Advice needed on HIT Exercises PLEASE

This topic contains 14 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by  Ginette K 9 years, 7 months ago.

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  • I want to introduce HIT excercises into my routine of Fasting. My Problem is I have a disability, so I need someone to help me structure a jogging game I have on my wii. I’m looking for someone who is familiar with HIT and how it really works who can help me devise a programe like the ones mentioned in the Fast Beach Diet. Having fasted successfully on 5:2 for 9 weeks I am starting FBD today for 6 weeks.

    This is an outline of my disability. I have Foot drop which is a muscular weakness or paralysis that makes it difficult to lift the front part of your foot and toes and can cause you to drag your foot on the ground when you walk. Foot drop is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles that lift the front part of your foot. I also have arthritis in my other knee and hip and my back. So needs to be low impact.

    This means in order to work out I need to do it in bare feet and be pretty much on the spot. Quick movements which make me turn or do dance steps would lead to trips and falls. In my everyday life I wear 3 inch heels to correct the toe heel movement. I can’t wear flat shoes as lack of muscles won’t keep it on, I would limp and be pretty much as I am bare foot. Hence working out at home is the best option for me. I don’t have any gun equipment.

    I have a wii with wii fit and wii for plus games and balance board. But today I found a running game. I had a go, 3 mins following a pacemaker. It was actually fun lol. Set in a lovely park with other runners and dogs. What I need to know is, how long is a HIT session? The book says 3 mins? Is that really true? After reading what Michael says it sounds like I should warm up, then run as fast as I can for 10 seconds, the slow down for 1/2 mins. But how many times do I do that over for one session? I had a go before I read the details of HIT and followed the pacemaker from warm up to a light jog. When I was 1/4 away from the end I jogged as fast as I was able swinging my arms lol. It was probably about 60 seconds jogging flat out at my capability. That was doable. I was out of breath, can feel it in my knee now but I could easily do it again.

    If there is anyone that can help me taylor this exercise to start with I would be so very grateful.

    Many thanks.

    Jaye 🙂

    Hi Jaye

    I too would be interested in finding out.

    Ginette

    Hi Jayegirl and Ginette K

    I haven’t read the Fast Beach Diet book. I have been using the Fast Exercise Book, which Michael wrote with a trainer called Peta Bee. I know it might seem like yet ANOTHER book to buy (!) but I have found it very helpful. It explains the science behind HIIT and the research so far. It gives comprehensive suggestions on how to do it, using either running; an exercise bike; or a rowing machine for the cardio-vascular bit. He suggests starting with a warm up of a couple of minutes ie gentle jog/ cycle/ row then go as fast as you can for 20 secs (and on the bike, crank up the resistance to as high as you can manage); return to gentle level for a couple of minutes or so, until you’ve got your breath back; then another 20 secs at full pelt; gentle for 2 or 3 mins, a third bash of 20 secs; then a cool down for 2 to 3 mins. So in all you have done 3 x 20 secs of HIT.

    Do 3 of these sessions a week. If it starts getting too easy, increase to 3 x 30 secs (still 3 times/week).

    If you can track down the HIIT Horizon documentary which Michael did, in about 2011, that gives a good demo of how it works, too.

    For max benefit, HIIT needs to be complemented with exercises which build muscle strength. The book gives written instructions; drawings and photos. It’s stuff like abs curls etc, nothing ‘slash and burn’, just start gently and build up your strength. In the book, Michael says he does a 10 minute session, 5 times a week. I’ve found that it is the part of the exercise regime which I have the most resistance to – but I’m working on that! I have found a nice 6 minute workout on Youtube, which covers some of the exercises in the book (tho’ I shall NEVER do the squats as low as the superhuman woman on the video does!) Will post a link.

    I have been doing HIIT for the past 3 weeks and already feel fitter and stronger. I have just increased to 3 x 30 secs of HIT, so guess I must be getting fitter. I have also finally got off the plateau I was stuck on; and got into the next dress size down 🙂

    To motivate me, I splashed out on a proper fitness assessment (at Bath Uni, which is quite near me), which measured my lung function; weight;body fat percentage etc etc. I am due to return at the end of 6 weeks, so will post what the results are. Anyway, as I said above, subjectively I feel there has been an improvement.

