If you were unsure of the benefits of interval training, this may change your mind!

An article in the Daily Telegraph told of Researchers from the University of NSW that have discovered an interval training routine that burns fat three times faster than regular exercise routines.

The study compared overweight women exercising at a continuous, regular pace for 40 minutes with women on a 20 minute interval cycling regimen.

The women taking part in the interval regimen lost three times as much weight over 15 weeks than those taking part in the regular exercise routine.  So not only did they lose more weight, but they spent only half the time in the gym!

The success was found to be due to higher levels of catecholamines (hormones released when the body is stressed) produced during this method of interval training. 

Scientists are hoping to apply this method to other forms of exercise such as walking and swimming, and think that the method will be able to target specific areas of fat accumulation in the body, such as buttocks.

The next phase of the study is to combine this interval training method with the Mediterranean diet in the hope of even better results.

Because the key lies in the exact 8 second/12 second intervals, timing is vital.  But how easy is it to keep such a close eye on the time when you are sprinting?  Now they just need to invent a treadmill that will do the counting for us. 

Next time you are on the bike or the treadmill, give it a go and let us know how you went!