What comes to your mind first when you hear the word intensity? High energy. Pushing the limits. Strength. That’s what I think about.

The intensity at which you train is another important element of training. This can make or break your ability to reach your goals. If you are not seeing the results you want then this is something you need to evaluate.

Wondering what a great intense workout is? Well I can tell you what it is not. It isn’t sitting on a stationary bike and peddling at a snails pace for 45 minutes or bench pressing dumbbells 10 times and calling it a day. You have to push yourself. You have to sweat.

It is imperative that you increase your heart rate and challenge your muscles throughout the course of your training sessions. Don’t forget, that intensity doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours at the gym. You can get an effective and meaningful workout done in 1 hour, as long as you use that hour effectively.

To maximize calorie burn and minimize your workout time – interval style training is key. Whether you are on a piece of cardio equipment or using free weights – high intensity bouts followed by lower intensity recovery bouts are most efficient when done in repetition.