Cardiff- I’m a HUGE fan of interval training (coaches call them “wind sprints” I think), but you have to be in pretty good shape to do them. Once you are in shape though you really need to do them to advance your training regimen. I am also a big fan of circuit training, and it is how I do the majority of my strength training. This is where you lift your weights quickly, and take a short, approx 60 sec break between sets. I find I can get through the workuot in less than half the time, and it gets my heart rate to an aerobic level.
As far as jogging, you’re right, is hard on the joints, but it really challenges your body much more than walking, unless we/re talking a 50% grade or something. I am also a cycling enthusiast, just remember it takes quite a bit of concentration to cycle at a level that approaches running. I also like swimming quite a lot, but is logistically more difficult for some people. Both swimming and cycling are significantly easier on the joints.
As far as the low carbs, you will definitely achieve better satiety eating fats and proteins, which is why diets like Atkins work, as people don’t feel the need to eat as much. Again, if you actually count up what you’re eating on one of those diets you find it’s about 1700-1800 kcal/day, which is low enough for most active people to lose weight. The better satiety helps people stay on that low calorie count. The way I do it is with the fast, so I achieve the same ends without stressing my kidneys. You may also remember the first week or so on those diets where you kind of feel like crap until you adapt to the ketogenic nature of the diet.
Basically when it comes to weight loss if you can find a system that works for you that is not unhealthy, by all means do it. ALL of them require some sort of sacrifice on the patient’s part, which is why it’s so difficult to do. There are many ways to skin this cat (as in most things in medicine). I shared what works for me, and is medically sound, so I thought others might benefit from it as well.
