By Nichwriter
There are two types of cardio exercise: low intensity and high intensity. While both types of cardio exercise are both helpful in burning body fat, an individual seeking a healthier life style is most likely going to choose what to pursue based on which is more effective of the two types.
According to medical experts, what the body burns during a highly intensive regimen is glycogen. Glycogen is a form of carbohydrate that serves as fuel for the body and which is stored in the liver and muscle tissue. On the other hand, it is the body fat that gets burnt off during low intensive exercises.
Somehow, people are confused with the aforesaid claim of the fat burning benefits of low intensity activities. It is a fact that many people remain obese despite efforts to work out following the less rigorous routines. This leads some to doubt the veracity of the statement.
The experts correctly stated that indeed light activities like leisurely swimming or slow walking can help the body burn more fat. But what they also say is that the body tends to burn more calories when it is engaged in high intensity work outs including jogging. And, the calories that get burnt include both glycogen and fat calories.
The point is, as you perform high intensity cardio exercises, the body uses the glycogen it has in storage. Subsequently, the carbohydrates you ingest from later meals will be transformed into glycogen to replenish the glycogen that was used up previously. The carbohydrates from the food you consume will not become body fat, which is what happens to unused carbohydrates.
By performing high intensity cardio exercises, you will be able to crank up your metabolism so that your body continues to metabolize or burn calories even after you have finished your workout at the gym. This is a benefit that you can not obtain from any low intensity activities. Therefore, your body will be able to build up on the amount of calories it burns and raise your metabolism rate after each session of high intensity levels of cardio exercises.
You can always include a high intensity regimen into your regular workout. Let’s say your chosen cardio exercise is walking. After walking for a period of five minutes, break your pace and jog for the next five minutes. Then, get back into a brisk walk and when you’re no longer panting, make a quick dash for about a minute before slowing down to regain your paced walk. Continuously switch from walking to running and back to walking again until you finish your pre-set distance or time allowance.
Cardio workouts will help you not only to burn fats and calories but they will also increase your energy levels. And the more cardio exercises you perform, the better and more energized you will feel. You should definitely take a crack at those high intensive cardio exercises if you haven’t tried them before. And if you enjoy exercising, you will appreciate the fitness and energy boosting benefits you can get from any cardio regimen. However, if you are merely beginning your cardio workout, be sure to keep things light at first in order to avoid overexertion or hurting yourself in the process.
By Nichwriter, a freelance writer
