I (Jen) realized the other day that a lot of the terms we use in our columns may be unfamiliar to our readers, so let's define some of these terms to help you better understand the important components of a well-rounded training program.
Aerobic capacity or VO2 Max: It is the highest amount of oxygen the body can utilize during a given period. Aerobic capacity can be improved by doing short,
Posted by: Jen Boland in weight loss, HIIT, fitness on
Jun 05, 2011
You've all seen the setting on the treadmill or elliptical machine for fat burning or the weight loss zone. You've also heard that higher intensity exercise burns more calories and helps you lose more weight, particularly due to the after-burn effect.
Which is right? Well, both.
The fat burning zone is low to moderate intensity exercise specifically performed at less than 65 percent of your
Posted by: Jen Boland in HIIT, fitness on
Feb 13, 2011
Kettlebells seem to be everywhere these days.
Invented in Russia more than 300 years ago, these cast iron cannonball-looking objects with handles on top are popping up all over the place. Some manufacturers are even creating new styles made to appeal to women with pastel colors and plastic-coated handles.
Kettlebell workouts are being promoted to body builders, endurance athletes and now to women as a quick fat-blasting routine. These routines generally last from 5 to 20 minutes. Rest assured, if the weight is heavy enough, you will feel the burn and be breathing hard all in a few minutes. Plus, the high intensity and strength training aspects will put your metabolism into high gear and help you burn more fat. One study showed that participants burned an average of 20 calories per minute, which is the equivalent of running a 6-minute mile.
Posted by: Jen Boland in interval training, HIIT on
Sep 19, 2010
Could you really get better results from your fitness program by doing less? It is possible. However, there is just one caveat - the intensity level has to be much greater and possibly near maximum. Crossfit, X-fit and Chris Carmichael's Time Crunched Cyclist all have a common ingredient necessary for improvement - high intensity interval training.
Many endurance athletes spend countless
