Today's Workout Tip

Interval Training for Cardio....

The best cardio that I have found that works well, and that has been confirmed by other sources is Interval training. There are lots of great programs that recommend this:

The ABS Diet, from the editor of Men's Health magazine
Body for Life, Bill Phillips

I love Body for Life's program. Here is a brief description below taken from www.bodyforlife.com:

Cardio workouts are indispensable to an effective training program and general good health. By definition, cardio workouts can be any exercise—jogging, running, biking, swimming, elliptical machine, stairs, even jumping rope—that raises and maintains your heart rate over a predetermined amount of time. By doing so, you strengthen your heart and lungs and lower your resting heart rate, which means that over time the same effort that produced a 10-minute mile will produce a 9-minute mile. Cardio workouts burn fat. And cardio fitness is what gives you endurance and the ability to persist in sports and in life.

The Benefits of Cardio

• Increases metabolic rate
• Increases growth hormone secretion
• Reduces stress levels
• Increases blood flow to the brain increasing alertness
• Improve cholesterol levels
• Improves digestion
• Boosts immune-system function

20-Minute Aerobics Solution™ — The Official Body-for-LIFE Cardio Plan

1. Warm up the first 2 minutes at Intensity Level 5
2. Minutes 2-3 move from Intensity Level 5 to 6
3. Minutes 4-5, 6-10 and 11-14 work your way from Intensity Level 6 to Level 9, maintain for one minute.
4. Minutes 15-19 work your way from Intensity Level 6 to Level 10 (High Point at Level 10), maintain for one minute.
5. Minute 20 cool down to Intensity Level 5 for one minute.

Alternate weight-training and cardio workouts for six consecutive days and rest on the seventh day.

I really encourage you to take a look at this site, www.bodyforlife.com. I think the meal part of the diet is a little more strict and sometimes harder to follow than W2; however, the exercise portion is AWESOME! They have all their workouts online for free in PDF format. I do this exercise program once or twice a year. Whenever I need to change up my program and don't feel like being creative, this is my go-to plan!

Check it out!