KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Week of exercise in 1 hour, interval training gaining popularity

Week of exercise in 1 hour, interval training gaining popularity

By Sara Story - bio | email
Posted by Ellen Krafve - bio | email

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - No time is no longer an excuse for no exercise. Interval training is a way to workout that could help fit an entire week's workout in less than an hour.

With spring on the way, East Texans, like Daniel Partida, are hitting the trails, getting their bodies in shape in time for swimsuit weather. But Partida says he finds it hard to make workouts a top priority.

"Sometimes I don't have time," said Partida.

Instead of giving up on fitness, he relies on intense workout sessions called interval training.

"Once you're done with that, oh my gosh, you feel so relieved," said Partida. "You feel relaxed, and you feel good about yourself."

"You have to understand that we are just becoming busier people," said Greg Maschal, the operations manager of Olympic Center in Tyler. "This type of exercise allows you to crunch down time and become more efficient with exercise."

Maschal says the concept of interval training was developed for athletes, but is gaining popularity among common folk.

"It is basically a form of aerobic exercise where you are training at high intensities for a certain amount of time and then backing off and training at low intensities for a certain amount of time," he explained.

Maschal warns this kind of workout is not for everybody.

"People just starting off on an exercise plan I wouldn't recommend just jumping into interval training," he said. "Also, people that come in with pre-conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, if they have a joint problem, a bone condition."

"I'm happy with what I'm doing but I would try something different," said Ronny Christie.

If you're in need of a change, interval training may just be the exercise answer for you.

Fitness experts say that saving time is not the only benefit of interval training. You are doing explosive movements, so you can gain more strength.

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