Friday, October 3, 2014

Did you know THIS about fat burning?

How does Turbulence Training work? Can beginners use TT? What equipment do I need? All this and more in this week's TT Q'n'A...

Q: What is an example of a strength training superset that women can try to improve their results in tough to target areas (such as hips/glutes/thighs)?
Answer
For beginners, we use 1-leg hip extensions to target the glutes. We could pair that with Stability Ball leg curls for the hamstrings.
For squats, if you use a slightly wider than shoulder-width stance, you can sit your hips back more and work your butt harder than with normal squats. In the Turbulence Training programs, that is called a Sumo Squat or Wide-stance Squat. It can be done with weight or bodyweight alone. That would go well with Stability Ball Hip Extensions, and would be great for the intermediate crowd.
For advanced fitness levels, exercises like split squats, RDL's, and reverse lunges target the glutes and hamstrings. These could be paired with 1-Leg Stability Ball Leg Curls or 1-Leg RDL's.
Q: Why do you say the fat-burning zone isn't important?
Answer
There are more efficient ways to burn fat and change your body than exercising for a long time at a slow pace.
Proportionately, you burn more fat as fuel when exercising at a low intensity. I agree with that.

BUT!

You burn as much or even more fat, proportionately, at REST! So if you want the fat burning zone, why get off the couch? Just make sure you don't watch anything too exciting, like "24", or your heart-rate will go too high. Stick to something that's neither suspenseful nor funny, anything starring Jim Belushi should work.
Seriously, we need to understand that it doesn't matter how much fat we burn as a percent of total calories burned during the workout. In fact, we don't even need to get hung up on the amount of calories burned during our exercise session.
All we need to do is focus on...
  1. Boosting metabolism with strength training
  2. Boosting metabolism with interval training
  3. Eating for fat loss with the proper nutrition guidelines (see Dr. Mohr's TT Fat Loss Guidelines for male and female meal plans).
To boost your metabolism in a short amount of workout time, you need to do strength training and interval training. If you have 2 hours per day to workout, feel free to do slow cardio in the fat-burning zone. It's your time to waste. But if you want results fast, the TT workout approach will put you in the "fat burning zone" all day long.
Q: Is it mandatory to achieve the rep count on the last set of an exercise? For example, when the exercise calls for 3 sets of 8 reps, I get 8 reps in set 1, but only 7 in the last two sets. Should I reduce the weight?
Also, if I cut down on the recovery time, is there a benefit? I have always read that cutting down recovery time is great if you can manage it. Or is it necessary to allow some recovery time before the next set?
Answer
Stick with the same weight for all sets if you can still get 7 or even 6 repetitions. However, if you drop down to 5 or less reps (when it calls for 8 reps), you should decrease the weight in the remaining sets.
As for cutting recovery time, you won't achieve additional results by doing so. And if you cut recovery time TOO much, then you will have to significantly reduce the weight used per set, and that could cut into your metabolism boost.
Please stick to the recommended recovery times.
Q: Could you address the following issue in of your newsletters: Are intervals good for beginners? Isn't that too hard for them?
Answer
No, beginners can still do interval training.
I'm not talking about what people call "HIIT" (high-intensity interval training). I'm simply talking about working at a slightly harder than normal pace for the recommended interval time.
I don't like to use the phrase HIIT in my articles, for this reason.
Here's how beginners would do intervals.
Let's say you are a beginner that can walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes straight at 3.5mph. For your interval training, you would increase the speed to 3.8mph for 1-2 minutes. Then for your recovery, you'd drop it down to 3.0mph for an equal length of time.
Repeat for 4-6 intervals.
That's safe and effective interval training for beginners.
Get your very own copy of Turbulence Training & the Nutrition Guide here:

