Tabata Training: Is Tabata Training the Ultimate Weight Loss Workout?

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Tabata Training: Can 4 minutes of exercise be enough for Weight Loss?

The basis of Tabata Training is 4 minutes of intense interval training. What you are doing is taking an exercise we'll use sprints as an example here.

Sprint as hard as you can for 20 seconds

Walk for 10 seconds

Repeat 7 more times for a total of 8 sets.

So what you have is a total of 4 minutes workout time.

Tabata Training can be done with a number of different exercises the idea is to use an exercise that gets the whole body involved or at least the major muscle groups.Tabata Training can be done with Barbells, Dumbells, Kettlebells or just Bodyweight exercises. I'll give you some other exercises and routines to try in a minute but first let me give you some background and how Tabatas work.

Tabata Training was developed by Izumi Tabata (imagine that) at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, Japan. They did a study on comparing the effects of moderate intensity endurance(aerobics) and high endurance intermittent training(tabata training intervals) on VO2 max and anerobic capacity.

To cut to the results of the study: the moderate intensity group training program produced a significant increase in VO2 max of about 10%, but had no effect on anaerobic capacity. The high intensity group improved their VO2 max by about 14% while anaerobic capacity improved by 28%. The study was done over a six week period. Both groups working out 5 days per week.



"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going".

"Tabata Training and It's Effect on Weight Loss" 

"Tabata Training and It's Effect on Fat Loss"

A study was then done at Physical Activities Sciences Laboratory, Laval University, Quebec, Canada, and challenged the common belief among health professionals that low-intensity, long-duration exercise is the best program for fat loss. They compared the impact of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and high-intensity aerobics on fat loss.

The bottom line was that the low intensity group burned more calories during their workouts almost twice as many.

But the high intensity group got 9 times more fat loss benefit for every calorie burned while exercising.

How did this happen? Compared to moderate-intensity endurance exercise, high- intensity intermittent exercise causes more calories and fat to be burned following the workout. They also said it may be that appetite is suppressed more following intense intervals.

The high intensity training raises the metabolic rate causing you to burn more calories after your training is long over with.

Is Tabata Training The Best for Weight Loss ? 

Is Tabata Training The Best for Weight Loss ?

Tabatas are a very intense form of Interval Training. I use and believe in the Interval and Tabata training methods for Weight loss.

The long cardio sessions are usefull but take too much time (and are boring).

Yes I do believe Tabatas and Intervals are the best training you can do for fat loss and don't discount the anaerobic benefits that you don't get with spending an hour on an exercise bike.

But Tabata Training is a very advanced form of training.Warning!! if you want to try Tabatas they are not for the weak hearted or unconditioned.

If you are a beginner, Learn Interval Training from the best Craig Ballantyne is the man when it comes to intervals. Check out his Turbulence Training site and you won't be sorry.

Start out slowly and gradually work into a full workout. As with any exercise program get a full physical check before you begin.

Combining a Weight Training program 3-4 days a week with Tabata's or interval training 2-3 days a week ( combined with a solid nutrition plan) will get you in the best shape( aerobic and anaerobic ) of your life.

That many workouts a week is for the well conditioned check out the workout I came up wih for a friend of mine shown below. Tabata's and Intervals twice a week and two total body weight training sessions a week. With any form of exercise you chose persistance and consitency are keys to success.

How Tabata Training Affects Your Weight Loss 

We've been fed the "aerobic" lie for over 30 years. Even doctors have been fooled by this pervasive myth.

The truth is slow aerobic training is terribly inefficient when it comes to losing weight.

It all has to do with a 4-letter acronym: EPOC.

EPOC stands for Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption. It's a scientific way of describing the calories you burn after you are done exercising.

With aerobic training, once you're done, you no longer burn calories. That's it. Done.

But with high intensity exercise (even as short as 4 minutes at a time) your body continues to burn calories for up to 2 days later.

That's right - your body is still working hard burning that stubborn fat long after your workout is complete.

" How to do Tabata Training" 

Setting up a Tabata Training Workout

What you want to do is the most reps you can of a particular exercise in 20 seconds. It helps if you have a clock with a second hand that you can see
clearly. You want to be able to look at the clock while doing the exercise. Or I would suggest making a small investment in a Gymboss timer.

If possible have someone time you and count your reps. This will help you with your concentration on what your doing especially as you start to tire.

Start out with light weights this is not bodybuilding and pay close attention to exercise form especially as you begin to tire to prevent injury. Remember the key to burning off that body fat is raising your metabolism.

I would advise trying Tabata Training once or twice a week

(depending on your conditioning level) to start with.

Your aiming to do 8 sets, once you can do 8-10 reps on your last set add a little weight or another session per week to increase intensity.

Exercises You Can Use For Your Tabata Workout 

.

Exercises that work well with Tabata Training




Front Squats- Hold a light barbell at shoulder height squat down raise back up.

Thrusts- With a dumbell or Kettlebell in each hand squat down raise up and press the dumbells overhead.

Barbell, Dumbell, Kettlebell Cleans - Take the barbell, dumbell or Kbell from the floor clean to shoulders.

Squat Press- With a Barbell set on your shoulders squat raise up and press it overhead.

Body weight Squats- If your just starting out try these, as your conditioning levels improve move up to using weights.

