I have a confession to make. I like my LISS (low intensity steady state cardio)! Yeah I said it. I am not a cardio bunny by any means but yes, you will sometimes find me on the treadmill and here's why.
I don't have to think! My mind is ALWAYS going. I have to think at my job, at home and when I weight train (so I don't kill myself), etc. I'm always thinking about what I have to do, where I have to go, what time it is, what we need to buy and how we are going to buy it, what stupid thing I said/did the other day and did I really look that stupid, worrying about my kids, my job, deadlines, things at my kids' school . . . . well you get the idea. With HIIT or weight training, I have to count and concentrate and keep track of what I am doing. With Steady State cardio, other than watching out for the passing car or animal if I am outside, I DONT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I AM DOING and that feels GREAT!!!
I can't hack 5 intense workouts a week. My 3 weight training days a week are very intense. I am usually sore the next day. When I do SS cardio at a low intensity, it feels like I am "sneaking" exercise into my body, like my body hardly notices. It's easier on my body. Yes is doesn't burn as many calories as HIIT, but frankly I just couldn't function the other 23 hours of the day if I did 5 hard workouts a week.
The endorphan high or whatever it is that makes me feel RELAXED but ENERGIZED after a SS cardio session. I usually feel relaxed after weight training and HIIT but pretty much drained afterwards. BUT with the lower intensity, I feel like I have something "left over" to finish my day.
On good days, I feel like a kid when I run.
And finally, I have a lot of good memories of my steady state cardio run/walks outside. I remember running along the beach, watching Spring come over several weeks (tree and flowers blooming), smelling all the yummy cooking smells and sweet laundry detergent smells from people's dryers, and many other good (and sometimes adventurous) memories from my runs.
Mostly I just daydream when I'm running/walking. It is truly my time and I love it! So say what you want to say about HIIT. I do HIIT from time to time but don't take away my LISS! :)
1 comments:
Well it's horses for courses I suppose.
As for the Junk, you may need to calorie replace.
Obviously, as many people cut back junk, the amounts of Fat they cut back, sacrifices things like Carbs and Protein too, which aren't factored back in, and if the Fat % was too high anyway, then Protein and Carb % could have been too low, so whacking back in around 25-50% of the calories from Fat you remove, via Protein and Carb sources, would be the obvious way forward.
I'm sure you'll find a way to get it zoned in :-).
Also of you want to change the Steady state slightly, just perhaps add an incline. You'll still be working the same way for the whole session, no fluctuations in tempo or speed,, but you'll have to work harder by default.
Just a thought.
GOOD LUCK :-) :-).
Matt
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