HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) – What Is It and What Are the Benefits?

High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT… Everyone is talking about it! For the uninitiated, it is actually a special training technique which includes intense exercises followed by complete rest or short periods of less-intense training. This kind of training is catching up with teens, celebrities, fitness professionals, athletes and even many ordinary gym-goers. It has many benefits to offer, which include:

 

Faster Weight Loss

HIIT is known to lead to faster loss of body fat. The combination of high intensity training with intervals helps accelerate the metabolic rate and keeps it for up to a period of 48 hours even after the training session. Thus, you keep burning your excess body fat even at rest. The fat combustion results of HIIT training were found to be better than cardio training that is done at a steady pace. A number of studies have established that HIIT offers more extensive and longer lasting benefits than cardio exercises, such as sprinting over long distances.

 

Improved Stamina and Endurance

It can also boost your stamina. Studies have shown that people who did HIIT for some weeks had increased stamina and were able to run or exercise for longer duration than before. It also has a major influence on the level of endurance. The Journal of Applied Physiology published a study some years back, which stated that participants in the study had double the endurance after only 2 weeks of HIIT training. It can significantly increase the VO2 max, or the maximum amount of oxygen that a person can take in at the time of a sporting or exercise session.

 

No need for equipments

With HIIT, there is no need to use any expensive equipment. Participants can use normal exercises, such as sprinting, running and push-ups – only at high intensity intervals followed by rest or moderate workouts such as brisk walking. This non-reliance on equipment means that you can perform the exercises anywhere you like, and there is no need to carry any gym gear along. Even if you are holed up in a hotel room without any gym facility or without enough space, you can HIIT your unwanted pounds and shed them fast. You can experience the results during exercises and even after your workouts are over.

 

Reduces exercise time significantly

Another major benefit of this kind of training is the fact that it can significantly reduce the time that you spend in working out, although it gives better results and also benefits your body in a number of ways. You can reduce your time for exercising and finish within some minutes after you start. 

If you’re keen to try HIIT, check out out timetable here.