HIIT Workouts – How to Get Started

Looking for a way to tone down and shed fat in a short period of time? There is no better way to get your heart pumping and all the loose bits melting off than with a HIIT workout. We've talked about HIIT workouts a few times on this blog, and we maintain that HIIT is ideal for all types of exercisers. Whether you’re trying to buff up or lose weight, regularly incorporating HIIT exercises into your routine will make you stronger, faster, and healthier.

What is a HIIT Workout?

HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. HIIT has become a very popular way to improve endurance, burn fat, and build strength. With HIIT workouts, you alternate low to moderate intensity training with high intensity intervals. HIIT can be applied to all kinds of exercises, but it is most popular with cardio. So with a HIIT running workout, for example, you jog at a snappy pace for a few minutes, and then switch to a fast sprint for 10 to 30 seconds. You alternate like this for 10 to 15 minutes.

Benefits of a HIIT Workout

HIIT workouts pay off. Studies have shown that HIIT workouts burn up to nine times more fat than traditional cardio workouts and keep your metabolism fast-acting for more than 24 hours afterwards. This means you’ll keep burning fat long after you’re done working out! Not only does HIIT training take less time than traditional cardio workouts, but they burn more fat, too. It’s a win-win.

Best HIIT Workouts for Starting Out

Try to incorporate a HIIT workout into your usual cardio, whether that cardio is spinning, jogging, swimming, etc. This workout will take ten minutes. Start with a light jog, cycle, swim or other cardio activity of your choice, and do that for three minutes. Then follow with the sequence below:

• Beginners – 20 seconds of work, 40 seconds normal pace x 10
• Intermediate – 30 seconds of work, 30 seconds normal pace x 10
• Advanced – 40 seconds of work, 20 seconds normal pace x 10

You should generally finish up any kind of workout with some gentle stretching. After cycling or other lower body workouts, be sure to stretch out your quads, calves, hamstrings, glutes, ankles, and feet.

HIIT Produces Results

Adding a HIIT workout to your fitness routine can pay big dividends if you stick to it. Like any workout regime, it always helps to get some professional coaching until you're proficient. This can help you avoid injury from improper form and overworking some muscle groups. RX Fitness is always happy to recommend a personal trainer or fitness facility. Just ask.

If you'd like to know more about HIIT exercise routines and would like to discuss it with a professional, we're here to help. We work with hundreds of personal trainers, coaches and nutritionists and we would be happy to connect you with someone who can answer all your questions. RX Fitness carries equipment and accessories of all kinds to fit every goal and budget to make your fitness routine more productive. And don't forget to check out Tim's best-selling book, Fitness Equipment – A Shopper's Guide, available at Amazon and other online book sellers as well as in our store.