EXERCISE: The 4-second workout. For real?
May 19, 2020 • 1 min read
-- Short intense bursts of exercise deliver surprising metabolic benefits
Sounds like a lazy man’s dream.
Researchers have discovered that four seconds of high-intensity exertion repeated throughout the day might counteract some of the unhealthy metabolic consequences of sitting for hours.
That’s not to say a quick run around the block after a day at the office won’t do you any good. However, several recent studies indicate that those who perform a quick burst of activity every hour during prolonged sitting are better at metabolising fat than both couch potatoes and regular joggers.
According to the research, subjects who ran at the end of the day recorded higher levels of triglycerides in their blood than the group of four-second workout wonders.
Researchers speculate that long hours of sitting change physiologies in ways that render them “resistant” and less able to break up and clear away fat.
On the other hand, those that exerted themselves every hour – for even as little as four seconds – burned more fat over the course of the day.
The results suggest that breaking up sitting with frequent, intense and extremely abbreviated exercise can undo some of the adverse effects of remaining sedentary.