You may have seen the acronym “HIIT” on fitness blogs and social media accounts. HIIT, which stands for “high intensity interval training” is one of my favorite ways to workout, and is going to be a huge part of our Fall Into Fit workout plan. Don’t let the words “high intensity” scare you – you can totally do this!
What is HIIT? High intensity interval training consists of short bursts of high intensity exercise, followed by lower intensity exercise or recovery time. You can perform HIIT on cardio machines at the gym, with bodyweight exercises or while simply going for a run outside or on the track.
Why are we doing HIIT? The number one reason why I love HIIT so much is because it’s incredibly efficient. By working in high intensity intervals, we can get an effective full body workout in a very short amount of time. Since I know you’re super busy, HIIT is the best way to get the most bang for your workout buck 😉
What are the benefits of HIIT? High intensity exercise increases your excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). During EPOC, your body continues working hard long after your workout leading to higher calorie burn even after you finish exercising.
It’s important to note that you don’t want to overdo it with HIIT. I would only recommend doing HIIT no more than 2-3 times per week. Your heart is a muscle too and needs to rest after working hard like any other muscle 😉 I love mixing cardio bursts with strength training exercises to work more muscles in a short amount of time.
Ready to try HIIT? Try this 20 minute HIIT routine to scorch calories and work up a good sweat in a short amount of time. You can do it on any cardio machine at the gym that you’d like (I love doing the intervals on the stairmill!) or even outside on the track. Enjoy, and don’t forget to check in at #FallIntoFit!
