Tabata Training

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Are you one of the dedicated gym goers always looking for the newest fad in fitness?  You know, looking for the “it” program that will get you ripped and cut up for your summer body.  Well, instead of looking for the new program, how about we take a step back in time and revisit one of the most effective programs that will deliver a great, fat burner workout in a short amount of time.

Tabata training was founded by a Japanese scientist named Izumi Tabata, along side fellow colleagues at a department of physiology in Japan. It was designed to push you to your cardio limit, by using the high intensity interval training protocol.  But this program also works for resistance training as well.

A sample breakdown of this training method is as followed:

- 4 Minutes is the timed protocol used.
- For 20 seconds, you do as many reps as possible, or do your cardio for this short amount of time at maximum capacity.
- Rest for 10 seconds.
- Repeat 7 more times.
- 20 on, 10 off, 4 minutes.

Like I mentioned above, this can be used for cardio and resistance training.  For cardio, I suggest doing treadmill sprints, or using a jump rope.  This is a quick way to get your metabolism and heart rate up.

For resistance training, this can be used for any type of body part.  Say you are doing a chest and bicep workout.  First do your chest exercise using this protocol, 20 on, 10 off for 4 minutes.  Then go into your bicep lift after your chest lift using this same protocol.  I would aim for 3 lifts on each body part and call it good.  24 minutes, and you are finished.

Don't think this is enough, give it a try and see how you feel when you are finished.  I guarantee you will have a whole new respect for this type of training.

Best of luck...