Have you ever come across a HIIT workout and thought, “what is that?” Well, HIIT stands for High-Intensity Interval Training. This type of workout is a series of high-intensity moves followed by varied rest times. According to a 2014 brochure from the American College of Sports Medicine, HIIT training has many benefits including aerobic and anaerobic fitness, as well as improving blood pressure, cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol profiles, and abdominal fat and body weight.
HIIT workouts are perfect for everyone because they can be modified and adapted for all fitness levels. They also burn more calories than normal aerobic and steady-state workouts. These workouts have a greater impact on your EPOC, or excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. This happens because the increased amount of oxygen needed during exercise creates an oxygen shortage, and, therefore, your body will need more oxygen during recovery. Since it takes quite a while for your body to return to a resting state after HIIT workouts, your body will actually be burning calories even after you have finished.
“HIIT workouts can be done anywhere: at home, in a hotel room, in a park, at a gym, etc. and most are 30 minutes or less! Who can’t spare that?’ asks Amy Schlinger for the Daily Burn. She also wants you to know that these workouts are a ‘No Equipment Necessary’ workout; ‘No dumbbells? No problem! These workouts generally use only your body weight, since the focus is on getting your heart rate up and keeping it there’.” (Schlinger, “HIIT Workout: What It Is and Why It Works”). Still not convinced? Well, try it for yourself. Here is a “Do-Anywhere” HIIT workout provided by Healthy Habits|Happy Heart: http://healthyhabitshappyheart.com/new-year-shape-series-week-2-day-5/. Get out there and HIIT it with YOUR best shot!
For More Information
Kravitz, Ph.D. Len. “ACSM Information on…High-Intensity Interval Training.” 2014, https://www.acsm.org/docs/brochures/high-intensity-interval-training.pdf. Accessed 3 March 2017.
Schlinger, Amy. “HIIT Workout: What IT Is and Why It Works.” Daily Burn Life, 11 Dec. 2013, http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/high-intensity-hiit-workout/. Accessed 3 March 2017.