Recently, I've been doing some sled training for fat loss to mix things up. Many trainers have been using sleds lately to build endurance and to burn some extra calories.
They are used for sports performance training as they allow you to work the hamstrings and glutes in the same position as sprinting. I'm testing it as far as fat loss. I'm using a version called the Prowler. It forces you to push the sled, using all your muscles in some manner.
It really targets your glutes and hamstrings. It allows you to strengthen them through a full range of motion that is hard to duplicate with a machine. Its kind of nice to feel a little soreness and tightness in those muscles the next day.
When you really work hard with the big muscles of your body, you burn a lot of calories. Doing isolation curls, triceps kickbacks or leg extensions just don't work your muscles the way doing complex movements do.
Complex movements are those that use several muscles and joints together in the same exercise. When you use your big muscles this way you burn more calories and your metabolism stays elevated for up to several hours afterwards.
Its nice to feel like you have some power in your legs and hips - makes you feel more like an athlete. Also nice to know that these short but intense workouts burn lots of calories, working almost every muscle in your body.
I'm doing pullups on another day to throw some more upper body work in to the picture. While pushing the sled with your lower body, your upper body and core are still contracting as they provide stability.
I've felt slightly fatigued the day afterwards, letting me know that I did a lot of work and also that I am providing a new stimulus to my body. Changing things up every so often is needed to keep from getting stale in your routine.
Stay tuned as I let you know more about my Prowler workouts. Here is a video clip.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment