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Fitness Wisdom Wednesday – Metabolic Training on Total Gym
You may have heard of the phrase “metabolic training” on TV or in a fitness magazine. Maybe the most popular examples of the non-stop, high-intensity training are seen in the P90X infomercial and the latest “Insanity” workout that allegedly pushes you past your limits in the “hardest workout program ever put on DVD.” I can’t account to the truth of that statement, but here’s a quick definition of metabolic training:
A fast-paced circuit workout where you do a series of fairly simple weightlifting and cardiovascular exercises in a short amount of time working your muscles to fatigue. The idea is to create a very high-intensity workout to burn fat while adding muscle tone. A great way to break up tired fitness routines and fast track your results.
Word to the wise…you don’t need a muscle-bound meat head yelling at you through the TV in order to benefit from metabolic training. In fact, you can do your own metabolic workout at home on your Total Gym! International GRAVITYMasterTrainer Michael Steel offers the following tips for creating your own at-home Total Gym metabolic strength training workout:
- Start by picking 3-4 total body exercises that you are comfortable doing. Then set a number of repetitions for each exercise, say 10-12.
- Plan to do these exercises in a circuit, repeating each exercise 3-5 times (depending on your fitness level) without stopping.
- As you transition from one exercise to the next, utilize your squat stand by adding a set of 10-15 plyometric jump squats in between to keep your heart rate up. Click here for a video demonstration of plyometric squats on Total Gym.
- Avoid taking any breaks until you’ve completed all 3-5 sets!
Now go get your sweat on!
We’re interested in hearing about your Total Gym metabolic workout! Leave us a comment with your routine.
Cassie is the Communications Manager for efi Sports Medicine/Total Gym and a published fitness writer.
