Running advice

bradp1979

I start every workout at the gym by running a mile an a half at 6 mph, then I walk about 10 minutes, then I go to hit the weights. I have heard around that it is better for fat loss not only to run before the weights so you can expend the bulk of your energy on cardio, but that it is also more effective to break your running into intervals instead of straight running. Example: run 5 minutes, walk 3, sprint 1, jog 4, walk 5, etc. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

LoraF83

I don't have any advice on that, since I don't follow that type of program. But, I would recommend googling "HIIT Intervals" - I think it's sort of similar to what you described and is supposed to maximize fat loss.

letsbeskinnytogether

Having your body run at a fast pace and then suddenly stop
to walking causes it to have to work even harder.
So Intervals like that do increase fat loss.

bradp1979

I don't have any advice on that, since I don't follow that type of program. But, I would recommend googling "HIIT Intervals" - I think it's sort of similar to what you described and is supposed to maximize fat loss.

Perfect. Thank you.

Spartan_Maker

Both activities are glycogen depleting, so it depends which is most important to you.

For whatever it's worth, I'd never do aggressive cardio and intense strength training in the same day. Running 6 mph, even for just 1.5 miles, isn't traipsing.

Just one man's opinion.

davert123

my very novice advice is that if you want to run start off slow 3-4 times per week and then make one run longer than the rest and extend the distance. There is benefit in doing intervals but I would only do this if you are in reasonable shape to start with or else you could injure yourself. There are loads of ways of doing intervals - inside you can speed up or put yourself on an incline for a while and then slow down. i wouldn't advise doing sprints (i.e. very short duration high effort) for a while. I'm saying this on my experience of pulling things lol. It depends on what you are trying to do as well. If you are trying to loose weight then doing a constant burn or a fast back to slow run type burn where you keep moving would seem better than stopping. Once you stop you won't burn that many calories. Once you get going the fast bits of the training help you condition your body to run faster - this is good because it means you can burn more cals than before. My only real recommendation though based on my own experience is to not overdo it - our bodies have finite capacity to be pounded and do tend to break if we push to hard for to long. The only other advice I have would be to stretch out your legs afterwards - this for me is as vital as the exercise as it really helps protect against injury and allows me to walk normally instead of like john Wayne the following day :-) good luck with whatever you do though and hope get to where you want to