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The idea is that your heart and lungs (probably specifically heart in my case) are getting a workout. In this case we aren't concerned with abs, legs, biceps or

by jqm 12y ago

The idea is that your heart and lungs (probably specifically heart in my case) are getting a workout. In this case we aren't concerned with abs, legs, biceps or any other muscles except the ones involved with cardio. We want to isolate and push these in intervals the same way a body builder might his triceps with isolation and reps. (The lungs and heart are muscles too... sometimes people forget this). My version goes something like this.... I jog on the treadmill for 5 or 6 minutes as a warm up. Just a slow jog, nothing too strenuous. Then, I take a break for about a minute while walking around. Then, for three (or four depending on day and mood) iterations I do the following.... get on the treadmill and increase the speed until I can just barely keep up. I try to stay at plateau speed as long as I can... from start until exhaustion usually around 1.5- 2 minutes. Then, I take a break for around 3 minutes. I test my heart rate until it drops back to a bit above baseline... that's how I know it's time for next cycle. I finish with another slow warm-down jog for 5 or 6 minutes. The whole workout takes around 20 minutes and it really has improved my well being and general health. Sex life is better and I have in general much more energy. I attribute this to a stronger heart. For the record, I'm not a stranger to exercise. I ran track in high school, and have jogged and worked out periodically throughout my life... sometimes rather intensely. I'm 43 years old. I just haven't found a system that improves general feeling of health and vigor like high intensity training does. Maybe it's just me. YMMV.

glibgil 12y ago
I've been thinking of try something like this. The way I thought about it was to only run a five minute mile. My plan is to go to the track and sprint for as long as I can at a five minute mile pace. When I drop below that pace, I walk until I return to walking heart rate. Then I run at a five minute mile pace. The workout ends when I have run a cumulative mile at a five minute mile pace. I figure the workout will take about 20 minutes.
philsnow 12y ago
thanks for sharing your experience > The lungs and heart are muscles too... sometimes people forget this ... are there really muscles in the lungs ? and is the diaphragm a muscle that benefits from training ?
- jqm 12y ago
  Good point. I don't know that the lungs are technically muscles (probably they aren't...I'm not going to cheat and look it up until later). But for this purpose they behave enough like muscles... i.e., they seem to grow stronger. Or maybe it is indeed muscles like the diagram being strengthened. Perhaps someone with a bit more actual physiology knowledge can answer. Edit: Also, I forgot to mention, I do this twice a week and sometimes thrice a week, with off periods of a few months every 5-6 months or so. I've been doing HIIT in periods for 3-4 years since I first read about and I'm a believer. Big change.

by jqm 12y ago

glibgil 12y ago

I've been thinking of try something like this. The way I thought about it was to only run a five minute mile. My plan is to go to the track and sprint for as long as I can at a five minute mile pace. When I drop below that pace, I walk until I return to walking heart rate. Then I run at a five minute mile pace. The workout ends when I have run a cumulative mile at a five minute mile pace. I figure the workout will take about 20 minutes.

philsnow 12y ago

thanks for sharing your experience > The lungs and heart are muscles too... sometimes people forget this ... are there really muscles in the lungs ? and is the diaphragm a muscle that benefits from training ?

jqm 12y ago
Good point. I don't know that the lungs are technically muscles (probably they aren't...I'm not going to cheat and look it up until later). But for this purpose they behave enough like muscles... i.e., they seem to grow stronger. Or maybe it is indeed muscles like the diagram being strengthened. Perhaps someone with a bit more actual physiology knowledge can answer. Edit: Also, I forgot to mention, I do this twice a week and sometimes thrice a week, with off periods of a few months every 5-6 months or so. I've been doing HIIT in periods for 3-4 years since I first read about and I'm a believer. Big change.