Your waistline may be sending you an important message. Multiple studies have shown that abdomen fat is a predictor of a person’s risk for heart disease. But you can reduce abdomen fat very quickly with interval training (also known as High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT).
Interval training refers to the extra energy and intensity added to a workout, usually in quick spurts. Say you’re jogging along at a moderate, comfortable pace, but then for the next 30 seconds, you run at a full sprint before dropping back into a comfortable pace (called a recovery period). Then you repeat the pattern for several minutes.
That short burst of extra effort is an interval, and while it doesn’t last very long, it creates very positive results. This style of exercise has been the needle-mover for millions of women on their journey through weight loss.
Research also indicates that shorter, more intense workouts might be better for heart health. The heart is a strong muscle and is constantly working, so, naturally, it needs recovery periods. For most non-athletes, endurance exercise for long periods could prompt your heart to work harder than it does during short-yet-intense exercise. The intermittent activity seems to be a better fit for how the heart naturally functions.
As if that’s not enough to convince you of the connection between interval training and heart health, there’s evidence that HIIT promotes production of HDL, the good cholesterol. HDL levels greater than 60 mg/dL help lower your risk for heart disease.
Of course, if you have any history of heart problems, always check with your physician before starting a fitness program. But once you have the go-ahead, my Flat Abs Over 40 kit can start you down the road to flatter abs and improved heart health. Get started today with this 2-minute interval from my Ultimate Sculpt DVD:
