Tabata
Author
Discussion

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

254 months

Sunday 17th February 2013
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Yesterday, someone mentioned how successful they'd found Tabata training for shifting weight and improving their fitness levels.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting a miracle cure (I am desperately overweight and underfit, but hate the gym. Before you say it, I am critically aware of my need to change my eating habits as well), but having read up on this it seems like bloody hard work, but worth the effort/pain! I'm not in to the gym, and find running very boring (although that said I wish I could run and run!). Has/does anyone use this methodology and any thoughts on the matter?

DukeDickson

4,968 posts

242 months

Sunday 17th February 2013
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If you hate the gym that much at the moment, you probably aren't going to do that well by following the exercise route in the short term.
Concentrate on the diet, accept that it will work but may possibly be a little slower than the diet & exercise combined route, get less weighty and then when you're less tubby, you might have a different view of the moving side of things.


The absolute key is getting a start (by whatever route suits you best) and then getting the impetus to build from there - small beginnings lead to greater things (and all that jazz).

Hoofy

79,992 posts

311 months

Sunday 17th February 2013
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Certainly, I find steady state stuff boring and find the challenge of HIIT keeps me interested. Usually, it's not that I'm bored that I want to stop but my body is dying. biggrin And it's certainly worked in lowering bodyfat levels.

DukeDickson

4,968 posts

242 months

Sunday 17th February 2013
quotequote all
Whichever way you go about it, it will always be at least a bit dull, repetitive etc. It was good while going on & unfortunately you have to take the other side of things if you want to hit reverse.

Finding the way which works best (at least as a start) is paramount. Far, far easier to accept the required discipline and routine required if presented with results that don't leave too much of a bitter taste - which, on the food front, is certainly a factor in why extreme short-term fad diets are a crock of suite (as are run, fat boy, run routines quite often).

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Monday 18th February 2013
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Does it work? Yes if your diet is good and you're training hard enough. If your diet is rubbish and/or you're drinking too often, then you're just wasting your time.

Will it work if you can't be bothered to go to the gym normally? Probably not.

I'd advise you to try to find some motivation before starting something and not completing it again. The motivation could be a holiday, a significant event you want to look good at or health related. Once you have something to aim at, make sure you apply dates and milestones to get to the goal. Anything else is just a nice idea.

Something else I'd say is it will be very hard on your body if you're not used to training. I'd advise a gentle start and build yourself up to doing something like this. Burn out is often the number one reason why people with good intentions give up training.

stew-S160

8,020 posts

267 months

Monday 18th February 2013
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I use Tabata style training a fair bit myself and with clients. Depending on the exercise I may increase the work to rest ratio a bit.

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

254 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
I'd advise you to try to find some motivation before starting
Have to admit, I totally agree on this point, and know it's my biggest lacking point of this at the moment (and had the same discussion elsewhere at the weekend)

Hoofy

79,992 posts

311 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Why not have a challenge with some friends or something? Most people find a challenge a good motivator.

amare32

2,420 posts

252 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
If you find it difficult to have the motivation to work out in the gym, perhaps take up a sport. Much more fun than pounding the treadmill and losing weight will become a by product of having fun playing sport which is a great social experience aswell.

I would say like others, if you want to speed up your fat loss then combining resistance training will help it immensely.

As you're already aware that eating right is important, the only barrier is in your own mind - do you want it bad enough and willing to make the required lifestyle change to achieve your goals?

jgtv

2,130 posts

226 months

Monday 18th February 2013
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If you dont like the gym Tabata isn't going to help, if anything its just going to make you hate yourself and the gym more!

Seriously if done right its a bloody horrible 4 minutes and if its not your not doing it right.

mattnunn

14,041 posts

190 months

Monday 18th February 2013
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You have to be pretty self disciplined (i.e masochistic) to do these kinds of excercise regimes without a drill sergeant or buddy to push you on.

OP Just get a diet in place and take sensible regular excercise, stuff like this only works for people who are interested in excercise and trying to shift the last stone or so.

Hoofy

79,992 posts

311 months

Monday 18th February 2013
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mattnunn said:
You have to be pretty self disciplined (i.e masochistic) to do these kinds of excercise regimes without a drill sergeant or buddy to push you on.
biggrin

I've only stopped once to adjust some weights down as it was too heavy to continue for 20 minutes (after 3 minutes I realised I was more likely to vomit than finish the 20 minutes nuts ).

TedMaul

2,092 posts

242 months

Tuesday 26th February 2013
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Hoofy said:
Certainly, I find steady state stuff boring and find the challenge of HIIT keeps me interested. Usually, it's not that I'm bored that I want to stop but my body is dying. biggrin And it's certainly worked in lowering bodyfat levels.
Agree entirely. From a mental point of view, I modified a tabata routine to help improve my mountain biking ability, so even when it is getting tough, I have a means to an end outside weight loss (i'm t2 diabetic as well so all excercise helps) I use a bike at gym and modify a routine to simulate a bit of level riding interspersed with short climbs (1 min intervals at much higher cadence and resistance) Also throw in a bit of v high resistance, low cadence to simulate big climbs too)

Get the right tunes on teh ipod or the high tempo bits and its prety enjoyable, you'll see the results pretty quickly i'd hope

(and i've gone from 13st6 to 11st4 and reduced diabetes meds to boot)

Hoofy

79,992 posts

311 months

Tuesday 26th February 2013
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Now that you mention music, one thing I used to do which I found worked was I'd cycle to trance which is a steady 130-140bpm (the tempo not heart rate), then during the breakdown, I'd pedal like I was being chased by Hell's Angels and keep going until the tune builds up into the steady bpm. biggrin Basically, when there's a steady beat, pedal to the beat, when there's no beat, pedal like a maniac.

SignalGruen

632 posts

229 months

Tuesday 26th February 2013
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You don't need to go to the gym. You can do Tabata squats at home but you need to be motivated enough to really push yourself.

Hoofy

79,992 posts

311 months

Tuesday 26th February 2013
quotequote all
SignalGruen said:
You don't need to go to the gym. You can do Tabata squats at home but you need to be motivated enough to really push yourself.
http://youtu.be/XSiJsxZfQc8

biggrin

dojo

741 posts

164 months

Tuesday 26th February 2013
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I don't think it's going to be for you.

I go through phases of doing interval training and then Tabata for a week and its just savage.

Your best bet if you want to lose weight is just to sort your nutrition out - in fact I reckon if you go to gym you'll end up putting more on as it will just make you really hungry and you'll out eat your calories burnt.

Just try and cut back, take slightly smaller portions and cut out biscuits and crisps. Go for a 20 min walk in the evening and you'll lose 2-3lbs a week.

Do that and you'll be best part of 4stone lighter for summer.

clonmult

10,529 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th February 2013
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Hoofy said:
SignalGruen said:
You don't need to go to the gym. You can do Tabata squats at home but you need to be motivated enough to really push yourself.
http://youtu.be/XSiJsxZfQc8

biggrin
Oooooh, I like the look of that! I need to work on the legs for the rowing, that'll fit the bill perfectly!

Hoofy

79,992 posts

311 months

Wednesday 27th February 2013
quotequote all
clonmult said:
Hoofy said:
SignalGruen said:
You don't need to go to the gym. You can do Tabata squats at home but you need to be motivated enough to really push yourself.
http://youtu.be/XSiJsxZfQc8

biggrin
Oooooh, I like the look of that! I need to work on the legs for the rowing, that'll fit the bill perfectly!
thumbup Just load up that bag!