Photo: Ed Yourdon / Flickr

Sometimes working smart rather than hard is a good idea when it comes to exercise. If you find yourself slaving away at the treadmill but not losing any weight it may be time to change your strategy. Most people think that the more they run the more weight they will lose. This is true to a point – running burns loads of calories – but the more you run, the better your body gets used to running, meaning it starts burning fewer calories. So it’s really important to mix up your routine if you want to keep shedding pounds.

Speed it up

Intervals are short bursts of intensive exercise you do between exercising at your usual pace. Your body gets energy from the oxygen you inhale quite easily when you exercise at a comfortable pace, meaning you burn fewer calories. When you start exercising harder your muscles have to work at processing oxygen. This means more energy is used.

‘Your body likes to be on cruise control, because that’s where it’s most gas efficient,’ explains fitness researcher Wayne Westcott. ‘But when you push on the gas pedal, as you do in intervals, your body becomes less efficient and has to burn more calories to do the activity.’

Less impact

Intervals aren’t only a great way to burn more calories. They’re also kinder to your body than long runs. Too much running too often can cause injuries like runner’s knee and will, in time, take its toll on your joints. Your body will thank you for shortening the distances you run and spending less time on the treadmill will help keep you enthusiastic about exercise.

Intervals can be long, medium or short. A short interval could last just 15 seconds and could be followed by 60 seconds of more moderate running on the treadmill. Repeating this six times will really rev up your metabolism.

Tags: exercise, keeping fit, running, weight loss