The Fountain of Youth: High-Intensity Interval Training and Longevity

Is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) the fountain of youth of exercise - the magic pill for performance and longevity? Introduction In our quest for a long and healthy life, we often find ourselves exploring various diets, supplements, and lifestyle changes. One increasingly popular method gaining recognition for its positive impact on longevity is High-Intensity Interval Training. HIIT is not just about building muscles or shedding pounds; it has the potential to be the secret sauce for extending our lifespan. In this blog post, we'll delve into the remarkable benefits of HIIT on longevity. What is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)? HIIT is a workout strategy that alternates short, intense bursts of exercise with brief periods of rest or low-intensity recovery. HIIT training is sometimes referred to as WODs (Workouts of the Day) or MetCons (Metabolic Conditioning). These workouts typically last between 10 and 30 minutes, making them efficient and accessible for people with busy schedules. HIIT can be applied to various forms of exercise, such as running, cycling, swimming, and even strength training. Athletic Lab's Mike Young has discussed the benefits of these workout types in both fitness and performance settings. The Longevity Link Cellular Rejuvenation: One of the keys to longevity is maintaining healthy cells. HIIT stimulates autophagy, a process that helps the body break down and remove damaged or dysfunctional cellular components. This cellular "clean-up" is crucial for preventing age-related diseases and promoting longevity. Improved Cardiovascular Health: HIIT is renowned for its ability to enhance cardiovascular health. It boosts your heart's efficiency, increases stroke volume, and lowers resting heart rate. These improvements reduce the risk of heart disease, which is a leading cause of premature death worldwide. Enhanced Metabolism: HIIT elevates your metabolic rate, [...]

By |2024-08-14T08:37:07-04:00September 22nd, 2023|Training Info|0 Comments

Energy System Development: Developing Aerobic Capacity by Beau Hains

[Beau Hains, MS is the Director of Team Training at Athletic Lab] Aerobic capacity plays a very important role in sports, especially those that require athletes to run for extended periods of time without allowing for sufficient rest. Aerobic capacity can be defined as the maximum rate at which an athlete can produce energy through oxidation of energy sources (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) and is usually expressed as a volume of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute. While some sports do not necessarily require a high amount aerobic capacity, it should certainly not be overlooked or neglected. How can aerobic capacity be developed? To quote one of my professors, there are many ways to skin a cat. Just as there are many ways to skin a cat, there are also many ways one can develop aerobic capacity. Aerobic conditioning methods can involve lower intensity efforts that are sustained for longer periods of time, as well as higher intensity intervals. Both options may be appropriate, but it ultimately depends on the needs of the individual athlete to progress from a general improvement in aerobic capacity to a more specific competition-based development. Therefore, it is up to the context of the level of the athlete or phase of training, to determine which method is most appropriate. Although this is certainly not an all-inclusive list, different methods for developing aerobic capacity can include methods such as: Low Intensity Steady State (LISS) Extensive Tempo Running MAS Intervals Long Intervals High Intensity Interval Training Fartlek Training Tabata Training And more Low Intensity Steady State (LISS) Of the above training methods, one of the most common and simple methods for improving general aerobic ability for all sports is [...]

By |2020-04-18T12:07:53-04:00April 18th, 2020|Training Info|0 Comments

High Intensity Interval Training by Matty Golden

[Matty Golden is in his third year as a sports strength and conditioning student in Setanta College, Ireland and is due to graduate in May 2018. He is currently an Athletic Development Intern at the Athletic Lab.] High intensity interval training is a method used to supplement maximal efforts in training. This is a method of training that involves repeated bouts of high intensity efforts that range from 5 seconds to 8 minutes followed by recovery periods of varying length of time. It is quick, intense bursts of exercise followed by rest periods. HIIT trains the body at high heart rates which aids the burning of fat in shorter periods of time. As quoted in a study done by Martin, J Gbala, High Intensity Interval Training is a little pain for a lot of gain. Billat (2001) points out that as early as 1912 that Olympic long distance runner, Hannes Kolehmainen, was employing interval training in his workouts. Often times high intensity interval training is emphasised as less is more. Meaning a fast paced 30 minute workout is more beneficial to fat loss then something of a slower pace with a longer duration. In a paper done by Micah Zuhl and Len Kravitz they explain how HIIT can not only provide performance benefits but it can also improve the health of recreational exercisers. They go on to state that it is also very suitable for endurance training or continuous aerobic exercise. HIIT is a method of training I have used in Ireland both with sport teams and individuals. With highly trained athletes and individuals, increasing volume of the training does not appear to further enhance their endurance performance or peak their oxygen uptake. I am [...]

By |2017-04-19T09:47:11-04:00April 18th, 2017|Training Info|0 Comments
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