High-intensity workouts have been extremely popular lately, but that doesn’t mean they are universally the best for everyone. There are many differences between low, moderate, and high-intensity workouts and some may fit you better than the others.
Understanding It
The exercise intensity represents how hard your heart works when you’re active. During low-intensity exercise, your heart rate is lower and you can talk to someone normally without problems. Moderate-intensity activities raise your heart rate a little bit and don’t allow you to keep the conversation going. High-intensity workouts leave you out of breath in no time and there’s no way to talk to someone while you’re active.
Pros and Cons
Each intensity level has certain advantages. Low-intensity exercise is great for beginners or for rest days. The risk of injury is lower and your body can still prepare for more difficult workouts. Moderate-intensity activities help your body burn fat and leave you with plenty of energy.
High-intensity activities mean that you’re testing the limits of your body and you can get to your fitness goal faster. Training at your maximum capacity means that you’ll need less time to reap the benefits of exercise.
The most important thing is not to always chase the higher level of intensity, but to stay active at any level as much as your circumstances allow you.
