Did you know you can boost your human horsepower?
Just like a car's performance is ultimately determined by the engine's horsepower, your body has a similar measurement. So why not Tune-up & Boost your Horsepower.
It's a measure of how quickly your lungs can deliver oxygen to the rest of your body (to use as fuel) during bouts of intense effort. The faster the rate at which your lungs can deliver the oxygen to use as fuel, the better your overall performance and health.
One study, published in the Journal Chest, found that the better your “horsepower” and the better your lungs work, the less likely you will die from ANY cause. [1]
Another recent study published in the American Journal of Human Biology found that brief-but-intense exercise is better at preventing cardiovascular disease than traditional endurance exercise done for longer periods of time. [2]
Are you starting to see why you should boost your horsepower this summer?
You'll extend your lifespan, protect your heart and as it turns out, improve your metabolism too.
STRONG A.D.L. Movements
Establish ACTIVE DAILY LIFE Movements that last and support the lifestyle that you desire!
The way to increase your lung power and “horsepower” is through intense exercise like high-intensity interval training (HIIT). It's time-efficient and the benefits can't be ignored. The good news is that it doesn't have to be complicated. Three times a week, do ten 30-second all-out sprints outdoors, and you can gain all the benefits we've seen so far.
Or if you want to cool down after being in the heat, you could do swim sprints in a pool. Or you can go for a hike and every so often, go all-out and then rest a little.
Another simple exercise you can do is squat jumps. They are very effective at boosting your heart rate and leaving you gasping for air. Start in a squatting position, then jump as high as you can as you bring your hands towards the ceiling. Then go back into the squat position as soon as you land.
Be as creative as you'd like to Tune-up & Boost your Horsepower.
Just make sure the exercise you choose is something you find both challenging and fun. Do this throughout the summer months and by the time fall comes around, you'll be a new and improved, better-performing version of you!
References:
[1] Schünemann, Holger J., MD, PhD et al, “Pulmonary Function Is a Long-term Predictor of Mortality in the General Population,” Chest Sept. 2000; 118( 3): 656-664 -
[2] Duncan S. Buchan, Stewart Ollis, John D. Young, Non E. Thomas, Stephen-Mark Cooper,Tom K. Tong, Jinlei Nie, Robert M. Malina, Julien S Baker. - The effects of time and intensity of exercise on novel and established. markers of CVD in adolescent youth. American Journal of Human Biology, 2011
[3]John A Babraj, Niels BJ Vollaard, Cameron Keast, - Fergus M Guppy, Greg Cot-trell and James A Timmons. Extremely short duration high intensity training sub-stantially improves insulin - action in young healthy males. BMC Endocr Disord. 2009; 9: 3.
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