Why HIIT Is Still Where It’s At
Whether you’re a beginner or totally fit, High-Intensity Interval Training (also known as HIIT) is one of the most effective strategies to help you burn fat in little time.
What is High Intensity Interval Training?
If you’re not familiar with HIIT, it’s basically an approach to exercise that involves alternating between intervals of high and low intensity. It can be applied to any workout, and the gains are pretty awesome. In a much shorter period of time, you can get your heart rate up and break out in a sweat in a way that’s going to build a ton of fat. Plus you’ll seriously condition your muscles in ways you can’t do in your regular workout.
Read my introductory article on High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) here to get the basics down.
Here’s why HIIT is such an effective approach to fitness and exercise…
6 Reasons to Try HIIT Now
It’s the Fitness Equivalent of a Two-For-One
The biggest benefit of HIIT for me is that it saves me a ton of time. In a workout that’s usually shorter than most, you get some cardio as well as some resistance training. And any kind of time saver is a good thing in my book.
It Can Be Done Anywhere
You don’t need any equipment to do HIIT the right way, and that makes it the ideal workout approach when you’re not in the gym. Whether you only have time for a home workout, or you’re on the road, HIIT is a great way to stay fit.
It Can Be Tailored to Your Fitness Needs
The basic principle behind HIIT is pretty flexible. If you’re more advanced in your fitness regimen, you can handle short bursts of high and low intensity. But if you’re a beginner to HIIT, you can start off with longer intervals, or bigger breaks between your high intensity moves. I’d say that pretty much any HIIT routine you come across can be adjusted for your own needs.
It Revs Up Your Metabolism
And that means it burns more fat. I can’t stress this point more – the results I see with HIIT (for both myself and my clients) are amazing, especially when it comes to getting toned and fit. I find it’s especially useful if you’re in the cutting phase of your workout program.
It Strengthens Your Most Important Muscle
The muscle I’m talking about is your heart. HIIT conditions your heart and strengthens your cardiovascular system in a way that is hard to compare to your typical cardio workouts. The variable intensity helps your heart withstand the ups and downs of your daily routine, and will improve every aspect of your fitness routine.
It Keeps Your Blood Sugar in Balance
There’s some evidence that HIIT is also a great way to keep your blood sugar levels in check – possibly even better than traditional cardiovascular exercise. This is great whether you’re a diabetic or just trying to control your cravings.
Looking for a killer HIIT routine?
Check out Interval Training for Fat Loss here, or try the super effective Tabata Interval Training.
Have any questions or feedback about these 6 Reasons to Try High-Intensity Interval Training? Please leave a comment below…
Sign up to the weekly Weight Loss & Training Newsletter & get a 50 Smoothie Recipes PDF for FREE!
Thank you for visiting! Weight Loss and Training is a health blog which features all the best weight loss tips that I have learned over my 20 years of training. My background includes a degree in Kinesiology from the world renown Simon Fraser University, certification in nutritional sciences from UBC, and Personal Trainer Specialist certification from Can Fit Pro.