"Cardio Shock"

Everyone is seeking that goal of a nice toned and defined physique. One of ht major ingredients for this is your Cardiovascular Conditioning. Traditionally speaking, most head straight for the Treadmill, Stationary bike, Elliptical, Row Machine, etc. Thats a great start.

Some, after commandeering these machines, will go for anything from 30 minutes to an Hour, or more. OK, lets stop right there. There is a such thing as Plateauing and you body does just that. You will begin to get the body working, burns some calories, raise the heart rate, and begin to Perspire. Thats good. But after about 10 minutes, the body begins to settle down. Remember, your body is making adjustments from the moment you start to find a medium or a way to get itself settled. That basically means the body is adjusting to the circumstances. Once it has done so, the body levels out and begins to maintain and the intensity at which it was burning calories and working, starts to slow down. You are still burning calories, just not at the rate you were in the first 10 minutes. Once again...The Body Levels out.

Solution: Give Interval Training a shot.
Instead of that 30 minutes to 60 minute drive. Shoot for maybe 1/3rd of that time, increase and decreasing your intensity in a timely manor.

An example would be riding the Stationary Bike. Set your intensity level and and your starting speed (which will also be your recovery speed).  Begin. Once you are moving, cycle for the first 3 minutes to kinda warm the legs up. Once you hit the 3 minute mark, You are going to increase your speed from your recovery speed, say 80, to your sprint speed which will be somewhere around 115. You will hold that speed for 30 seconds, then return to your recover speed of 80 (or what ever you have chosen for it to be). Continue that pattern for the duration of your time. Basically back and fourth, back and fourth.

What this is doing is forcing your body to continuously exert energy and work your muscles. Your body does not get a chance to settle or plateau because just as it begins to calm down, you change up the pace. Your recovery time and sprinting time can vary depending on your level of training. This is a great way to help you get to your cardiovascular goal.

I call this "Cardio Shock"