Review: 'Get Fit Fast!"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2014
Jackson Taylor is quite aware of the speed of the world today, a factor that interferes with eating and exercising properly because we are simply rushing too much and too fast to care for our bodies - and we only have one! His emphasis in this very readable book is on High Intensity Interval Training - a means to gain maximum benefit from exercises by increasing the intensity. This technique differs from cardiovascular training  by replacing long continuous hours (treadmill,, bicycle, etc) with a few minutes of stenuous activity performed regularly - intervals of extreme exercise followed by lower intensity recovery phases, i.e., less time exercising with the same benefits of the longer more frequent strenuous workouts. The benefits with HIIT are the same as with Cardio workouts.Taylor spends time explaining the physiology of HIIT concepts, offering scientific proof and backup proof from athletes and coaches. HIIT involves short bouts of anaerobic exercise followed by low intensity recovery period and as such it must conform to rather strict guidelines - guidelines which Taylor spends most of the book explaining. He delves into the forms of HIIT most popular - the Peter Coe Protocol, the Tabata Protocol, the Gibala Protocol and the Timmons Protocol  - and each of these is explained in detail.The benefits of HIIT include the fact that it is the ultimate fat burning exercise (and why), the positive effects on the cardio vascular system, the affect on insulin sensitivity, and increasing athletic capacity and endurance. Or as Taylor lists them, the top five benefits of HIIT are Maintenance and Prevention of Diabetes, Regulating the Cardiovascular System, Going Above and Beyond Normal Capacity, it can be done Anywhere (ie, no gym equipment) and it Burns Fat Away!The remainder of the book is devoted to preparing for the HIIT workout including proper nutritional advice, a description of the exercises, both an at home and a gym HIIT workout, and a wise closing section about how to make sure you are a proper candidate for this regimen. Jackson Taylor writes well, reaches into scientific discussions that are both well heeled and still easy to understand. This type of exercise and nutrition sounds like the answer to our bifurcated drive to work and achieve and to be healthy and fit. Grady Harp, January 13