Today we’re going to talk about my favourite type of training, HIIT! HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. It’s a training where you exercise at 100% (or 110% for some) for a short amount of time and then recover for a short time. Then you repeat.
For example, going all out on push-ups for 45 seconds, resting for 30 seconds and then another 45 seconds of crazy push-ups followed by 30 seconds of rest. You can rest by doing slower push-ups or just by standing still.
My favourite HIIT’s are BodyCombat and Blogilates’ PIIT (Pilates + HIIT) videos on YouTube. I also have my own (kind of) HIIT cross-trainer routine. For my HIIT cross-trainer routine, I go at a moderate to high speed for 3 minutes, all out for 1 minute, and I rest at a slow tempo for 1 minute. I repeat these 5-minute sets for as long as I can. Other popular types of HIIT are Tabata, CrossFit and the 7 Minute Workout.
HIIT is great for people looking to lose weight and build muscle (which is pretty much why most people work out). However, it’s not so great for people who are new to exercising. The chances of doing an exercise incorrectly (and injuring yourself) when doing it very fast are much higher than if you’d be doing it at a normal pace.
If you’re new to exercising, it’s better to start out with a training that gives you the time to master each movement. If you are experienced and have done a variety of exercises and movements before, HIIT it! 😉
In my humble opinion it’s the most efficient way to work out. You feel the burn – in minimal time. And who doesn’t want to save time?