i suppose one person's high intensity is another person's impossible and a further person's walk in the park. i think it's easy to describe high intensity in equipment sense.
when using the cross trainer what level do you use, how much effort do you put into it from 1-being easy to you and 10 being - extremely hard. do you monitor your heart rate, what is the BMP and how does it fit into your 85% effort for ages/rate and does it stay in your aerobic workout or do you go anerobic? how long do you use this equipment for etc.
for weights what kg weights do you use and what do you do with them. do you use the machines or free weights? what exercises do you do for you legs with weights?
an example of me would be:-
i can run 4.5 miles at 11 mins mile pace or 4 miles at 10 mins mile pace and my BMP tend to stay around 150 no higher. if i do interval and speed work it goes higher and i can enter my anerobic zone which can put more pressure on your heart to work more efficiently. if i am aiming to do 10 or more miles i pace myself more and run 'easy' as it's more a test of endurance than anything else.
weights. if i do a body pump class i use a bar with weights. i can squat 20kg, i put 15kg on my bar when i work my triceps or biceps. my chest muscles are not as strong and i can only use 10kg. i lunge without weight as i find balance when lunging a problem and lungeing is challenging enough as it is. i use 15kg when i do the clean lifts.
i do not use weights when i do a core class as that is challenging enough but i push hard and focus on engaging the right muscles.
in zumba or aerobic classes like combat i always choose the highest intensity i can with bouncing, jumps, kicks etc.
i've had my hair cut of lately and keep wondering if the ceiling is leaking as the sweat which used to soak into my hair now drops on me.