cheap.
2) You can do it alone or in groups.
3) It can be as hard or as easy as you want it
4) You can do it pretty much wherever you go.
5) It is a useful exercise. I go on camp-outs often and have had to run long distances for help before.
6) You can do it inside or outside.
7) You don't need to take any special classes to learn how to do it right.
8) Look at long time runners - they are good looking people!

There are plenty more.

I have been doing interval training for years to help me get faster in my races. It works. That is they way professional runners train as well. Give it a try - it is great!

Hillman

Worst things about running:
1. High incidence of injury
2. x2 for intervals

orlo

Lifting weights is the best way to burn more calories: you burn calories to perform the exercises, to repair the muscle, and to maintain the muscle that you eventually build. Interval training is a complement to, not a replacement for, weight lifting.

elgilicious

@AbrogatedOrder: in response to "what martial art requires the most strength/energy/etc", the answer is "the one you aren't doing". If you are doing a lot of boxing, something with a lot of kicks is going to kill you. If you do a lot of standup, then groundfighting will do it. I think capoeira would be hard for a lot of people, since not many people do martial arts standing on their hands. (personally I do Wing Chun Kung Fu)

Of course, that goes for everything else too. I remember speaking to a squash player when I was playing basketball and they said "basketball is so exhausting!" and I said "you mean squash is so exhausting!!".

Oblivion

Somehow a lot of people got hung up on running and the pros'n'cons about that and missed the point entirely. The point is you modulate between short bouts of strenuous exercise in amongst longer bouts of moderate exercise. This is exactly the sort of thing that happens when you play sports like soccer, or if you ride a bike in an area with hills, or if you do housework in a quick and vigourous way...

You could just as easily do interval training on a exercise bike, a rowing machine, a cross trainer... whatever gets your heartrate up into the 'training zone' that's comfortable and fun for you.

Personally I've done a lot of time on a cross trainer, always at a fairly steady rate, always with my heart rate at between 120 and 135. I feel reasonably fit but technically I'm morbidly obese and I just don't seem to lose the weight and I have a hard time keeping motivated for more than a few weeks at a time.

But I think there is something to this interval training. One problem with steady exercise is that you often just burn up your suger stores and don't actually begin to burn fat. It only makes you more hungry and you eat more without realising it. But by modulating between lighter and heavier exercise might 'shake the body up' to burn some of that fat along with the sugar.

I'm going to have to investigate some of the training modes on my cross-trainer, because I know it can help by modulating the resistance like this. If you go to the gym you may want to check out some of the equipment for an interval mode because I know it's something I've seen before, but never understood the point till now.

CascadeHush

I started running for a short time, in the local sports-field then I gave it up when I bought a mountain bike and started cycling the 5 mile commute to work. Its a good workout and less strain on my joints. It occurred to me the frequent hills I have to climb on those country roads are like interval training. If it is small and steep enough I will 'sprint' up it in a high gear. I'm just trying to figure out the best way to develop my upper body strength now. Its been two weeks now and I still have moobs and a belly, but touch wood, their days are numbered. Come the zombie apocolypse, I reckon my mountain bike is the best vehicle for evading oral brain surgery, and it doesn't require me to hunt down operational service stations. My 6 years of karate training will probably come in handy too ^-^

xenobyte72

The reason why interval training is a successful component of any workout is due to the fact that the body is depleting its energy source (ATP) during the sprint cycles and replenishes that energy in a short amount of time when you're at rest. You are in a sense training your body to recover faster. Faster recovery of energy increases strength as well as endurance (depending on what kind of interval you're doing). I would recommend as others have mentioned incorporating the interval training into your workout. It should not be the only thing you do. It is most effective when teamed up with good cardio, core work, resistance training, and tissue release(Yoga or foam rolling).

FitForLife

Moobs, Zombie Apocalypse -lol!

Also, weight lifting is not the end all. Some of the toughest wrestlers/fighters I've seen used body weight exercises exclusively. Steve Maxwell's new workout is body weight.

I once wrestled a guy 6" shorter than me that weighed 20 lbs more and benched twice what I could. Although he was much stronger, I eventual won. He trained to be explosive for a few seconds... I did hundreds of reps of body weight exercises. Go figure.

l337_7r4d3r

There's no doubt that high intensity interval training is far more entertaining than training at a steady pace. You can find info about it at:
[www.hiitsource.com]

kapital