If you're looking to get in shape and lose weight, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is one of the best ways to do it. In fact, research has shown that HIIT can help you burn more calories than other types of workouts without compromising your overall health or fitness. That's why so many people are turning to HIIT for their next big fitness goal — but what exactly is this type of training? What does it do for your body? And how should you go about doing a HIIT workout at home? Well, this article will answer all those questions and more!
HIIT is a form of exercise that alternates between brief, extremely strenuous bursts of activity, and rest periods. This type of training has been shown to increase your metabolism for hours after the workout ends.
With HIIT workouts you typically work at an intensity where you are unable to speak more than a few words without pausing for breath or feeling like you're about to pass out. The idea behind this type of exercise is that it improves cardiovascular fitness while also helping you burn fat faster than traditional cardio workouts because they include both anaerobic and aerobic exercise components in each session (i.e., short bursts at maximum intensity followed by longer recovery periods).
What Is High-Intensity Interval Training?
Intensity is the key to HIIT. HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training, which is a form of cardiovascular exercise that involves alternating between brief, extremely strenuous bursts of activity and rest periods. The intensity level of HIIT training can be adjusted to accommodate different fitness levels.
For example: A beginner might alternate walking briskly on an elliptical machine with walking slowly; while someone who already has an established base level of fitness may alternate sprinting up stairs with jogging back down them over a period of time (usually 10 minutes).
Benefits of HIIT Training
HIIT is a time-efficient way to get in your workout, which means you can fit it into your busy schedule. The workouts themselves typically last between 15 and 30 minutes, so you won't have to spend hours at the gym each day.
HIIT also burns more calories than steady-state cardio--even when you're not exercising! That's because high-intensity exercise causes an increase in post-workout metabolism that lasts for several hours after your workout ends (2). This can help keep your weight off once you've lost it by burning more calories throughout the day.
HIIT improves both aerobic fitness and muscle endurance (3). You'll be able to run faster or farther than before if that's part of your goal! And if we're talking about losing fat: according to one study published by Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal, "The results suggest that [interval training] may facilitate reductions in body fat without compromising lean mass" (4).
How to Do HIIT Workouts at Home
- Find a space that's free of distractions.
- Find a space that has a good view.
- Find a space that's well-ventilated.
- Find a space that's safe, and in an area where you feel comfortable exercising (if you're new to HIIT workouts). If you don't have any equipment at home, check out the local gym or fitness center near you! They may even offer classes on how to do HIIT workouts--and if not, they can help point out any equipment they have available for use by members during their workout sessions.
- Make sure there isn't anything around your workout area that could cause injury; this includes sharp objects like broken glass or nails sticking out from furniture/cabinets/etc., electrical cords lying around where someone could trip over them while running on the treadmill...you get the idea!
Interval training
Interval training is one of the best ways to get a great workout in a short amount of time. HIIT can be done anywhere, at any time, and with minimal equipment. This type of exercise is more effective than moderate exercise at burning fat and getting fit because it takes advantage of our bodies natural ability to adapt when we push ourselves beyond our comfort zone.
Conclusion
high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is one of the best ways to get a great workout in a short amount of time. It can be done anywhere and doesn't require any equipment, making it perfect if you're looking for something new or just want to mix things up. If you liked this post then make sure to check out some of our others as well!
