This past weekend, Perfect Supplements had the amazing pleasure of sponsoring the 14th Annual Wise Traditions Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. We met so many amazing doctors, scientists, farmers, activists and wellness junkies like ourselves. We are the real food movement and we will not be stopped until small farms are safe and there are whole, local, organic foods back on America’s plate. Perfect Supplements feels so incredibly blessed to have shared an experience with so many like-minded individuals.

One of the many amazing opportunities we had this weekend was the chance to hear Dr. Mercola speak about America’s current, and failed, approach to healthcare. Among the topics he covered was the common misconception that the human body needs hours of cardio in order to lose weight and stay healthy. When I spend time in the gym, I often see men and women -of all ages, shapes, and sizes- spending hours on the treadmill per week. Much to their dismay, after months and months of extensive cardio, they rarely lose weight or see any positive changes in their body. Why? Because excessive cardio actually does more harm than good. When we spend hours on the treadmill, our feet are literally pounding against an unnatural surface for an extended period of time. The result is damage to joints and bones, and an excess amount of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is damaging to overall health and actually prevents people from losing weight. Another common problem with excess cardio is that a when a person exerts their body for an unnatural and extended period of time, they become very, very hungry. The amount of calories burned during an hour or two on the treadmill often isn’t enough to offset the post-workout binge.

Dr. Mercola Speaking at the Wise Traditions Conference

So what is the more effective way to do cardio? Dr. Mercola recommends high intensity interval training cardio also know as HIIT. With this super effective method of cardio training, a person only needs to do 20 minutes of cardio three times per week to see improvements in their body composition and overall health.

Dr. Mercola’s HIIT Cardio Regimen:

3:00 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk (Warm-Up)
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
1:30 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
1:30 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
1:30 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
1:30 Seconds – Low Intensity Walk
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
1:30 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
1:30 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
1:30 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk
0:30 Seconds – High Intensity Sprint
3:00 Minutes – Low Intensity Walk (Cool-Down)

Total Time – 20 Minutes and 30 Seconds

It is important to push yourself as hard as you can during the 30 seconds of high intensity sprinting- by the end of the 30 seconds you should feel like you can’t possibly sprint another step. According to Dr. Mercola, HIIT cardio (when executed correctly) lowers body fat, improves muscle tone, firms skin and reduces wrinkles, boosts energy and sexual desire, and improves athletic speed and performance. Dr. Mercola also recommends incorporating strength training and stretching to create a comprehensive exercise routine. Have you tried high intensity interval training? Has it worked for you or someone you know? Please leave us a comment to share your experiences- we love hearing from you!