Woodlands Fitness Centre

What is Tabata?

Wednesday 19th September 2012

Yes, what is Tabata? Most people love a bit of steady state cardio. They go mad for it. Well it ain't great for you.

Plonking yourself on a x-trainer for 30 minutes and staring glassy eyed at your iphone won't do you much good. Steady state cardio elevates cortisol (stress hormone) levels in your body. This you do not want.

Steady state cardio is also catabolic. Being in a catabolic state is muscle wasting. Hours of cardio causes muscle tissue breakdown. You want your body to be in an anabolic (muscle building) state.

There's a form of HIIT called Tabata. It's fairly straightforward: it uses 20 seconds of ultra-intense exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated continuously for 4 minutes (8 cycles).

All of Tabata the intervals have to be done at 100% intensity - an absolute flat out effort. You need to perform as much work in each 20 second interval as possible and try to maintain that work rate for the 8 - 10 sets. You can train long and easy or short and hard, but short and hard is better for your goals!

You can do skipping, burpees, mountain climbers or squat thrusts. I like to do some 100 metre sprints on Rowsley playing fields. I'm happy to take members with me next time I go.

I'm sure all of the above makes sense but any questions just come and have chat with me.

Gym. Health club. Personal training. Classes. Zumba. Pilates.
Matlock. Bakewell. Baslow. Derbyshire.

The Woodlands Fitness Centre Ltd
A: Unit 29, Peak Village Estate, Chatsworth Road, Rowsley, Derbyshire, DE4 2JE
T: (01629) 733 123
E: Woodlandsfitness@yahoo.co.uk
W: www.woodlandsfitnessrowsley.co.uk