Plain and simple…If you are a figure competitor then Interval Training is better than trying to stay within a certain heart rate range (THR: target heart rate training) fat loss cardio workouts. The leanest athletes in the world usually train in an interval-like manner. Take a look at track sprinters (100, 200 and 400 meters). These athletes are very lean and muscular… and the shorter the distance the more muscular (the 100 meter runner is more muscular that the 400 meter runner). NFL running backs and wide receivers. These athletes aren’t calculating numbers so that they only work out at a certain level of intensity. No… they just work out hard every workout!
Research shows us that you can burn more calories with interval training than you can with other forms of cardio. What this means is that you can get the same results while working out less, which leads us to our next example…
Look at the difference between an elite marathon runner and an elite sprinter. Although the marathon runner is also lean…. he/she will also be very thin from excessive cardio. The sprinter, by contrast, will be just as lean but much more muscular.
The goal of a figure competitor is to get lean while keeping as much muscle as possible – therefore interval training is the best type of training for competition. The last thing you want to do is burn hard-earned muscle.
The Missing Piece of The Puzzle:
Because figure competitors must keep as much muscle as possible – You must include resistance training in your workouts. This is extremely important because If you don’t stimulate muscle often enough, you will lose it during the precontest phase. The best thing about using resistance training is that research shows us that metabolism may stay elevated up to 72 hours (it may be as short as 24 hours depending on the intensity.. but that’s still a great benefit). Regular cardio only elevates metabolism during the workout – your metabolism returns to normal right after a regular cardio workout (regular = cardio with no resistance exercises included)
Research shows us that you can burn more calories with interval training than you can with other forms of cardio. What this means is that you can get the same results while working out less, which leads us to our next example…
Look at the difference between an elite marathon runner and an elite sprinter. Although the marathon runner is also lean…. he/she will also be very thin from excessive cardio. The sprinter, by contrast, will be just as lean but much more muscular.
The goal of a figure competitor is to get lean while keeping as much muscle as possible – therefore interval training is the best type of training for competition. The last thing you want to do is burn hard-earned muscle.
The Missing Piece of The Puzzle:
Because figure competitors must keep as much muscle as possible – You must include resistance training in your workouts. This is extremely important because If you don’t stimulate muscle often enough, you will lose it during the precontest phase. The best thing about using resistance training is that research shows us that metabolism may stay elevated up to 72 hours (it may be as short as 24 hours depending on the intensity.. but that’s still a great benefit). Regular cardio only elevates metabolism during the workout – your metabolism returns to normal right after a regular cardio workout (regular = cardio with no resistance exercises included)
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