Obsessed With Watching
The Calorie Counter?
Do you take notice of the calories that
you’re burning and use that as an indicator of a good workout? The
following studies suggest that calories might not be that
important!
20 weeks endurance training VS
15 weeks interval training
These are the results of a study measuring the "Impact of
exercise intensity on body fatness and skeletal
muscle metabolism" carried out by Tremblay A, Simoneau JA and
Bouchard C.
Metabolism. 1994 Jul;43(7):814-8
- Energy cost of endurance training = 28,661 calories
- Interval Training = 13,614 calories (less than half)
The interval training group showed a NINE TIMES greater loss in
subcutaneous fat than the endurance group (when corrected for
energy cost)
15 weeks of 20 minutes per session interval training
(3 x per week) VS
15 weeks of 40 minutes of steady state exercise
(3x per week)
These are the results of a study measuring "The effects of
high-intensity intermittent exercise training on fat loss and
fasting insulin levels of young women" carried out by Trapp EG,
Chisholm DJ, Freund J and Boutcher SH.
Int J Obes (Lond). 2008 Jan 15
- Both groups burned the same total calories over the 15 weeks
and ate the same diet.
- The steady state group actually gained on
average 1lb of fat whereas the interval training group lost
5.5lbs of fat and increased lean mass.
- The interval training group increased aerobic capacity more
than steady state group.
If your goal is either to increase
cardiovascular fitness or to reduce body fat then interval training
should be your excercise of choice
Chris has over 22 years of experience in the
fitness industry and has competed in Powerlifting, Martial Arts,
and Bodybuilding. He is a self confessed anorak with anything to do
with strength and conditioning!
If you have any questions or require
further information regarding this article or anything else, please
contact Chris Young, Gym Manager on +44 (0)
1276 486101 or email cyoung@thespa.uk.com