Ditch boring 20 mins cardio for HIIT

HIIT is the improved cardio that will burn more calories and focus more muscle groups

HIIT, or High-Intensity Interval Training, is a workout approach that's all about making the most of your time. It's like a workout supercharge! Instead of spending a long time exercising, you do short bursts of intense activity followed by quick breaks. You've probably heard people talk about it as "HIIT."

What's cool about HIIT is that it's flexible and can fit into busy schedules. It's super popular in fitness classes, too. In these classes, you might have done HIIT workouts without even realizing it.

The best thing about HIIT is that it's efficient. You don't need to exercise for hours. Just a short session can give you great results. It's like getting a lot of exercise in a short time.

What’s the difference between cardio and HIIT

Cardiovascular training, also known as cardio, means any exercise that makes your heart beat faster and your breathing harder. It can be either a steady and easy workout like a slow bike ride or a tough and quick workout like HIIT. The main differences are how long you do it, how hard it is, and how it affects your body and performance.

Cardiovascular activities mostly includes steady-state workouts like cycling, jogging, walking, swimming, and using the elliptical machine. During steady-state cardio, your body uses both fat and stored carbs (glycogen) for energy, and it does this while having enough oxygen. That's why it's called "aerobic," which means "with oxygen." Since there's enough oxygen, your body doesn't produce lactic acid, allowing you to do this type of cardio for a longer time.

HIIT is a kind of intense exercise where you work really hard, up to 80-95% of your maximum heart rate. You can't keep it up for as long as aerobic cardio, so HIIT is all about doing short bursts of maximum effort followed by rest. These bursts are usually 10 to 30 seconds long.

The reason HIIT is short and intense is because it's "anaerobic," which means "without oxygen." Unlike regular cardio, which uses oxygen to make energy, HIIT creates an oxygen shortage. This makes your body break down muscle energy to produce energy, and it creates something called lactic acid as a side effect.

Lactic acid can slow you down and make your muscles feel sore. This oxygen shortage also does the afterburn where your body keeps needing more oxygen even after you finish your workout. This boosts your metabolism, which can help with weight management.

Benefits of HIIT

The coolest thing about HIIT is it is so versatile and can be tailored to your needs. As it uses short bursts of intense workout targeting muscle groups. If intense workout within a short time is something you like, look at these other benefits.

HIIT is a fantastic choice for people with busy schedules as it offers effective workouts in just 15-20 minutes. It's great at burning calories and shedding fat because it mixes short, intense bursts of effort with rest, which revs up your metabolism. Plus, HIIT helps you keep your muscles while losing fat, which is excellent if you want to stay strong. Your heart and overall fitness also get a boost, and you can pick from various exercises to keep things exciting. Even after you finish, your body keeps burning calories faster, which helps manage your weight. Lastly, HIIT can be customized to suit anyone's fitness level, whether you're a beginner or super fit.

Tip for HIIT for beginners

For people new to HIIT, it is wise to start with one HIIT per week and build up from there. A set might include 2 set of mountain climbers, 2 set of push-ups, 2 set of split squats, 2 set of box jumps. Remember to push yourself. It won’t be easy to maintain a steady pace without feeling the need to completely giving up (we’ve all been there). Rest period is usually a minute between each set. You can also change up the exercises like include a abs workout or jump rope set in between to switch it up. Anything that elevates your heartbeat. But remember to consult a trainer if you feel like you might need help.

In conclusion, cardio is good but HIIT is an advanced cardio that boost metabolism and may increase fat burn. This intense workout is a fantastic alternative to cardio days.