Jiggling, Weight Loss, and Interval Training

From eFitness.com:

Exercise physiologists who study the effects of exercise on weight loss, have determined that the "jiggling" or shaking of excess body fat when someone walks fast or jogs, in combination with the muscle contractions involved in that activity, causes weight loss. I call it the "jiggle effect."

This effect is caused by chemical messengers in the body in response to the jiggle and muscle contractions. They say, "Hey body, this person needs to be able to move more efficiently. Let's get rid of some of this fat." So, above and beyond the normal caloric expenditure of that activity, these chemical messengers cause fat loss to happen more easily.

So, how can you take advantage of the jiggle effect? The more you jiggle, and the more intense the muscle contractions, the more pronounced the effect. Thus, faster walking is better than slower walking, and a slow jog is better than a fast walk. A good way to incorporate this into your aerobic exercise is to use intervals.

As you may know, I believe in making intervals a major part of your aerobic exercise sessions. I've received lots of encouraging feedback from my subscribers who have been very successful with interval training. Here are a few of the messages.

"Greg, thanks for all your help. I took your advice and started using intervals in my walking sessions. Woooooo! The results have been dramatic. First of all in the way I feel. I have never really felt good after exercise, but now I think I'm getting that "high" thing. I feel fantastic. I am so much more energetic all day long now.

"I had been struggling at a weight loss plateau but this got me over it and I'm consistently losing two to three pounds a week. Thanks for turning me on to this."

"Hello Greg, I read on your site about intervals and decided to give it a try. I really can't believe how different my exercise is now.

I have much more muscle tone, and I know this sounds crazy, but some weeks my weight loss just seems to take off. I love this!"

"Greg, about three months ago I started doing intervals as you suggested and I actually look forward to exercise now. It makes the time pass quickly and I really feel pumped when I finish. Thanks for the recommendation."

I receive a few messages similar to these every week. Are you ready to give intervals a try? Here's how to get started:

Intervals are brief periods (about one minute) of more intense exercise mixed into your regular aerobic exercise sessions. For example, if you're walking, you would do a one minute interval of faster walking about every five minutes throughout your exercise session.

You'll start with your normal three to five minute warm-up and then five minutes into your workout you do your first interval, one minute of faster walking (or perhaps jogging). At the end of that minute you should be "winded" and ready to slow down. You'll slow down to your normal exercising speed for the next four minutes and then your fifth minute is another one minute interval. This pattern continues throughout your exercise session.

You'll derive several benefits from intervals.

1. Intervals can help you get past a weight loss plateau.

2. Intervals increase your aerobic fitness level by "pushing the envelope". While doing your interval you cross the anaerobic threshold into anaerobic metabolism, forcing your body to become conditioned to more intense exercise.

3. Your increased level of fitness means that a given level of exercise will feel easier and that you will be able to exercise at a higher intensity which "burns" more calories.

4. Your increased level of fitness also means that you will be less fatigued from daily activities and you'll have more energy throughout the day.

5. Intervals increase your basal metabolic rate (BMR), causing you to burn more calories 24 hours a day.

6. Intervals cause you to burn more calories during your exercise session and for several hours afterwards.

7. Intervals will tone the involved muscles to a greater degree than your regular aerobic exercise would.

8. Intervals can make your exercise less monotonous and help the time pass more quickly.

9. Intervals will energize you!

10. Intervals will activate the "jiggle affect."

If you'd like to put a little excitement into your exercise, and you're looking for better results, give intervals, and "jiggling" a try!

Author and exercise physiologist, Greg Landry, offers free, unique, weight loss and fitness articles and his Fast and Healthy Weight Loss Newsletter at his site, www.Landry.com.

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