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February 08, 2005
What do you do?
What’s better for weight loss: intensity or duration? It’s true, the longer you exercise, the more your body uses stored fat as fuel. This is because it takes longer for fat than carbohydrate to be converted into energy. At the beginning of your exercise bout, you mainly use the carbohydrate that’s circulating in your blood stream. As time goes on and you start to slow down, like on a long jog, you’re using more fat for energy along with some carbohydrate. When long distance runners carbohydrate-load before events, they try to prolong the use of fat for fuel…because they don’t want to slow down. It’s also true that the more intense your workout, the more calories you burn (mainly from carbohydrate). Carbohydrate is a very quick energy source. When you’re sprinting or lifting weights, you are using carbohydrate. So the big debate concerning weight loss strategies is whether it’s better to burn more calories in a high intensity workout or use stored fat as fuel during longer, less intense workouts? This takes us back to the not-so-popular weight loss equation of weight management equals calories in minus calories out. So, it all comes down to how many calories do you expend? The problem is that in the long run you burn about the same amount of calories when you run fast for one mile or jog slowly for one mile. However it takes you longer to complete the slow jog, than the fast run. In our fast-paced lifestyle, everyone is pressed for time and only sets aside a small amount of time for exercise (if any). For these people the high intensity, short duration exercise bout is their best bet. However, given the fact that most of us are not currently physically active, a fast walk or slow jog may be more realistic. Either way, we make time for things that we want to make time for and making time for exercise, whichever frequency, intensity or type your choose is well worth the time and effort. Exercise has profound impacts on your health, including lowers blood pressure, blood glucose levels, triglycerides, increases HDL cholesterol, relieves stress, builds strength, endurance and flexibility, helps you sleep better, increases self esteem, protects your bones and boosts your energy level. Listed above are all the great reasons to exercise: so what do you do?
** Please consult with your physician before starting any exercise program. If you are not physically active, it is wise to start slow and easy and gradually add time and intensity.
Posted by Lisa at February 8, 2005 02:50 PM
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