Hiit

LundiMardi

Hey,

I know HIIT is supposed to be great for weight loss, i plan on startin in the gym again on Monday. And if HIIT is the best way to go then so be it..

I'm wondering though, i'm not fit at all, AT ALL!! If i'm on the cross trainer for 5 minutes at a normal pace, and then go crazy for 1 minute, i'm pretty sure that i'll be burned out after and won't be able to go on, yes i'm THAT unfit. This doesn't really seem like a good workout. My mind is telling me i should work out at a steady pace for the first few weeks and then start on HIIT.

Yay or nay?

g'em

from experience, trying to do everything 100% right from the start usually ends up in you burning out really fast and giving up in frustration!!!

I was the same, totally unfit, and you read all these articles about the best way to do cardio, the optimum way to lose fat etc etc. Imho, take it one step at a time. Get yourself used the machines in the gym, find out what your fitness levels are, and slowly try to improve on them on a weekly basis. Slow steady improvement is a more realistic goal, and you'll feel much more motivated if you find you're constantly improving, even just a little bit.

So why not try a couple of low intensity training sessions (maybe brisk walking for about 45 min) and try interval training too- walk for three minutes, then run (not flat out, but faster than a jog) for one, then walk. If thats too easy (or hard!!) just change it to suit you. Listen to your body- if you overdo it too soon, you'll injure yourself, and won't be able to do anything. Ignore what other people are doing- the only person you should compete with is yourself (but you should kick your ass if you're not giving it 100% )

Or try the cross trainer or stepper, they absorb a lot of the impact on the joints and so you can usually go longer at a higher intensity than a treadmill.

Aim to do three-four good cardio sessions a week, each lasting 45-60 minutes to really see results. Have you considered doing some weights too? Even better for weight loss and huge benefits for your body.

Enjoy!!

LundiMardi

g'em wrote:

from experience, trying to do everything 100% right from the start usually ends up in you burning out really fast and giving up in frustration!!!

I was the same, totally unfit, and you read all these articles about the best way to do cardio, the optimum way to lose fat etc etc. Imho, take it one step at a time. Get yourself used the machines in the gym, find out what your fitness levels are, and slowly try to improve on them on a weekly basis. Slow steady improvement is a more realistic goal, and you'll feel much more motivated if you find you're constantly improving, even just a little bit.

So why not try a couple of low intensity training sessions (maybe brisk walking for about 45 min) and try interval training too- walk for three minutes, then run (not flat out, but faster than a jog) for one, then walk. If thats too easy (or hard!!) just change it to suit you. Listen to your body- if you overdo it too soon, you'll injure yourself, and won't be able to do anything. Ignore what other people are doing- the only person you should compete with is yourself (but you should kick your ass if you're not giving it 100% )

Or try the cross trainer or stepper, they absorb a lot of the impact on the joints and so you can usually go longer at a higher intensity than a treadmill.

Aim to do three-four good cardio sessions a week, each lasting 45-60 minutes to really see results. Have you considered doing some weights too? Even better for weight loss and huge benefits for your body.

Enjoy!!

i'm used to the machines etc, i used to go to the gym but haven't been able to for the last few months due to irregular working hours and other commitments outside of work etc..

I did weights before when i went to the gym, that was good. But i have different motivations now, i'm doing a trek next year and this is what i'm training for, to get to a decent fitness level so i can trek. So my sole purpose is to improve fitness and loose fat, i may do a small amount of weights to tone up and not loose too much muscle, esp for my legs as they'll need a lot of work.

But for now cardio is my main goal.

I plan of working out every 2nd day if i can, i'll aim for 60mins but my fitness has dropped soo much that i don't know if i can last that long, i probably won't last more than 10 mins on the bike, i used to be able to do 9 miles in 30 mins when i first went to the gym. It's very demoralizing now when i can't do that. I'll just have to push myself too.

I need to get a heart rate monitor, as i never really paid attention to that when i first went to the gym, so i never really knew if i was in the required 'zone' for weight loss etc. Hopefully it'll make a big difference this time.

g'em

well if you're going to be trekking, why not head to the mountains every weekend with a good pair of walking boots? It'll beat going to the gym every time, especially if you get a few good steep inclines in along the way. And as you get fitter, try carrying some weight in a bag on your back to help with strength and endurance. And try and rope in a friend for motivation- even if its getting colder, a good hike up a moutain on a Sunday afternoon will do you teh world of good!!