Going Steady: What Is It and Why To Start Doing It
What is Steady-State Exercise?
Do you enjoy going out for long adventure activities like hiking or bike rides? Then steady-state exercise is right for you. According to the American Council on Exericse (ACE), steady-state training is described as maintaining a constant speed and level of intensity during a workout session. It helps improve cardiorespiratory because it in involves exercising below the ventilatory threshold for a long period of time, which puts less physical pressure on the cardiorespiratory system and it enhances aerobic capacity, says, ACE.
Developing a Routine
With all the endless options to choose from, creating a steady-state exercise routine is easy to do. For example, a 40-minute steady jog on the treadmill, stair master, bike or elliptical is a great way to add steady-state cardio into your exercise program. And if you’re the nature type, you can enjoy jogging, biking, or rollerblading outside as part of your steady-state training. If you’re a beginner, jumping full throttle into a 40-minute steady jog may be difficult. Instead, start out with just 15-minutes, and then gradually increase the minutes over time.
3 Reasons To Do It
#1 – Beginner and All-Age Friendly
“Steady-state training is great for beginners establishing a workout routine,” says Team USA athlete and
CPT-certified personal trainer Chris Mosier. “Let’s face it: HIIT is tough. And while HIIT may have a better
reputation for fast results, it can also be a more difficult routine to maintain for people just getting started
with an exercise program. Steady-state exercise still provides you with those feel-good endorphins, and
it’s enjoyable without offering up too much discomfort.”
#2 – Helps Your Body Recover Faster
Back to back high-intensity training sessions can be tough on the body. The added intensity places a lot of stress and pressure on the connective tissues and muscles. This often leads to higher levels of acute inflammation that can become chronic if you don’t allow your body to recover from those intense workouts properly. In order to get the best results, add steady-state training into your workout regime. That way your body is able to get the adequate recover it needs while still exercising.
#3 – Burn Calories Without Burning Yourself Out
High intensity interval training will help burn more calories in a shorter amount of time than steady-state training, but that’s because you’re burning your butt off! HIIT isn’t easy and if you’re unable to do it or don’t want to, your fat loss goals won’t become invalid. Some research suggests that steady-state exercise helps people stick to their diet and workout plan better. Just bump up the time period to 60-minutes and you’ll be burning calories in no time!