    Hope this helps. Wishing you all the best with it 🙂

    Hi again:

    Six min workout:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-NT2b_0io

    Have you seen Michael’s website on HIT?

    http://www.fast-exercises.com

    x

    And here’s a link to Michael’s fast exercise Horizon prog:

    https://vimeo.com/51836895

    Hi Bootsy badger

    I saw the Horizom program when it came out. Really interesting. Will look at your other links.

    Thanks

    Ginette

    That’s brilliant Bootsy, thanks for all the info. So it really is just a 9 minute work out 3 times a week and most of it warming up and cooling down. Perfect for me as I find exercise difficult to adapt to with an acute disc problem and arthritis. Sadly it all seems to be for fully able bodied people and I’m not lol. I have foot drop so can’t cycle as I can’t really push with my left leg. I wouldn’t go to a gym anyway as I can’t wear flat shoes without using a hideous leg brace. I stopped wearing those years ago as it did more harm than good.

    I will continue to adapt my wii fitness programs though so I’m at least doing something. I will still look at the links. I did watch the program when it came out also.

    Keep up the good work, congrats and getting past the plateau and getting into a small dress size that’s fantastic. â­ï¸

    Oh this is jayegirl on my second account

    You may want to talk to a doctor about getting a brace that would allow you to cycle. I have a friend with drop foot, and as you can see from his Strava profile, he does plenty of cycling! – https://www.strava.com/athletes/383071

    He has a lightweight brace made specifically for cycling, and it allows him to use his full strength on the bike.

    Cycling is a great low-impact exercise, and you can also do intervals and get a great workout in a fairly short amount of time.

    Hi Dave, every year I go back to my doctor and ask him to refer me back to the Orthotic department and I go along and sit there and each time he tells me nothing new is available. Perhaps it’s just lack of education or lack of funds but they never have anything. The first brace and several after was an AFO ankle support. It was archaic and I can’t tell you how uncomfortable it was. I had a caliper on a sturdy block heal ankle boot for a few years. Never found a boot to fit one after that wore out. They won’t make me boots that will fit a caliper I have to find the boot then they will do it. But you can’t ride a bike in boots. The last thing they did for me, because I asked for something I could ‘work out in’ and wear in a trainer/runner. They made me a ‘Heather Mills’ brace. Apparently she came up with the idea of making them with the material her prosthetic leg is made of. Anyway, it was useless, bulky, not particularly stable and I needed a shoe 2 sizes bigger to house the bulkiness of it. If you can find out from your friend what the brace is called etc I can look into it. All foot drop is not equal though, I have a lot of muscle waste in my leg and reduced power (obviously) it’s not just a matter of not having a dorsiflex. I also went to see a neuro surgeon about having an implant in that tells your brain to flex your foot. Because my nerve was severally damage in my back this wouldn’t work.

    Would be nice to get something so I could wear flats to walk in rather than having to wear heels.

    Jaye

    Aha Jayegirl, or should I call you FastSlim66? lol Don’t worry your secret self is safe with me!!

    Hope you find a way of adapting HiiT to suit yourself

    Cheers for your words of encouragement and see you back at ‘Summer Pledge’ 😉

    Jaye,

    I’ll ask him what he’s using and get back to you. As you said, he may not be in the same situation as you – I believe his condition was caused when he was hit by a truck and had a hip replacement.

    Dave.

    Hi Dave,

    I did some research last night, found a fantastic (sprung) brace on line…. In America lol, I’m in England. Anyway, I also found a place run by the NHS that says its forward thinking and using all the latest technology with the best orthotics department around and it’s not that far from me. Today I saw my GP and he’s sent a referral for me. Right now though I’m abstaining from anything other than gently walking. I’ve exacerbated my knee and back problems by jogging. In hindsight, I don’t know what I was thinking jogging with my back and knee.

    Would be fantastic to have a brace that worked.

    Jaye 🙂

    Hi Jaye and Dave

    That’s brilliant news Jaye and Well done Dave. I am sure that will be a brilliant help if Jaye can get it.

    Ginette

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