Do more cardio. Don’t do too much cardio. HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is the best bang for your buck. Actually, Zone 2 is where it's at. You know, for your mitochondria.
So, should you be pushing harder? Slowing down? Doing both?
If you're already juggling work, family and 100 other things, it's enough to make your head spin - and keep you firmly stuck on the sofa!
In case you've been lucky enough to escape the constant debate, here's a simple explanation ...
HIIT (high-intensity interval training) involves short bursts of hard effort followed by recovery. Think 30 seconds of working hard, followed by enough recovery to catch your breath before the next burst.
Zone 2 is steady-paced cardio, like brisk walking uphill, swimming, cycling or very easy jogging. (If you're new to running, jogging might be much harder work than Zone 2!) You're breathing a little harder but can still hold a conversation, and it should feel relatively comfortable.
Both have benefits. Neither is the magic formula. And you don't have to pick one and ditch the other. And I certainly don't want you to finish a workout, look at your watch and decide you've got it wrong.
Here's what I really want you to know.
If you're learning to jog and your heart rate is well above your Zone 2 target, you haven't wasted your time.
If you enjoy brisk walks but hate the idea of doing HIIT, you're not missing out on all the benefits of exercise.
And if you love a tough workout, you don't need to slow everything down just because Zone 2 is trending.
Different types of exercise offer different benefits. The right mix depends on your goals, your fitness and what you can realistically sustain.
The problem is that we're so busy trying to find the optimal way to exercise that we risk not doing it at all.
Let's Make Healthy Simple
This week, try these three things:
Choose movement that works for you. Walking, cycling, jogging, weights or HIIT. Find what fits your life, your fitness level, and what feels most fun.
Stop judging your workout by your heart-rate zone. Being above Zone 2 doesn't mean you've got it wrong. And you don't need to finish every session exhausted for it to count.
Focus on consistency, not perfection. Build a routine you can stick to. You can always fine-tune it later. And honestly, you may never need to.