Recently, several of my clients have asked about effective training ideas that can not only give them a great workout, but one that will also quickly burn fat. High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT as it’s more commonly known, is a type of workout that I regularly do myself, and highly recommend to my clients.
HIIT workouts are a way to get your blood pumping and to burn fat while simultaneously building muscle. HIIT is achieved by grouping two or more exercises together with little to no break in between and including small bursts of high-intensity cardio. By doing this, your heart rate increases rapidly and burns more calories in a shorter amount of time. Win- Win! With a shorter recovery time, your body quickly burns calories and brings you closer to your goals while building lean muscle mass.
Below are three big reasons why HIIT is effective!
- Efficiency
Doing a HIIT workout is an efficient way for a busy individual to get a great workout in a shorter time period. Clients of mine performing a HIIT workout three to four times each week have found it much more effective than when they ran at a steady pace on a treadmill three to four times a week. This is because having a shorter recovery time, allows your body to burn more calories without becoming bored with your workout. This eliminates the “not enough time” excuse that many clients face due to busy work/life schedules.
- Burns More Fat and Boosts Your Metabolism
Not only does performing a HIIT workout burn more fat than most workouts, it also can help boost your metabolism! A HIIT workout can stimulate more production of your human growth hormone (HGH) during and up to 24 hours after you finish your workout. This means that even after leaving the gym, your body is still burning calories. Although a steady 45 minute run is beneficial, it will take your body longer to burn the same amount of calories. Who wants to stay longer in the gym than they have to?
- No Equipment or Machines Necessary
Another great thing about HIIT training is that you can perform the exercises almost anywhere and with minimal equipment. Since the base of a HIIT workout is raising your heart rate, it can be achieved with many body-weight exercises. Although HIIT workouts can be adapted to almost any cardio machine, bodyweight exercises can be equally as effective. High knees, push-ups, sprints, squats, lunges and frog jumps are all effective exercises. These exercises can be beneficial for people looking to work out at home or in a limited gym environment. This is also a great option for individuals who travel a lot or are looking to get the most out of their workout in the shortest amount of time. Putting together a high repetition, three-set workout with some of these exercises is a great start!
Are you ready to get started? Let’s crush a workout together!
Zach Glasgow
Zfit Chicago
