About a month ago, I tried a workout called Tabata that totally kicked my ass. It was intense and challenging and I loved it–but the sessions at the YMCA were at 6 am.  I get up early, but that was too early, so more tabata class did not happen. Here’s a basic explanation of tabata:

 “HIIT session often consists of a warm up period of exercise, followed by three to ten repetitions of high intensity exercise, separated by medium intensity exercise for recovery, and ending with a period of cool down exercise. The high intensity exercise should be done at near maximum intensity. The medium exercise should be about 50% intensity. The number of repetitions and length of each depends on the exercise, but may be as little as three repetitions with just 20 seconds of intense exercise.”

I told my trainer about it, and we’ve been doing some tabata as part of my cardio training. Short version: it still kicks my ass–but I love it. The endorphins-they kick in!

Here’s the kind of exercises I am doing:

I’ve been doing this 3-5 times a week and trying to keep the intensity up. Looking for some videos I can also use at home.

My next step is to check out spinning–alot of tabata workouts originally started with a stationary bike.

If anyone has suggestions for videos, books, etc. please share.

Update: This post fails to share a couple of things:

A) I started exercising 5 months ago when I was pretty much very out of shape and in denial about just how out of shape I was (am). The past 5 months have been about strengthening the core, legs, arms, cardio, etc. I’ve lost inches and gained stamina. Someone more fit than me to start would have probably crushed through all I’ve learned n 1/2 the time–but I’m happy to be progressing, at whatever pace if takes to make exercise, sweating, and being active a daily activity I need to do.

B) I am compulsive. For me, the trick is to find something I like and make it a habit. I’ve gotten really into exercise, big picture, but I would like to get good at doing tabata, which is killer. (the endorphins!)  I checked out a whole bunch of videos of tabata workouts today, and found some good ones, but really trust what my trainer gives me the most, of course.

C) This is such a new interest. I want to become really fit. That’s my new goal.

(My trainer might define really fit as being able to run 2 miles in under 2o minutes and I wouldn’t argue–I can’t do that, yet. Heck, I am not sure I can really run for more than 2-3 minutes before slowing down. But my response to not being able to run those 2 miles is to get on the treadmill every time to go to the gym and spend 15 minutes or more doing intervals–run 1-2 minutes, walk a minute, run 1-2 minutes, etc. I have no doubt a few weeks of that is going to make everything better.)

I don’t know why I didn’t have fitness as a goal before; I think I didn’t really understand what fitness was and why it mattered.  I understood sports, and activities, and being able to do them, but I didn’t understand the importance of an overall level of conditioning I might want to maintain. Seems odd, but I just. didn’t. get. it.  Now, I am starting to.