It's The Intensity, Stupid!

Too many people continue to think that exercising longer is automatically better. No so. It depends on your goals.

If you're training for a marathon, of course, you'll need to do some long training runs. However, if your primary goal is dumping fat and getting in shape, the intensity of your workouts is more important than the duration.

Numerous studies have shown high intensity exercise, especially cardio intervals, are more beneficial for fat loss than low or moderate exercise.

When strength training, concentrate on compound exercises, ditch the straight sets for supersets, lower your rest periods and make sure the weights you use are challenging.

All that said, remember, intensity is relative. Don't kill yourself when you're starting out but as your fitness level increases, you'll need to up the intensity level, too.

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Are You Working Hard Enough?

I recently participated in a health fair and a woman who was familiar with my gym approached. Her first question was, "Do you have TVs in the cardio area yet?" I really wanted to say, "If you can watch TV or read a magazine while doing cardio you're not working hard enough" but I bit my tongue.

If people would stop reading or watching TV while they're doing cardio and CHALLENGE themselves, they'd get far better results and be done in a fraction of the time.

Cardio intervals - that's the way to go.

I ran across this fake sign in an email the other day. I love it.

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Step Away From The Cardio Machines, People!

I ran across a great blog post from Kim Ball the other day. It's the same things I'm always preaching but it appears that some people need to hear something from lots of sources before they're ready to believe it.

Check it out here ==> Aw, jeez...I'm gettin' annoyed