HIIT IT! - Shelby Skaggs
HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) has been around the block for quite a while. You have probably been told HIIT gets people amazing results, is the quickest fat loss solution, and it’s the best fitness workout. People love to talk about it. It’s similar to the CrossFit joke – if you do this style of workout, you brag about it!
In 2014 and 2018, HIIT took first place on The American College of Sports Medicine survey completed by over 3,000 fitness professionals identifying the top fitness trends. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) consists of short durations of cardio that range from twenty seconds to two minutes followed by short periods of much lower intensity exercises. The idea behind HIIT is to perform your preferred cardio at the absolute maximum effort and then recover during the lower intensity exercises. HIIT can include several different cardio exercises such as running, cycling, stair-climbing, rowing, and ellipticals.
Although HIIT has a lot to offer and a great workout, there are several misconceptions about it. Let’s dig into the most popular myths and mistruths about it!
Longer Time is Better Time
It shouldn’t take you an hour to complete a HIIT workout. Just because you complete a long HIIT workout, does not mean it is more beneficial. To get the most of your HIIT workout, you must exert as much effort as possible. Any HIIT workout longer than 30 minutes tends to decrease your effort level substantially during the high intensity exercises.
Anyone and Everyone Can Do HIIT
HIIT workouts can be modified to all fitness levels. However, HIIT is not for everyone. If you are just starting out or have health related issues, starting out with HIIT is not the best option. It is better to start with low-intensity exercises until you become more familiar with working out or your injuries have healed.
HIIT Will Blast Away All Fat
One benefit of HIIT is it WILL attack fat and will leave you with an “afterburn” for up to 48 hours. Afterburn helps boost your metabolism. However, HIIT alone will not shed all fat. If you indulge in fatty foods or make poor food choices, HIIT will not be the solution for your food choices.
HIIT > Steady State Cardio
High-intensity training and steady state cardio both are beneficial in their own way. Some believe HIIT is much better than steady state because of the rumor “steady state impacts and interferes with muscle growth”. This is not exactly true. Steady state cardio is perfect to do on rest days or days between tough HIIT workouts.
True HIIT Can Only Be Performed at a Gym
One great thing about high-intensity workouts are you can do them pretty much anywhere. They are perfect to do outside, at the track, in a fitness club, or even your living room. By being creative with your exercises, you have the ability to complete the workout wherever you are!
Final Results - HIIT IT!
Without a doubt, high-intensity workouts are extremely beneficial. It is important to remember that although it is beneficial, we must not only focus on high-intensity training. To create a healthy lifestyle, we must include a variety of different workouts. Strength training, steady state cardio, HIIT all have their own benefits and are necessary for total wellness.
How do you feel about HIIT workouts – good or bad? Have you seen results from high-intensity training? What other workouts do like to do throughout the week? Leave us a comment and let us know what works best for you!
*Always consult your physician before beginning any new exercise program.