
← The mindbodygreen Podcast30 aug · 46 min
665: Is Zone 2 training a waste of your workout time? | Kristi Storoschuk, exercise scientist
“As your time commitment goes down, the importance of intensity goes up,” says Kristi Storoshuk.
Storoschuk is a PhD candidate in Muscle Physiology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Her research focuses on the relationship between skeletal muscle metabolism and whole-body metabolism, with an emphasis on how nutrient–exercise timing influences physiological adaptations to exercise. Storoschuk has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and is passionate about translating complex scientific findings into practical, evidence-based recommendations. Outside of her academic work, Kristi is the founder of a women’s health coaching program focused on improving metabolic health through sustainable nutrition and exercise, particularly in the context of preconception health.
00:00 - What is Zone 2 training?
08:14 - The limitations of Zone 2 training
11:18 - Prioritizing intensity when time is limited
15:56 - All about interval training
19:16 - The truth about building your aerobic base
21:02 - We shouldn’t train cardio like elite athletes
24:48 - Fat burning & Zone 2
26:10 - Talking weekly cardio protocol
30:03 - Storoschuk’s habits
33:03 - Unpacking exercise culture & trends