Top health benefits of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
HIIT training is explained as exercise of high intense short bursts followed by brief rest period. This sequence is repeated several times in a row with the duration dependent on the person’s fitness levels. So there is no excuse saying you have no time to exercise as a workout can last as little as 15 minutes.
- HIIT training boosts your metabolism hours after training. This means that after a HIIT workout your body is still burning calories and fat due to the fact that we consume more oxygen during intense activity than in steady state cardio.
- Time efficient; A HIIT workout can take as little at 15 minutes this is ideal during your lunch break or short on time. Research shows you can achieve superior progress from 15 minutes HIIT training versus 60 minutes jogging on a treadmill.
- Burns fat and preserve muscle; studies show HIIT in conjunction with weight training allows people who are dieting to preserve their hard earned muscles while ensuring most of the weight loss is fat.
- HIIT stimulates hormones such as the growth hormone. This is an ideal situation if your goal is to increase muscle mass. Additionally interval training also develops the cardiovascular system. By increasing your heart rate during HIIT, you’ll increase your cardio ability and strengthen your heart. During the rest periods, you also increase your recovery capabilities; meaning you’ll be able to recover faster in future workout sessions.
- It can be done anywhere with no equipment. For example you could do HIIT on your local field. Burpees in the back garden. Or with a bike, treadmill, swimming, with dumbbells etc.
Sample HIIT Workout
Treadmill sprints
- Warm up with a jog for 5 minutes
- Move onto 20 seconds sprint with a 40 second rest
- Repeat 10 times
As you become fitter you could challenge yourself to 30 seconds sprint and 30 seconds rest.