Fartlek for Fat burning

When it comes to running/jogging lots of people think that to burn fat they have to run aimlessly at the same speed for hours and hours.  This is not the case. There are several different types of running & jogging exercise programs to choose from.

The best one of these for fat burning is called Fartlek.  Fartlek is a Swedish term that means “speed play”.  It is a form of interval or speed training that can be very effective when trying to improve your speed and endurance. It involves varying your pace throughout your run, changing between a fast pace and slow jogs. This random approach tricks your metabolism into working harder which is why it is also a great fat-burner.

Many runners, especially beginners, enjoy fartlek training because it breaks up the monotony of steady-paced running and involves speed work so they feel like they;re running fast.   However, it is more flexible and not as demanding as traditional interval training, so easier for people relatively new to running. Another benefit of fartlek training is that it doesn’t have to be done on a track or even terrain; it can be done on all types of surface and on flat, undulating or hilly routes.

When doing a fartlek workout, introduce short periods of slightly higher pace into your normal runs. This will help to burn the fat at a quicker rate then staying at one pace.  When moving at a faster pace for a short distance or timed intervals simply pick a landmark, for example a tree, lamp-post, or phone box and run to it hard, then jog for a few seconds until you’ve recovered. Then pick another landmark continue you on with your run.

So if you are looking to find an exercise that actually burns more fat then just running at a continuous pace then Fartlek training is the one for you!!

Dave Hall is the At Home Fitness Personal Trainer in Nottingham