Heuser Health

 

Cardiovascular Interval Training

At Heuser Fitness, we focus on cardiovascular interval training. This is an efficient way to achieve fat loss.

Let us explain how this is done:

ATP is your body’s major source of energy. The body uses 3 sources of energy to sustain production of ATP:

1.  The first source of energy production comes from creatine phosphate (CP), where a creatine molecule is donated to ADP to create ATP. This action is anaerobic and requires only creatine which the body supplies on its own or is obtained by the body from meats. This immediate source of energy lasts about 5 seconds and is primarily used for power.

2.  The second source of energy is glycolosis which is the breaking down of sugars to produce ATP. This process is also anaerobic and lasts a little longer – usually 3 to 4 minutes. Glycolysis is the body’s way of using stored sugar in blood and muscles to continuously make ATP. This energy is the one we typically use when exercising.

3.  The third (and often never tapped) resource is called “oxidative phosphorilization”. This process is aerobic and utilizes oxygen to help turn our stored fat cells into energy. OP allows the body to last longer in endurance or high intensity forms of exercise.

When you perform 30 minutes of walking (Steady State Cardio), your body never steps out of glycolosis as your primary source of energy. You are simply burning off the sugars of foods you have ingested in the previous 24 to 48 hours. If you never try to sprint on the treadmill, pick the higher level on the ellipticals, or ramp up the resistance on your bicycle, you never tap your OP resources. If your goal is fat loss, you can try the steady state training for awhile, but when your cardiovascular system improves and your nutrition is dialed in, then you must work harder to expedite OP.

This fat mobilizing process is also known as EPOC (Excessive Post- Exercise Oxygen Consumption).

In simple terms,  when you perform Cardio Interval Training at Heuser Fitness (thanks to EPOC), your body continues to use fat as fuel for up to 1 full hour after class!