I am back from New Jersey and I have turned up the training. Fasted cardio is now a part of my regiment as we are less than 13 weeks away from the NPC Charlotte Cup.
It is still cold outside but trekking down to the apartment complex gym is a lot easier than making my way to the YMCA. I do not have to worry about defrosting my car. Heck, all I have to do is roll out of bed, go to the bathroom, throw on my socks and sneakers, then head out the door. No food or protein shake.
And there’s also no fuss since I sleep in my workout clothes.
Fasted cardio to kick start the day
I am glad that my apartment complex has a gym that isn’t too far from my front door with a treadmill, bike and elliptical machine.
The treadmill is an easy way to get fasted cardio done. I prefer treadmill intervals or incline sprints HIIT style.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an exercise method that alternates between periods of (almost) all-out intensity and low-intensity recovery.
The idea is simple:
- During your high-intensity bouts, you’re pushing yourself almost as hard as you can.
- During your low-intensity periods, you’re trying to catch your breath in preparation for the next sprint.
Incline treadmill intervals sprints
I love and hate getting on the treadmill. Seriously.
Morning cardio is bearable with the help of a Netflix series. I am now watching anything in a series since I finally finished 13 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. Believe it or not but I had never watched it until I was in prep last season.
I warm up at a nice steady pace for about 5 minutes at a slight incline to get my body warmed up. When I hit the 5 minute marker, I up the incline and the speed.
Call me crazy but it’s 30 seconds sprinting and then dropping down the speed or hopping onto the rails for 30 seconds. Twenty rounds is a killer.
By the time I get to round 12just want it to be over. I really want life to be over at round 15.
The last 5 rounds I talk to myself. I have to motivate myself to push through the pain. It’s that or give up.
I typically try to do the full 5 minute cooldown on the treadmill, but some days I go 3 minutes and walk back to my apartment.
Do you include fasted cardio into your mix?