Interval Training for Serious Fitness Results

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You know what I love about the Beachbody workouts? They’re centered around “interval” training. I first learned about interval training in high school when our softball team would practice. Our workouts were interlaced with high intensity and low intensity cardio and strength training. Sometimes, I thought my coach was trying to eliminate the weak members. I wasn’t going to be weak! I didn’t understand at that time that she actually understood the performance progress you can make in a short period of time with this type of training.

The Air Force must’ve know this secret as well. Often times, we’d jog in a single file. The person at the end of the line would have to run to the front of the line until he/she caught up and overtook the leader. Then, that person would fall in line and bring it back to a jog as the new leader. The new person at the back of the line would begin running to the front and so the exercise progressed until a sufficient amount of real estate had been transversed. Sure did get your heart rate up!

Now, I find myself thinking about interval training again. The P90X Extreme Home Fitness program uses 13 DVDs to whip your body into shape. Each video incorporates a variety of exercises that moves you through high intensity, max rep exercises and then, to a lower intensity set. You move from one body part to another without much rest in between. Most exercises are 30 seconds in duration…and as Tony Horton says “you can do anything for 30 seconds”!

Beachbody will soon release a high intensity conditioning program that uses what they refer to as MAX Interval Training. The name of this program is INSANITY, and it is the product of professional trainer Shaun T who is well-known for his Hip Hop Abs and Rockin Body workouts. I’ve seen the previews for this program!! This is an advanced program that I predict will make some NFL players wonder if they can make it through. What am I talking about? It’s the insanity of the whole thing that will motivate NFL players and other serious fitness fanatics to both start and complete the program. As for me, well…I’m not ready for Insanity, yet.

Shaun T has just entered the ranks of the elite, the extreme, the drop and give me twenty, drill sergeant, challenge my body fitness training. Tony Horton and Chalene Johnson have a new partner in extreme fitness.