So I mentioned the other week why I like to lift weights, but another part of my weekly training are my HIIT sessions. Cardio has always been a popular way to burn fat - at the gym people are spending hours at a time on various machines - but is there a better way? I find HIIT training more effective for me, and guess what? It’s not boring, time consuming or repetitive. My HIIT sessions generally take about 20 minutes. I try getting in about two per week and I find that it really complements my weight training.
So what does HIIT stand for? High Intensity Interval Training. It‘s a form of interval training alternating periods of short, intense exercise followed by short sometimes active recovery periods. This basically means you’ll be working as hard as possible for a short amount of time, resting, and then going for it again. It will all be done and dusted in about 20 minutes, but don’t be fooled - these sessions hurt.
You can actually burn more fat when you work out for less time instead of more. With high intensity interval training, you’ll actually burn calories more efficiently than you would jogging for ages, and it takes way less time to complete.
I generally do HIIT sessions which include my favs like burpees, battle ropes, jumping lunges, jump squats, kettle bell swings and boxing the list really is endless.
Next time you are at the gym here is the most basic way to give it a go:
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- Step 1: Find yourself a piece of cardio equipment you like. Treadmill, cross trainer, stepper, elliptical, rower etc.
- Step 2: After you have warmed up, turn up the speed or the resistance on your machine and seriously go for it for 30 seconds. When I mean go for it, I mean all out as fast as you possibly can.
- Step 3: Rest for 30 - 60 seconds or engage in active recovery which is basically moving but slowing it down big time.
- Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 again and again and again. If you are doing this correctly you will be doing very well to hit the 20 minute mark.
Go on give HIIT a go! No more excuses about lack of time with this type of workout!
Until next week,
Fi x
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Metabolic Fitness Trainer
