High intensity interval training is a great way to get the most out of your workout. It can improve your fitness level, sense of well-being and more. Here’s how it works and why it’s so beneficial.
What is high intensity interval training?
High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a form of aerobic exercise that alternates between high-intensity intervals and low-intensity recovery periods. It’s great for fat burning, cardiovascular health, and muscle toning.
HIIT can be done in many different ways: running on the treadmill or walking on an incline; using resistance bands; cycling on an indoor stationary bike or outdoors on your road bike; playing basketball or soccer with friends; swimming laps at the pool–the possibilities are endless!
How to do high intensity interval training.
To perform HIIT, you will need to warm up for 5-10 minutes by jogging or cycling at an easy pace. Then increase your intensity by speeding up the speed of your movements and/or incline level. Keep going until you’re at 100% effort (if you can’t say “I’m really pushing myself right now” then it’s not high intensity).
- How often should I do it?
The best way to find out how often is through trial and error. Some people may only be able to handle one session per week while others might want two or three sessions per week depending on their current fitness level and goals.*
- How long should each session last?
Each session should last between 8-12 minutes.*
HIIT benefits.
HIIT is a great way to improve your cardiovascular fitness. According to the American Heart Association, high intensity interval training can increase the amount of oxygen you can use by up to 20 percent during exercise. This means that your body will be able to do more work with less effort, which results in increased endurance and stamina.
HIIT can also help you burn more calories than continuous moderate cardio workouts like running or cycling for an hour on the treadmill at 60 percent max heart rate (the maximum number of times per minute that your heart beats). A study published in PLOS ONE found that people who did four-minute intervals of walking at 85 percent max VO2 (a measure of how much oxygen you’re consuming) burned twice as many calories during the workout compared with when they walked continuously for 35 minutes at 60 percent VO2 max; however, those who did only one minute burst workouts burned three times more fat than those who did longer periods of low-intensity activity!
HIIT has been shown to increase mental well-being too–especially when paired with mindfulness meditation practices such as yoga or Tai Chi–as it helps reduce stress levels while simultaneously improving concentration span capacity so you feel more focused throughout the day.”
High intensity interval training is great for improving your overall fitness, sense of well-being and more.
High intensity interval training is great for improving your overall fitness, sense of well-being and more. It can help you lose weight, improve stamina and cardiovascular health and even boost mental health.
HIIT is also an excellent way to improve bone density, which helps prevent osteoporosis in later life.
High intensity interval training is a great way to get in shape, improve your overall fitness and sense of well-being. It’s also easy to do at home with just a little equipment or none at all!
