Can You Really Get a Great Workout in 3 Minutes?

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as an exercise physiologist, interval training has been around for years and used by many for training purposes,, and not just athletes... jnoviello.phd.

jnoviello of PA 12:07AM December 05, 2010

Interesting article. Recently I bought the SpinDesk , laptop stationary bicycle. Like Tracy of UT now I can get on the pc in the morning. Check favorite blogs, catch up on news, organize my day... and I am getting in a good exercise. Right now my heart rate is reading 107bpm on polar heart rate watch. You can't beat it.

Joe of NY 8:10AM June 01, 2010

This post brings up so many good points that I try to drill into my clients every time I see them. Some of the main things that stand out are the fact that diet and exercise MUST go hand-in-hand for optimal results and that our minds play a key role in fitness. Exercise helps us feel good about ourselves...Or at least better than if we sit all day on a sofa. Ii is difficult for some to think that they have to go through a torturous one-hour walk or jog, and a few sprints may just be the spoonful of sugar they need to help the medicine go down. By thinking they need maximum effort for a shorter time frame may prompt them to get moving-which is the whole point, right?
Now, the hoe is that they will feel invigorated once they get started, and will want to keep going. The important thing to remember though, is you will not see any results if you are burning 500 calories, but eating a 1,000 extra!
Good luck!
http://health.usnews.com/blogs/on-fitness/2009/03/10/how-to-strengthen-your-thighs-a-fitness-myth-debunked.html

Harry Johnson Jr. of FL 1:13PM August 04, 2009

Yes stretching is important. As is cardio and resistance training. That is why we have been using the ROM machine in our centers around the nation for years. Two 4-minute stations provide the body with stretching, cardio and resistance exercise. We are seeing it help the overweight, the standard gym rate and many super athletes. So we know it can be done! We have seen improvement in body composition, blood pressure, endurance, overall strength and many other things.

Rod Stone of UT 4:49PM June 26, 2009

Cant get a great workout in 3 minutes, sorry. Interval training should involve 5-10 minute warmup (light jogging, slow biking, whatever youre doing) and multiple sets of maximum effort and lightly working cooldown periods (ie, sprinting for 30 seconds, light jog for 30 seconds, 10 sets of that). 5-10 minute cooldown. First time you do it, if you really do it right, chances are you're puking. Thats good.

SB of ID 10:30PM June 24, 2009

The key is not which way you choose, but you should have persistence in doing this.For some people, they maybe don't have much time for long time exercise,so interval training is optimal, like me because of a job taking most of my time.without persistence, no matter which way you do, you will NOT reap benefits from exercise.This principle applies well to other things, except in terms of love. The one who get hurt is always who don't want to let go!

Feizhi Wang 11:06AM June 16, 2009

The key is not which way you choose, but you should have persistence in doing this.For some people, they maybe don't have much time for long time exercise,so interval training is optimal, like me because of a job taking most of my time.without persistence, no matter which way you do, you will reap benefits from exercise.This principle applies well to other things, except in terms of love. The one who get hurt is always who don't want to let go!

Feizhi Wang 11:02AM June 16, 2009

Elementary.
Good grief folks. Everyone should stretch before even getting out of bed to start the instinctive warm-up process our muscles demand before we engage in sedentary activities, not to mention strenuous activity.
Use common sense; listen to your bodies! It's not rocket science! Gentle stretches (lengthening the muscles) are second nature to every animal on earth; and if it didn't feel good babies and animals wouldn't bother with it.
On the other hand, contrived stretching beyond what feels good is never a good idea. Quit reading so much and listen to your bodies! It is instinctivly wise. Some folks can bend in half and touch their palms to the ground with straight knees; I've always been able to do that even when 9 months PG; now that I am nearly 60-yrs old I still do it for a good stretch to my hamstrings. It feels fabulous...to ME!
If it hurts--don't do it, duh. We are all different. Moderation is a good word. Keep it in your exercise vocabulary.
Warming up involves gentle stretching--GENTLE. It takes a few minutes of moving around to get warmed. You will know if you are warmed--you will not feel as COOL as before; you will not be as stiff. Cooling down involves gentle stretching, too. You will know you are cooled down because you will not feel as WARM as before; your muscles will become somewhat less flexible after being cooled for awhile--but ready for normal daily activity. The basics of this can be applied to sports as well.
Elementary.

BB of OR 3:26PM March 03, 2009

I'm going to
believe that
everything shines
in the light
of a footprint,
with a loving
desire, in the
sound of the
darkness.....
Francesco Sinibaldi

Francesco Sinibaldi 4:18PM January 31, 2009

Dynamic stretching and warm up before your workout
Cooling down and static stretching after your workout
Don't trust the doctors and literature. Trust your nutritionists and athletic trainers (I'm neither). they know what is going on.

of CO 7:50PM January 29, 2009