HIIT Cardio Workout emphasizing Glutes-Stair Step Machine
Posted January 28th, 2011 by Richard
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OK, you know I’m a big proponent of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) over normal, long cardio sessions where you keep your heart rate at a certain level for 45 minutes or longer. The latter burns fat, but it also burns much more muscle mass than HIIT. Now I’m going to share with you one of my favorite HIIT cardio workout to not only give a great cardio workout but also focus on the glutes. For this exercise, I use the stair step machine. The stair step machine works out the quads quite well, but with a little alteration you can really focus on the glutes during this workout. Here’s how I do it. |
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1. Select Interval Training once you start stepping 2. Set your high intensity and moderate intensity times evenly about 1 to 2 minutes in duration 3. Set total time to 20 minutes. 4. Warm up for two intervals or 4 to 5 minutes. 5. When you start the high intensity interval, set it so that you make it fast enough that you will be stepping on every other step briskly. 6. Hold on to the handrails at your waist. Put your forearms down on the handrests and lean back so that you’re holding on with your hands and you have your weight on your elbows. 7. As you take each step, slightly turn your torso into the upcoming knee. 8. Really lift yourself on every step in the high intensity intervals, but keep the forearms fixed on the rests. I know this sound counterintuitive and you’ve been told to not support your weight with your arms, but I promise you’ll feel this in your glutes and you WILL sweat. I put the high intensity interval to the highest level so that I’m stepping at a jog’s pace, but adjust the level to meet your fitness level. By leaning back you will lengthen your forward stride and when your foot hits the the step it will be in the middle of the arch of the foot at a 45 degree angle from the floor (not the heal or ball of foot). Also, this will also allow your leg to make a right angle with the lower leg perpendicular to the floor and the upper leg parallel to the floor. Get a good sweat from this one…I do. Enjoy!
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February 16th, 2011 at 6:55 PM
Fantastic suggestion. I tried this tonight. I was sweating like crazy and felt really challenged!
February 16th, 2011 at 7:22 PM
Great to hear, Allison. I always feel this in the glutes!