This is a low intensity cardio workout that can be modified to suit a beginner, intermediate and an advanced trainee.
You may have heard that these kind of workouts are better to keep you in your ‘fat burn zone’ and to have you burning a higher percentage of fat calories whilst increasing your aerobic fitness.
Whilst this is partly true, the body doesn’t quite work in that way – How much fat you burn and store will largely be determined by the total calories you’ve consumed in a day vs how many calories you’ve burned in a day.
This is just one way to increase the “calories burned” side of the equation. Consider it simply one tool of many in your quest for fat loss and health.
If you’ve had no exercise or cardio training experience in the past then I would also recommend taking a comfortable pace test before you begin.
This cardio workout is based around keeping you at your aerobic threshold i.e your comfortable pace/Anaerobic Threshold for at least 20 minutes. In most reasonably fit people aerobic threshold occurs at around 70% of their maximum heart rate
Obviously a lower figure may apply if you are just starting out with your training and aren’t used to being active. You’ll probably hit your aerobic threshold at around 55%-60% of your max HR.
Some things to consider with this aerobic threshold workout
You can use any form of cardio for this workout. I had gym machines in mind when writing the figures in the table. Machines such as the treadmill, bike and cross trainer. However you can use any form of cardio you desire to perform this workout I.E. Skipping, boxing, step ups. However, you will need a heart rate monitor if you’re using these methods.
Note : If you are using running or any form of cardio that may impact your joints, then I’d recommend investing in some Asics running shoes. In fact even if you are not doing high impact cardio for your aerobic threshold workout, these will fit perfectly around your feet and give you maximum comfort.
Make sure you always warm up and cool down thoroughly
You’ll notice a broad range of figures in the workout table. These are to be chosen to suit your specific fitness needs.
This workout can be used by a beginner all the way through to an advanced trainee so it is important to determine what your comfortable pace is.
This is one of many types of fat burning workouts. The rule of progressive overload applies here too. You are looking to increase your intensity with each workout to make sure that your body doesn’t adapt and that you see consistent results. These are the intensity variables you can adjust :
- Speed
- Distance
- Time
- Resistance/level/incline
|
TIME
|
PART
|
SPEED
|
LEVEL/INCLINE | HEART RATE |
| 0 min | Warm up | 3.5kph-7kph (walk or jog) | 0 | |
| 1 | Warm up | ” “ | 0 | 55-70% |
| 2 | Warm up | ” “ | 0 | 55-70% |
| 3 | Warm up | ” “ | 0 | 55-70% |
| 4 mins | Warm up | ” “ | 0 | 55-70% |
| 5 | Comfortable Pace (CP) | 4kph-13kph (depends on fitness) | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 6 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 7 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 8 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 9 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 10 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 11 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 12 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 13 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 14 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 15 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 16 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 17 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 18 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 19 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 20 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 21 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 22 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 23 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 24 | CP | 4kph-13kph | 0-5% or *5-15 | 60-70% |
| 25-30 mins | Cool Down | 3.5kph-7kph | 0 | 60-70% |
*If you’re using a bike or a cross trainer
Click Here For a Printer Friendly Version of This Aerobic Threshold Workout
