HIIT me with your best shot!
High Intensity Interval Training, known as HIIT, has really hit the nail on the head in the fitness world. The fitness trend consists of intervals that vary from high intensity (as you may guess from the name) to low intensity, and is popular for good reasons. While performing a HIIT workout, you’re not only getting your heart rate up, but you’re keeping it up for the duration of the entire workout as well. The shifting from high to low intensity ensures this. It also ensures that there are many good reasons to start incorporating it into your workout routine. Read on to find out 5 reasons to start HIIT.
1. Boosts metabolism
HIIT workouts increase the amount of oxygen you consume and, therefore, increase your resting metabolic rate. This means that you are then burning more calories even when in a resting state. Because of the intensity during HIIT, your body continues burning calories long after you finish your workout–more calories than your body burns after steady-state workouts. Take a look at 7 Tips to Speed Up Your Metabolism for more ways to boost your metabolism.
2. Improves cardiovascular fitness
Cardio can get boring. People often complain that long hours on the treadmill change from fun to torture at the drop of a hat. If you’re one of those people, HIIT is just for you! Because you’re exerting so much energy during the high intensity intervals of a HIIT workout, it’s probable that your heart rate will reach (in the least) the point it would reach during, let’s say, a run on the treadmill.
Check out this HIIT workout that will get your heart rate up in no time: No-Running Cardio Workout.
If you’re someone who actually does love the treadmill, and are simply just looking for a way to spice up your treadmill routine, there are great HIIT workouts like H.I.I.T the Treadmill for that too.
3. Fat burning
High intensity interval training burns more fat, especially in the abdominal area, than steady-state workouts. While exercising, your cells convert triglycerides (where fat is stored) into a more efficient form of energy. During HIIT, you’re converting more of these triglycerides into energy due to the intensity level you are working at. Because of this, your body burns fat faster during HIIT than during other forms of exercise.
Take a stab at Lose Fat with HIIT — 5 Fat-Burning Workouts to shred tons of fat.
4. No equipment necessary
HIIT workouts may be the most undemanding of workouts. Such workouts range from using multiple pieces of equipment at the gym, to using none at home. The best part about this? You can still burn just as many calories at home without any fancy equipment. People often use the fact that they either can’t make it to the gym or that they can’t afford a gym membership as an excuse to not workout. Neither can be used as an excuse to not do a HIIT workout. No excuses, no problem.
See for yourself and put in work with these workouts: High-Intensity Total Body HIIT and 15-Minute Indoor Bodyweight HIIT.
5. Efficiency
Perhaps one of the best things about high intensity interval training is the fact that it can be done anytime, anywhere, for any length of time. It’s the perfect type of workout for busy moms, stressed out students swamped with work, or just the average person looking to get in an effective workout as quickly as possible.
You can even create your own based on where you are and what you have to work with. Check out 10 Moves to Create Your Own HIIT Workout to see how.
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