Five Benefits of HIIT

Looking for a fun way to exercise? HIIT may just be the sweaty solution for you! High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a form of exercise that involves alternating short bursts of intense exercise with brief periods of rest. 

There is no universal HIIT workout. Typically HIIT workouts will consist of a combination of cardio and resistance training exercises that are performed quickly and at maximal effort. These workouts can be as short as 4 minutes and usually don’t last longer than 30 minutes. We always make sure to include some HIIT in our weekly workout routine because it is so beneficial. Here are five reasons why you should too:

Efficient

We love the convenience of HIIT workouts. HIIT is a great form of exercise if you have a busy schedule. This is because training at high intensities allows you to achieve the same benefits as longer workouts but in a shorter duration of time. The key here is to keep the intensity up and to go as hard as you can! HIIT is also a form of exercise that you can do just using your body weight and without any fancy equipment. In other words, you can pretty much do a HIIT workout anywhere and at any time!

Burns Extra Calories

On top of torching calories during a HIIT workout, you continue to burn calories even after the workout! This is due to something called the Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC) Effect. In simple terms, EPOC is the increase in oxygen consumption and metabolism that occurs to help your body recover after strenuous exercise. EPOC occurs because your body needs extra oxygen and calories to bring itself back into a resting state. Training at a high intensity is one of the best ways to maximize this effect!

Boosts Cardiovascular Health

VO2 max is often used as a measure of cardiovascular health. VO2 max essentially measures how well your body can use oxygen for energy. The higher your VO2 max, the healthier your cardiovascular system. And guess what increases VO2 max? HIIT! When you do a HIIT workout, your heart is forced to work at maximum effort. This increases your heart rate and causes your heart muscles to become bigger, leading to improved cardiovascular ability.

Improves Body Composition

HIIT workouts can help you build muscle while burning fat. As we mentioned before, HIIT workouts burn a lot of calories and this can lead to increased fat loss. In addition, HIIT also stimulates hormones that play a role in fat loss ( epinephrine and norepinephrine) and muscle building (IGF-1). If you want to maximize this effect, make sure that your HIIT workouts include strength exercises such as squats, lunges, push up and pull-ups. 

FUN!

Sometimes, we just don’t want to run on a treadmill for 30 minutes. It’s soooooo boring! In contrast, HIIT allows you to mix and match all sorts of different movements to create a cohesive workout. This is a much more stimulating way to exercise! And because you’re moving at such a fast pace, time passes by so quickly that you won’t even realize your workout is over!

Have we convinced you yet? Give HIIT a try and see for yourself why we LOVE it so much!

Also in Blog