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Q: I've read you don't like spinning classes. Why not?
Answer
I find that spinning classes are inefficient. Why spend 45 minutes in a class when you can get the same results in 18 minutes by doing interval training on your own with the TT Interval Workouts?
Plus, I don't like high-RPM spinning, as I've met several women who have injuries that can be traced back to high-RPM spinning. It's likely that the combination of "messed up hips" from giving birth to their children led to biomechanical problems that flared up when they started spinning on a regular basis. Be careful, and make sure you are strong enough for the cardio activities you choose!
The best part of a spinning class are the high-tension, moderate-RPM intervals. Those intervals are what give you the 'turbulence' on your muscles and skyrocket your metabolism because that is when you are doing the most work.
But if you like the camaraderie of the class (remember, social support is essential to success!), and you have the time, and you're healthy, than spinning is a far better choice than spending an equal amount of time on the elliptical at a slow pace while reading People magazine (I used to see this everyday, and I'm sure you do in your gym as well).
Personally, I can't stand being told what to do (even if by a cute instructor), so I'll stick to doing my interval training on my own.
To each their own! (as long as it gets results)
Q: What actually happens in the body and muscles during and after a Turbulence Training workout?
Answer
Turbulence Training burns energy, and A LOT of it. So muscle energy stores are depleted (i.e. glycogen), and there is some muscle damage (as with regular strength training). Combined, those two changes put your muscles into what I call, "turbulence". Scientists call this a metabolic disturbance.
And just like an airplane needs to expend more energy to get through turbulence in the air, your body and muscles have to burn more energy to get back to normal...therefore, your body gets a big boost in post-exercise metabolism.
The "turbulence" and increase in metabolism don't happen with easier workouts and traditional cardio.
But the benefits you get from Turbulence can last for more than 24 hours, allowing you to burn more fat and calories all day long.
So while we don't burn as many calories during a TT workout as you would if you did an hour of cardio workout, you end up burning more calories in the overall 24-hour period with TT compared to normal cardio.
So we just have to look outside the workout for the results, and not focus on the calories used during your gym time.
Q: I always want to move on to the next TT program after 2 weeks rather than the recommended 4. Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this?
Answer
Yes, you should give each training phase more time. You want to get some adaptation to the training, and that takes longer than 2 weeks in most cases. Give it the full 4 weeks and then change to benefit from the variety in training. You will get more results, particularly if you are after building more muscle. Q: I can only do interval cardio training on a separate day from weights, is this a problem?
Answer
No, it is fine to alternate strength and interval days. I designed the weights and intervals to be done on the same day so that people would have more days off from structured workouts to spend being active with their families or hobbies. Q: In one of your articles you mention that bodyweight intervals is the best method of interval training. Is that correct?
Answer
Actually, I've written that sprinting is best. Bodyweight intervals and the stationary bike are very close in effectiveness. I like to switch interval methods every 4 weeks. That is the best approach.
Get your very own copy of Turbulence Training & the Nutrition Guide here:

=> http://fatloss.bestquickhost.com

I guarantee Turbulence Training will give you the fat loss you deserve and desire.

Sincerely,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training
P.S. What equipment do you need for Turbulence Training?

Dumbbells, a bench, an exercise ball, and if you are strong enough, an adjustable pullup bar. That's it. Lose fat in the comfort of your own home. You don't need any machines, a cable station, an inner-thigh machine, a squat rack, barbells, or balance boards.

"I lost 14 pounds this month and the weight is just falling off me. My wife says I now look like when we first met and I still have more to go. I can fit into my old jeans again which is a big deal for me. I just cut back on starches and bread and do your routine 2-3 times a week. I never thought in a million years that just 10-20 minutes of weight training followed by some cardio would get me such steady results. I even cheat a bit on the weekends." Billy Williams

Get your very own copy of Turbulence Training & the Nutrition Guide here:

=> http://fatloss.bestquickhost.com

"Turbulence Training is a proven way to melt fat fast, while protecting your hard-earned muscle. I'm so confident in its effectiveness that, over the years, I've recommended it to literally millions of readers. And the fantastic feedback I've received from guys all over the world as a result ensures you'll be seeing a lot more of CB's programs in the magazine." Adam Campbell, MS, CSCS,
Sports and Nutrition Editor, Men's Health

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