[WWDDFD]

Lately in my cardiovascular workouts I seem to have reached a plateu; I can barely keep my heartrate above 140 anymore; last week I even had one day where I averaged 136 for an hour, and I didn't feel worked out at all.


So I've decided to try a variation of interval training on my treadmill; where I walk for 2 minutes using the arm things set at very high tension, then 3 minutes without them; repeat about 10-15 times or so.


During these workouts my heartrate seems to fluctuate on an ever-increasing scale; starting around 130, dropping to 125 during the first 3-minute rest, then up to around 132, down to 127, and so on, until the final period where I fluctuate from around 164 down to 158.


My question: does this seem like a good plan? I've looked into stuff like HIIT but it doesn't seem like it would work for me on my treadmill, simply because the speed is so damned difficult to control on this thing, so when I get it at a good speed (around 3.4-3.5mph) I don't want to increase it to jog, and then accidentally decrease it to 2.8 or something stupidly slow.

Will this help me more than just a simple steady plan?

[Miss_Prolixity]

Hi WWDDFD,

Since it's difficult for you to mix up the speed on your treadmill, would you be able to go to a track? I know some people do HIIT there. Some will walk briskly one time around, then sprint the next, then walk and so forth.

I personally think it's good to mix up your exercise routine. Not necassarily HIIT either. Because our bodies can adapt to the same styles of exercise. So instead of jogging/ walking everday, ride a bike, or go swimming. Just something different so you can use different muscles.

[InmannRoshi]

I'm to the point where I can run for hours upon hours on an eliptical machine, and barely break a sweat. Then last week I started jumping rope .. within 15 minutes I thought I was about to loose my cookies. Change ... it does the body good.