Mode Athletics » Interval Training

HIIT Tabata Cardio Interval Workout

Mike Roulston — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:36:28 +0000

Just when I thought online fitness trainers couldn’t possibly be any dumber, someone goes and proves me wrong. Recently I wrote a blog post about an incredibly stupid “cardio HIIT” workout I came across online. Cardio and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) are polar opposites and it’s impossible to do a ”cardio HIIT” workout. Any fitness trainer who does a purported “cardio HIIT” workout is a certifiable moron.

Well, I just saw what might very well be the most insanely idiotic workout ever posted on YouTube. It was called the “HIIT Tabata Cardio Interval Workout”. Good grief. Stay tuned next week for the “Killer Anearobic Aerobics Workout” on Monday, followed by the “Non-Impact Plyometics Extreme Toner Circuit” on Wednesday, and capped off on Friday with the “Functional Training Meathead Bodybuilding Isolation Extravaganza”.

Be very careful where you get your workout information from, particularly if you get your info online. The vast majority of fitness trainers posting workouts online are astoundingly stupid and completely lack even the most rudimentary knowledge about how to have safe and effective workouts. Following those morons will waste your time and get you zero results at best, and get you injured at worst.

P90X2: No Cardio

Mike Roulston — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:37:24 +0000

Yet another thing to love about the P90X2 program: no cardio!

Tony Horton from the P90X2 “How To Bring It Again” DVD:

In case you didn’t notice, there is no traditional cardio in P90X either. At least not in the “step aerobics” sense. P90X used anaerobic interval training to improve your cardiovascular system. So while you won’t see any cardio in the P90X2 titles, do Plyocide or P.A.P. Lower and then tell me you haven’t worked your cardiovascular system.

I’ve said it before, cardio is pointless and ineffective for fat loss. The best way to work your cardiovascular system while burning maximum fat is anaerobic interval training.

Original Tabata MP3 From Workout Muse

Mike Roulston — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:14:32 +0000

I like doing tabata workouts because tabatas are a phenomenal way reduce overall workout time without sacrificing intensity, effectiveness, or results. I used to use a Gymboss Interval Timer for all of my tabata workouts, but recently I discovered a website called Workout Muse that offers custom interval training audio tracks that I’ve found to be a great alternative to the Gymboss.

I like my Gymboss timer, but the drawback to using the Gymboss is that it only beeps at the start and end of an interval. What I love about Workout Muse tracks is that they also tell you when you’re a quarter of the way, half way, and three quarters of the way through an interval. I much prefer that additional info as it helps keep me focussed and working hard through the entire interval. My favourite Workout Muse audio track is the Original 20-10 Tabata Track. Costing only $2.50, it’s a must buy if you enjoy doing tabata intervals.

Resistance Training Before Or After Intervals?

Mike Roulston — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:11:34 +0000

The other day someone at the kickboxing workout I was participating in mentioned that he wasn’t sure whether he should do his resistance training workout before or after the kickboxing workout (kickboxing is very much an interval training workout). The answer is very simple: it doesn’t matter, therefore the first part of your workout should be whatever your priority is for your fitness goals. If your main fitness goal is something that can be achieved through resistance training, then you should start your workout with resistance training and finish it with intervals. If your main fitness goal is something that can be achieved through interval training, then you should start your workout with intervals and finish it with resistance training.

Interval Training Is More Effective

Mike Roulston — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:40:25 +0000

“High-intensity interval training is twice as effective as normal exercise,” said Jan Helgerud, an exercise expert at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. “This is like finding a new pill that works twice as well. … We should immediately throw out the old way of exercising.”