HIIT or High-intensity Interval Training is a buzzword in the fitness community, but what’s the difference between that and longer cardio workouts?
What benefits does HIIT boast that traditional cardio does not?
For people just starting their fitness journey, the buzzwords and acronyms can all seem rather overwhelming. From protein shakes to cardio fasting and wondering if HIIT is good for weight loss?
Never fear! We’ve got you covered as you venture into the exciting world of HIIT, so keep reading to find out what every beginner should know before they crack that sweat!
What Is HIIT?
HIIT, or high-intensity interval training is a fairly new concept in the world of weight loss and fitness.
You don’t have to be a super athlete to incorporate HIIT into your exercise regime. The idea is that HIIT creates short bursts of effort and exercise with short periods of recovery time. So, as opposed to performing cardio on the treadmill for 45 minutes straight, you’d find yourself with shorter bursts of exercises at full effort.
For example, you might do 30 seconds of full-effort start jumps and then rest completely for 10 seconds before you hit the next set. One level of your HIIT workout could be 5 to 10 reps of this, and then you move on to the next exercise.
HIIT Workouts For Beginners
Now, HIIT is designed to be tough but that’s not to say that beginners can’t have at it as well.
There are easier, less strenuous HIIT workouts for beginners that you can start with.
You can incorporate HIIT into your weight loss program or exercise program starting with just 10 or 15-minute sessions. The most important thing that beginners need to keep in mind is that form should never be compromised. A large driver of HIIT is the focus on form and actually performing the exercise properly, perfect execution is key to good results.
When you start out, focus on doing the squat or the star jump or the lunge in exactly the right way, even if it means you do less of them when you’re just a beginner.
The Most Common HIIT Exercises
It’s always a good idea to find some established HIIT programs that you can follow as a beginner. But some days, we find ourselves uninspired.
These are good days that you can try to build your own HIIT program that you could even hit before you leave your bedroom. Here’s a quick list of exercises that you can include:
- Mountain Climbers
- Star Jumps
- Various Lunges
- Different types of squats and squat jumps
- Sprints
- High Knees and High Jumps
- And the dreaded burpee
Combining any sequence of these exercises with repetitive sets and a solid number of reps to create your HIIT workout and you’re going to see results for sure!
Defeating HIIT!
Here’s the great thing about HIIT, the fitter and stronger you get, the more you can adapt your workout to fit your level. It will never be ‘too easy’ for you.
If you’re no longer finding it challenging, then add more reps or add more time. Make the list of exercises longer and really push yourself as hard as you can.
Remember though, as, with any exercise, rest and recovery are as important as the workout itself!
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