Which workout is best: High or low intensity?

High-intensity interval training has become a big deal among workout enthusiasts, who like the short bursts of intense exercise alternated with longer periods of rest.

But some folks still prefer low intensity workouts — repetitive moderate motion for 30 to 45 minutes.

So which is better for you?

“They both have their place,” said Niki Davis, fitness manager at the 365,000-square-foot RDV Sportsplex Athletic Club in Maitland. “Decide for yourself that you’re going to be someone who includes exercise in your life and just try to figure out what that is for you.”

The difference between the two workouts, obviously, begins with intensity. Yet, as you look at your fitness — both how to get it and how to keep it — there is much more to consider.

Heart rate. Regimen. Recovery. Types of exercises. Fitness goals. Time available. Those are just a few of the key variables, local fitness experts say.

High-intensity exercises produce heart rates of 80 percent to 90 percent of your maximum in short intervals followed by time to recover, Mowery said. Think pushing a sled, running with weighs or sprinting.

“You’re going to work as hard as you can,” Mowery said, noting that 30 seconds of sprinting followed by a one-minute recovery could be repeated for a total of 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, low-intensity training targets 60 percent to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate, from sustained effort as opposed to short intervals, with the exercise typically in the form of walking, swimming, jogging or biking at a relatively slow pace.

THAT’S INTENSE

In the past several years, high-intensity workouts have gained popularity, thanks in part to CrossFit, said Tyler Farwell, a medical wellness manager at Florida Hospital. CrossFit involves everything from dusty hill sprints and sandbag carries to ocean swims, and the type of training has been popularized by televised events such as the CrossFit Games on ESPN, Farwell said.

THAT’S INTENSE

In the past several years, high-intensity workouts have gained popularity, thanks in part to CrossFit, said Tyler Farwell, a medical wellness manager at Florida Hospital. CrossFit involves everything from dusty hill sprints and sandbag carries to ocean swims, and the type of training has been popularized by televised events such as the CrossFit Games on ESPN, Farwell said.

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