Why Train at Higher Intensities.

Considering the fact that most people are trying to juggle fitness with jobs, family and social obligations, it makes sense to be efficient with the little time we do have for workouts.

Calorie Burn- This is a primary reason for many people. So if burning calories and the famous “fat calorie” are your primary reasons for working out then read the comparison of 2 different workouts:

1.      160# male walks for 30min @ 3.5mph he will burn 240 calories; 40% will come from fat and 60% will come from carbs. This translates to 96 calories from fat.

2.      160# male runs for 30 min @ 6.5 mph, he will burn 450 calories; 25% will come from fat and 75% will come from carbs. This translates into 112 calories from fat.

So while the % is smaller at higher intensities, the total amount is greater. And as athletes improve their fitness levels, they become more efficient at burning fat instead of carbs.

Alactic Energy System-This is the energy system you use for short sprints/brief intense exercise. Think doing of a 40yd dash or 10 quick burpees. Your body will burn Creatine-ATP and not produce Lactic Acid, deplete glucose stores or burn fat. And you will recover fairly quickly with almost no post-workout soreness.

Lactic Threshold System- This is the dreaded “bonk”, “hit the wall” area in competition. Training your body to function at high intensity and adjust to increasing levels of Lactic Acid. This does deplete your glucose stores and will produce considerable post-workout soreness.

All of these are good reasons to train at higher intensities. But if you are building your Aerobic Base, then high intensity will not be the best thing for you. Your Coach should help you decide, which program is best for you and why it is appropriate at that point in your training cycle.

Remember, Train hard and Train Smart.