"LISS" Explained & Why It Should Be a Key Part of Your Movement Regime

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At Edible Beauty, we are believers in balance. While we know that regular movement is a key pillar of wellness for body and mind (with glowing, oxygenated skin as a definite perk), we don't believe you need to be putting yourself through "bootcamp" to reap the benefits. That's why we love the concept of "LISS" training so much. Read on to discover what it is and why it should be a key player in your movement regime...

What is 'LISS'?

Did you know that taking it easy during your workout could actually be an effective fat-burning strategy? Sign me up, you’re probably thinking. This is where we introduce you to LISS training, which stands for Low Intensity Steady State cardio and refers to exactly that – any form of cardio exercise where you maintain the same low-intensity pace for a set duration of time.

Usually LISS proponents typically recommend 30-60 minutes spent at roughly 60per cent of your maximum heart-rate effort, otherwise known as the LISS fat-burning sweet spot, which also brings the added benefits of increased blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the cells in your body.

It's Easy & Free

One of the biggest advantages that LISS cardio has over other popular training methods, such as HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) or specialised training classes, like CrossFit, is that it’s easy and free. 

“If you are new to fitness, LISS is an easy, low-intensity form of exercise that you can start out with. You don’t have to go to a gym to do it, or step outside of your comfort zone too much. Starting a new fitness journey can be intimidating, so LISS workouts can be a great way to ease into a new routine in a way that isn’t as scary,” says viral personal trainer and author Kayla Itsines, who incorporates LISS cardio as a key component in her best-selling fitness guides. 

Lowered Injury Risk

Another benefit to this kind of slower-paced workout is that it’s safer, reducing the chance for injury as there is less strain placed on the joints and especially the more delicate knee area. Due to this, LISS is also ideal for those recovering from an injury or who want an easy addition to an already active exercise regime, since it has minimal potential to harm the body and can be done several time a week.

Support Health Weight Loss

Whilst it may sound too good to be true, training at a lower intensity is also a great way to support healthy weight loss. The science behind this is that when you do LISS cardio, more means that more oxygen is available to your body. As fat requires oxygen in order to be broken down, it makes sense that increasing the oxygen you can give your body also increases the fat you may be able to burn. “LISS is an important addition to your workout routine because it helps your body metabolise fat — something that HIIT  doesn’t do,” explains Kayla.

LISS Cardio Workouts You Can Try Today:

This form of exercise is a wonderful opportunity to skip the gym and get outside in nature! It is recommended to do one of the following at a steady but moderate pace for 30-45 minutes:

• Brisk walking
• Hiking
• Steady cycling (spin-cycle bike or outdoors)
• Steady rowing
• Swimming
• Gym cardio equipment, such as the elliptical trainer
• Recreational activities, such as skateboarding or surfing