Training Myths: Running is the Best Way to Burn Body Fat

The theory that the best way to lose weight is to spend hours on the treadmill is one that has been challenged many times in the exercise world. Running is a great way to burn calories but it is not the best way to burn body fat. When you run your body reaches a steady-state of exercise in which there is not much variation in heart rate. Running at this level is exactly what you need to perform an endurance run such as a half-marathon or marathon yet it is not ideal for weight-loss. High-Intensity Interval Training, also known as HIIT, has been proven to be much more effective at burning body fat than running. Why is this so good for us? HIIT creates a fast, high increase in heart rate and a quick exhaustion of the muscle which causes the body to react to the sudden change more abruptly. The fast increase in heart rate pushes your body to work harder which over time increases the amount of work your body can handle. This high intensity work increases your body’s response to exercise and the adaptations that occur as a result. This form of training can help increase muscle mass more quickly. More muscle means more calorie burning and less fat! Our body requires a certain amount of energy (calories) just to keep us alive and moving all day. This is known as the basal metabolic rate or BMR. Having more muscle mass increases the amount of calories it takes you just to be alive! This is why we always work to make you stronger! Keeping the muscles guessing and working at higher intensities will produce much better results in performance and fat burning!