Four Minutes to Fit

If I had to choose one workout to do for the rest of my life, it would be Tabata. If you’ve never heard of Tabata, you are in for a treat!

Tabata is a version of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), developed by a professor, Izumi Tabata. Initially involving Olympic Speedskaters, Tabata used 20 seconds of ultra-intense exercise, followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated continuously for 4 minutes (8 cycles).

In the original study, the group of athletes who trained using the Tabata method, was the only group to gain anaerobic capacity benefits. (Anaerobic exercise is an exercise intense enough to trigger lactic acid formation; and it is used to promote strength, speed and power.)

Not only did the Tabata group gain anaerobic capacity benefits, they also gained more VO2 max (maximal oxygen consumption). Maximal oxygen consumption reflects your aerobic physical fitness, and is an important determinant of your endurance capacity during prolonged, sub-maximal exercise. Sub-maximal exercise, meaning any type of exercise being less than the maximum of which you are capable.

So, long story short, Tabata works. It’s fast, self-explanatory, and effective. Best part? You can do it anywhere! No equipment, no gym; just you and a timer.

Here’s my favorite round of Tabata —

I’ve been using the Tabata method for almost two years now. It has made my runs faster, my strength training easier, and my core stronger. I use it when I’m home, I use it on vacation, and I use it on my clients. And they all have a healthy love/hate relationship with it…right girls?! 😉

Try doing a round of Tabata every day this week before you shower. I can 100% guarantee you will feel a difference in your body by the end of the week. Remember to push yourself as HARD as you possibly can for the full four minutes. Keep that heart rate up, up, up! It’s only four minutes. You can do it!

Have fun, and stay fit, friends! Xo