Extremely short duration high intensity interval training substantially improves insulin action in young healthy males
I’ve become more and more of a fan of interval type training when it comes to aerobics. Personally, I subscribe to Dr. Sears’ PACE program (Progressive Accelerating Cardiopulmonary Exertion), which involves sets of increasing intensity but shorter duration. Makes sense when you look at what our bodies were designed to do (can’t imagine any type of sustained aerobic jog to chase after a running antelope for food…). The research is increasingly in support of this type of program.
In this particular study, a miniscule level of intense exercise (15 mins over 2 wks) led to a 23% improvement in the way insulin was functioning in the body in a small group of sedentary young men. We’re talking 4-6 sets of cycling as fast as they could for 30 seconds. This was done in 6 sessions over the course of 2 wks. Listen..if you can’t do 9 minutes of exercise per week, you should just hang it up now.