Benefits of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
By: Liz Moore
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is my favorite style of working out. I got into it after having kids because I had less time to get in my Workout. Here are some reasons why I Love HIIT:
1. HIIT burns more calories in less time. During a HIIT workout, your heart rate is elevated most of the time. You are moving quickly from exercise to exercise, taking short rests. This means a big calorie burn in a shorter amount of time. HIIT is a very time effiecient way to workout.
2. HIIT creates the “afterburn effect,” in other words, your metabolic rate is higher longer after your workout. This will burn more calories and keep your body working even hours after the workout is over!
3. HIIT can help lower body fat percentages and gain muscle. HIIT is a lot of cardio, but I like to mix in kettlebells, dumbbells and TRX into my HIIT workouts to build muscle.
4. HIIT can improve oxygen consumption and lower heart rate. A great way to measure progress in your HIIT workouts is how long it takes your heart rate to come back down to rest after you reach your HR Max (or close to it). As you become stronger and better with HIIT, your heart rate will be able to move back to resting faster. For example, you may be at 80-90% of your HR Max at the end of your first HIIT workout. It may take several (6-10) minutes to get your heart rate back close to your resting heart rate. Then, in a couple of months, after doing HIIT workouts consistently, it may only take a minute or two for your heart rate to get back to your resting rate.
HIIT shouldn’t be done for every single workout in your week, but it’s great to add a few HIIT days to your routine to exerience some of these benefits!
