More results in less time
If you’re looking for a workout that alternates between intense bursts of activity and fixed periods of less-intense activity or even complete rest, opt for high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This type of workout is fast and fun and yields fast results because your body keeps burning throughout the day. Here are 8 benefits:
Efficient Workout
Don’t let your busy schedule force you to ignore your physical health. HIIT is super efficient and you’ll definitely be able to make time for it with your busy schedule. Research shows that a mere 15 minutes of interval training (done three times a week) is more effective than jogging on the treadmill for an hour.
A 2011 study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting states that 2 weeks of high-intensity intervals improves your aerobic capacity as much as 6 to 8 weeks of endurance training. That’s not it! Use the Tabata training method and complete an effective HIIT workout in just 4 minutes.
Burn More Fat
HIIT workout not only burns more calories, but the effect of the intense exertion kicks your body’s repair cycle into hyperdrive. HIIT workout results in burning more fat and calories in 24 hours compared to a steady-pace run.
Build a Healthier Heart
You might not be used to pushing into the anaerobic zone like many others. But in this case, extreme training helps in achieving extreme results. A study done in 2006 states that after 8 weeks of doing HIIT workouts, subjects could bicycle twice as long as they could before the study while maintaining the same pace.
No Equipment Required
Though running, biking, jump roping, and rowing all work great for HIIT, high knees, fast feet, or anything plyometric like jumping lunges work just as well to get your heart rate up fast. However, some of the equipment like dumbbells can make HIIT less effective.
Lose Weight, Not Muscle
Worried that you might lose your muscles along with the fat? Rest assured knowing that HIIT workouts preserve the muscles and help in losing weight just by burning excess fat.
Increase Your Metabolism
In addition to burning calories, HIIT helps in slowing down the aging process. Wondering how? HIIT stimulates the production of your human growth hormone (HGH) up to 450 percent during the 24 hours after you finish your workout.
Workout Anywhere
HIIT is a simple concept and you can workout just about anywhere.All you have to do is go at maximum effort for a short period of time followed by a recovery period and then repeat.
Challenging Workout
HIIT is a short workout and you will be working hard the whole time. You’ll definitely won’t be able to do anything else while working, and this includes even talking to someone. This format offers seasoned exercisers a new challenge and new exercisers a quick way to see the results.
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