Fast Exercise

Fast Exercise

Fast Exercise Routines

Fast exercise routines are gaining popularity for 2010. At least that's what the news reporters said last night. Several fitness instructors were interviewed and they all pretty much agreed that faster workouts were going to be the hot trend for the coming year.

That certainly makes sense to me. Our schedules have gotten fuller and we still need to stay in shape. Wouldn't you like to have the same benefit with an exercise workout in a fraction of the time?

Tabata Training - 4 Minute Exercises

Izumi Tabata, from Japan, did a study on different exercise intensities. He discovered the ideal workout was just 4 minutes long. You work at maximum intensity for 20 seconds then take a 10 second break. Do 8 sets of high intensity followed by 10 seconds of walking and you have just done a routine that will burn fat and keep you fit. It's 20 seconds on and 10 seconds off for 8 times.

It's smart to warm up first with 5 minutes of walking or jumping on a rebounder, etc. Then you can do sprints use dumbells, body weight exercises or Kettllebells. The intensity raises your matabilism for up to 36 hours!

Sample Routine:

High intensity jumping jacks for 20 seconds... then 10 seconds cool down.
High intensity running in place with your knees as high as you can for 20 seconds... then 10 second cool down.
High intensity jumping jacks for 20 seconds... then 10 seconds cool down.
Push Ups for 20 seconds... then 10 seconds of cool down.
REPEAT the 4 steps above and there's your 4 minute routine.

Finding four minutes a day to exercise is not going to be hard for most people. Finding an hour an day could be difficult for many.

Find a routine you like, stick to it and have a healthy new year.

Mini Rebounder

One of my favorite exercises is using the rebounder. I had read that Needak had the best rebounder and that's what I bought. Since then, I have tried less expensive rebounders that friends own and I can tell you that they are not the same. Needak has the best rebounder on the marketplace that I've seen and tried. The others have a 'harder' bounce.

I used to run a lot, but with the rebounder now I can run without the stress on my joints. One of the health benefits of using the rebounder is draining the the lymphatic system. At the top of a bounce you are weightless and bottom you experience twice the force of gravity.

You can get the same benefits as running in a much shorter time and without the shin splints and other problems that result from running on hard pavement.