High Intensity Interval Training is the “new” way to optimize your workouts, whether you’re in the gym or working out at home. It requires less time than steady state cardio and burns more fat. You can build strength AND burn fat, but most importantly you can spend less time on a cardio machine. Because ain’t nobody got time for that.
There are so many examples of HIIT training and different program designs out there. If you’ve done a Tabata interval or a circuit training class you’re doing HIIT. It is designed to allow for maximum effort with short periods of recovery. (For example doing 20 squats with a 45 second rest in between)
It’s important to have a well rounded fitness program if you are interested in achieving those long term results. Most of us are usually pretty good at one thing and kind of stick to it. But to get the best results you need to make sure your program includes strength, cardio and a flexibility portion. The good news is that HIIT training lets you combine all of those into one place. Not only will you be able to get an intense workout done in shorter amounts of time you may end up burning way more fat than your old workout style.
It’s great to incorporate this type of workout into your routine because it will prevent you from hitting a plateau. Who knows? HIIT training could be just what you need to reach that goal you’ve been thinking about. You can add a HIIT circuit before or after your strength workout or even sporadically throughout your day.
Here is a five minute HIIT circuit to try.
Set a timer for five minutes and perform each exercise at least one time through. Once you’ve done each set, keep going until the timer goes off. Each exercise is done for 5 reps unless specified. Good luck!
- push ups
- pulse lunges
- bicycle crunch (5 each side for a total of 10)
- side lunges (5 each side)