Fat Burning Workout

I've said before that the key to fat loss workouts is intensity rather than duration (i.e. quality vs. quantity). The best phrase I've heard to describe the type of workouts I'm talking about is "Metabolic Acceleration Training". I got this phrase from Alwyn Cosgrove, author of "Afterburn-Fat Loss Training System". Here is a great article Alwyn wrote on this concept.

Metabolic Acceleration Training
A better way

I'm a huge believer in using the "alternating set" system when training in the gym. For time management reasons, I tend to do exercise one for a set, rest 60 seconds or so, do exercise two for a set, rest 60 seconds or so, and continue. This allows me to increase work density while still getting "true" rest.

In other words, I perform a set of squats, rest 60 seconds, perform a set of push-ups, rest 60 seconds, and repeat. So in effect, I've almost tripled the rest period between squat sets (60 seconds plus the time taken for push-ups plus 60 seconds) as opposed to using a straight set system. And for fat loss training, it's unparalleled.

However, the biggest problem or complaint I get from clients who use commercial facilities is that it's really hard for them to tie up two pieces of gym equipment at peak hours. I have my own facility, but I realize this can be a real problem elsewhere. So I started experimenting with a few things--doing dumbbell lunges and push-ups for example or step-ups and dumbbell bench presses where I could use one set of dumbbells and one piece of equipment.

It was an okay compromise, but it started to somewhat limit my exercise selection. And to be honest, it still had the issue of people working in and possibly disrupting your rest periods.

So I went a step further. What if I created a fat loss or conditioning program based around one piece of equipment where you stayed in the same spot, using the same load for the entire duration? So I tried it. At first it was awkward, but after reading Istvan Javorek's work and talking with über strength coach, Robert Dos Remedios, I started to implement different variations of combination lifting.

I just hoped that it would work as well as alternating sets for fat loss and conditioning or at least close enough that it wasn't too much of a tradeoff. As it turns out, it worked better! In fact, it worked so well that it became a cornerstone of my conditioning programs with several athletes.

The rest of this article is filled with great information, but was to long to publish in this entry. If you want to read it, you can download it on the homepage of our website at www.fitnesswavetn.com.

Alwyn is one of the top fitness professionals in the world. To learn more about him and read some great articles click here.