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High-intensity exercise can seem to be the obvious road to better fitness and weight control. It has been touted as the solution we all need for making sure we are active even if we don’t have time for it. That said, as is the case with every other workout or nutrition strategy, there is such thing as too much of a good thing.
When you want to lose weight, lose belly fat or change your body, you always hear that high-intensity exercise is the way to go. Is this true, though? Is this a type of exercise that anybody can take on for lasting success? It’s very important for you to understand the answer to these questions before making any assumptions about what this type of workout can and cannot do for you.
The appeal of high-intensity exercise is real. This is particularly true when it is incorporated into intervals. The reason is that research shows that far less time is needed to burn the same number of calories with this type of workout than is the case with lower intensity workouts.
Though you may be inclined to think that intense exercise will help you get results, it may do just the opposite. This is a challenging type of exercise that may not be right for everyone. While you may believe that this can help you experience positive results, it can actually backfire and hurt you. If you want to change your body, realize that such exercise may not be a one-size-fits-all solution.
Injury during your workouts should be avoided at all costs. After all, it may be helpful for you to burn more calories in less time by pushing yourself to do high-intensity workouts, but if you hurt yourself, you will face discomfort, inconvenience, and setbacks. Injuries mean that you won’t be able to keep up your workouts, so any progress you’d enjoy from working this hard will be lost when you’re temporarily out of commission to heal up.
There are some genuine virtues to high-intensity exercise, which does have its place. You may find that this is a great way to get the heart pumping and, therefore, to get in a quick and effective workout.
If, however, you happen to have any injuries or other physical limitations, then this type of exercise can hurt you even further. When you exercise hard like this, it can be very taxing on the body. Though it can help you to burn a lot of calories quickly, it can also really take a toll on you. If you feel as though your body is hurting or not responding favorably, then you need to find some other way to work out. High-intensity exercise may not be right for everyone.
Ease your way into high-intensity exercise as your fitness level permits it. Begin at a lower intensity and wait until you have the strength and endurance appropriate to leveling up. Then, use intervals to help keep excessive strain off your muscles and joints while still enjoying the benefits of going full-tilt.
Though high-intensity exercise can, in fact, help you to change your body, it can also be harmful if performed by itself. You want to be sure that you mix in some strength training rather than simply burn calories through this type of cardio alone.
You may burn calories, and you may even get rid of fat, but you need to replace that with muscle tone and definition. If you’re skipping out on strength training, then you may not like the results in the end. You need variety, and you also need to let your body rest. Just going at it hard with intense cardio exercise never allows your body a chance to recover, and that can be a real problem for you in the long run.
Sure, high-intensity exercise can be a great thing, but it should be part of a more comprehensive overall workout routine. Think through your goals and your health profile.
If you are not up to the challenge, or if you have anything else holding you back, then you may want to try a lower-intensity type of workout. You will find that no matter what, you want to mix it up and change the intensity levels, too. Going at it hard in this way can be beneficial, but it can also be harmful if done without a break. Work to find balance; work within your limits; and then the positive results will follow faster than you might think. When in doubt, remember that you can always seek the assistance of an expert. A professional personal trainer can help you to design just the right type of workout for your body and fitness level.
