HIIT Workouts Are Short And Effective
Getting enough exercise in to your weekly routine is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. But for many, fitting exercise in with a busy home and work schedule can be near impossible.
For peeps that are time-crunched, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a great option because it condenses an effective workout in a short amount of time. HIIT can also be adapted to your fitness level, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced exerciser. We’ve put together some information to help you learn more about HIIT and decide if it’s right for you.
An overview of high intensity interval training (HIIT)
HIIT (high intensity interval training) is a type of workout that involves several short surges of high intensity (effort) exercise. You alternate these with short spurts of light exercise. You can perform a HIIT workout while doing a number of activities such as when cycling, swimming, rowing and using cross training equipment.
You’ll know if you’re doing higher intensity exercise if your breathing is deeper and your heart rate increases quickly. You’ll find it difficult to talk to someone while exercising at this level because you’ll be catching your breath.
The personal trainers at AFC Fitness can develop a customized HIIT program and schedule just for you and your level.
Benefits of high intensity interval training (HIIT)
HIIT can help improve your overall health but one of its best benefits is that HIIT workouts do not take very long to complete. Compared to a typical gym cardio workout that can take 60 minutes, a HIIT session might take just 30 minutes or less to get the same or better results. So if you have a busy routine, and you’re looking to improve exercise results, HIIT may be a good option for you.
Besides taking less time, a HIIT workout routine can also improve these areas:
- body weight
- cardiovascular health
- insulin reactivity – this is your body’s ability to control your blood sugar level
HIIT may be beneficial for your cardiovascular health and how well your heart, lungs and muscles use oxygen. Some research studies have shown that HIIT may improve how well your body controls its blood sugar levels. This is thought to be because your muscle cells adapt so they take up sugar for energy more easily.
Why is high intensity interval training (HIIT) so effective?
Every exercise burns up calories. Even when you stop exercising, your body carries on burning calories to restore and repair itself. However, because of the effort level/intensity involved, HIIT is thought to increase the way your body burns up calories and breaks down fat during and after exercise. Some research studies have shown that HIIT may also help to control your appetite.
To learn more about how High Intensity Training (HIIT) can be part of your exercise routine visit any AFC Fitness club or enjoy a complimentary personal training evaluation with an experienced, certified trainer. Click here for a free personal training evaluation.