High-Intensity Interval Training Can Help You Lead a Healthy Life

Over the last few years, high-intensity interval training, shortened to HIIT, has grown in popularity and a lot of people favour this type of workout. HIIT means you are alternating between intense bursts of activity with less-intense activity in-between. For example, some people will sprint on a treadmill for a minute before walking for two and repeating. Some people like to work in circuits, having a rest period in-between to catch their breath. Most people only do HIIT for 15 to 20 minutes because of how intense it is, but that doesn’t mean it is simple. There are a lot of benefits to doing HIIT, some of which we have detailed below.

person wearing brown-and-white shoes jumping

It Can be Efficient

The reason why some people don’t work out regularly is that they think it will take up too much time in their already busy schedule. However, HIIT workouts are extremely efficient and can be done early in the morning before starting the day or even on your lunch break. Scientific studies have taken place to prove that just 15 minutes of interval training is more effective than running on the treadmill for an hour when done three times a week. Not only will you be burning a lot of calories, but you’ll be doing it in a shorter amount of time as well.

Increased Fat Loss

By working harder in a short amount of time, the effect of the workout will be so intense it will continue long after you have finished training. In the 24 hours after completing a HIIT session, your body will still be burning fat, resulting in increased fat loss. If you consume protein before the session, you may also find that HIIT will have a great impact on fat utilisation. What more could you want from your workout? The best part is that you won’t lose any muscle, which can happen when you are on a diet or doing too much cardio. The reason for this is that HIIT allows you to preserve your muscles by using your own body weight for some of the exercises such as lunges or squats.

No Equipment is Needed

If you are someone who feels anxious about going to the gym, then you will be happy to know that HIIT workouts can be done in the comfort of your own home. No equipment is needed for you to complete a workout unless of course, you want to incorporate some weights into it. There are plenty of cardio and plyometric moves that you can do in a circuit to burn energy and plenty of videos on YouTube to help if you are a beginner.

topless man using rowing machine

Increases Your Metabolism

When your metabolism is increased, your body loses more fat. HIIT can stimulate the production of human growth hormones (HGH) by up to 450% in the 24 hours after the workout has ended. HGH causes you to burn more calories and reach your goals quicker than a standard workout. It also helps to slow down the ageing process, which is an incredible bonus.

It’s Challenging

The reason people end up giving up on their workout is that they get bored. They keep doing the same thing again and again and eventually they plateau with their weight loss, causing them to think it’s not working. HIIT is always challenging because you can switch it up. People who have been working out for a long time are given a new challenge and people who are new to exercise can see results quickly. It’s difficult, but it is definitely worth it.

As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to starting high-intensity interval training. There are plenty of tools online to get you started and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll see results.