Kettlebell Swings - Set a kettlebell between your legs bring up to shoulder height. Can also be done with a dumbell but the kettlebell is much more effective.

A video demo how to do dumbell thrusts Tabata style 

Tabata Dumbbell Thrusters

powered by YouTube

Tabata Training as Your Only Workouts 

A friend of mine asked me about only doing Tabata training for her workouts

A friend of mine asked me about setting up a workout program for her and she asked me if the only workouts she did were Tabata's how would that work for her?

Well the short answer is Yes you could do just Tabata's and get in good condition aerobically and anaerobic.

What I suggested to her was to tweak it just a little. I started her on a total body weight training workout twice a week.

As great as Tabata's are no one form of exercise is the end all to get to your fitness, lean muscle building or weight loss goals.

Her weight training workouts are built around compound exercises( if you have read any of my other lenses you know I'm a big believer in compound exercises.

Her other two workout days of the week are tabata complexes using kettlebells. The more I get into using kettlebells the more convinced of the value of kettlebells. Kettlebells may be the single most effective instrument for all around fitness, strength, endurance, weight loss, flexibility and adding lean muscle.

Kettlebell Goddess Workout DVD

Tabata complexes are a little different the the pure one exercise Tabata. I have her do 3, 4 or even 5 kettlebell exercises done in a complex of one right after the other.

She loves these workouts. She is getting total body conditioning, weight loss and strength work. Variety may be the biggest plus to setting up your workouts in a similar way. The variety and the results you see will keep your motivation high.

As an added bonus since she is a very busy person none of her workouts go longer than 45 minutes or so.

Push-Ups done in a Tabata Training Workout 

Almost any exercise can be done Tabata Interval Training Style

Some additional training articles for you 

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Interval Training For Weight Loss and Bodybuilding 

For men and women looking to get lean and lose fat, you should go for efficient exercises - obviously the more muscles used per exercise the better.

By doing pushups for example,you can train your triceps, chest,shoulders and abs all at once -
literally cutting your workout in half (or more).

And that's what Interval Training is all about - more results in less time.

Sumo Deadlifts into a High Pull done Tabata Style 

I wanted to show you another great exercise combo for Tabata Training

Done Tabata Style the Sumo Deadlift High Pull combo will work virtually every muscle in your body and of course the cardio workout is top notch.

If you have never done Sumo's or High Pulls before start with a empty barbell bar and work on proper exercise form first.

Once you have your exercise form down start doing these tabata style.

Reminder Tabata's are not bodybuilding we are doing Tabata's for cardio conditioning and fat loss. Yes your muscles will get a great workout but Tabatas are about quick timed reps so don't try and use to heavy of a weight.

Tabata Sumo Deadlift High Pull

powered by YouTube

The Gymboss Timer The Perfect Timer For Doing Tabata Training When Your Alone 

Using a GYMBOSS makes timing Tabata intervals easy, simply set timer to a work interval of 20 seconds followed by rest interval of 10 seconds alarming with your choice of beep, vibrate or both! Timer continues these intervals until you stop!! Or drop!!!!


Buy the Gymboss Interval Timer

A Bodyweight Circuit for Weight Loss Routine on Video 

by Craig Ballantyne of Turbulence Training

TT members circuit 1

powered by YouTube

Some Great Weight Loss, Nutrition and Workout Programs 

The links below will take you to our review pages for these programs. Easy to understand and apply, support when needed, Free bonuses, money back gaurantees. These are some of the factors I consider before recommending any products.

Sometimes you need a little help and guidance to reach your goals. These are programs I've used and found to deliver on what they promise. But YOU have to learn them and as the saying goes Just Do It.
Fat Loss Revealed
By Will Brink a complete study and guide to fat loss. Nutrition, Training, Supplement reviews and many free bonuses at a low Gauranteed price.
Turbulence Training
By Craig Ballantyne. Craig explains Interval Training from Beginner to Advanced to get you fit and healthy in short productive workouts.
Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle
By Tom Venuto. Burn the Fat is a nutrition based program it is not heavy on training info. But for someone more interested in nutrition a great program.
Strip That Fat
I wanted to add a link to a fat loss program I have been checking out.

It's called Strip That Fat.

I have been very impressed by it and wanted you to check it out.Click the link to go to the lens I set up for it.
Tabata Training- Raise Your Metabolism - The Path to Being Healthy Lean and Strong
Tabata Training- Raise Your Metabolism - The Path to Being Healthy Lean and Strong

Another Tabata- Interval workout that I posted on a new blog I have 

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An Article that was published on Testosterone Nation about Tabata workouts 

TESTOSTERONE NATION
Dan Johns posted this article on Tabata training I thought you would like to read it.
Tabata Training The Fastest Path To Fat Loss
Another article I wrote on Tabata Training

Some other Tabata workouts to try! 

Variety, or the lack of, is responsible for killing most cardio routines , along with many others things in life.

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Reader Feedback 

CoconutBoy wrote...

This is a great overview of the Tabata Method, which I've used myself for great fat-burning results. Good job!

ReplyPosted December 14, 2008

sarahcopland wrote...

What a great lens, thank you for posting it. I have done this type of training before and it DOES work! Thanks again!

ReplyPosted December 14, 2008

Erzulie wrote...

Fantastic lens! I need to shake up my gym routine & this is just what I need. Thanks for creating!

ReplyPosted December 10, 2008

 
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