You’ve sweated it out at the gym, and you’re eating right. But are you still seeing the results you want? If not, it may be because your cardio isn’t as effective as it needs to be. Our guide will demonstrate to you how to knock cardio out of the fitness park – and helping you to achieve your best body ever!
What is HIIT Cardio?
HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training and is the opposite of low-intensity cardio. The whole idea is to go as hard and as fast as possible in order to the most calories and fat as possible. It consists of quick, give-110-percent to each exercise, followed by short recovery time and then moving onto the next exercise. When you do a HIIT, it gets your heart rate up and burns more fat in less time. The results can be powerful. “The afterburn effect is referred to as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and is the reason why intense exercise will help burn more fat and calories than regular aerobic and steady-state workouts.”
Here are some benefits:
- It increases your metabolism. HIIT speeds up your heart rate and can allow you to burn fat for up to 48 hours after you leave the gym! N
- It’s short and quick. The whole idea of HIIT is to exercise at full capacity. From sprints, lunges, and squats; to TRX, and CrossFit workouts, you won’t have to spend hours at the gym. You can have a powerful workout in just 30-45 minutes a day.
- No equipment needed. One of the best things about HIIT workouts is you’re left without an excuse to hold you back. You don’t need a gym. You can do it on the road when you’re traveling, or in your living room. It’s totally accessible because it doesn’t require any special equipment.
What About Low-Intensity Workouts?
Low-intensity workouts are not the bad guy of cardio. In fact, low-intensity cardio serves an important service for those who have been recently injured or recovering from a sprain and need to watch their workouts, so they don’t reinjure themselves. Low-intensity cardio is also great for endurance. If you’re training for a marathon, you may find intervals more interesting and doable at a slower pace than going full speed ahead for a shorter time period.
No matter what cardio method you choose – HIIT or low intensity, challenge yourself with mini-goals and reward yourself with positive self-talk. Choose the method that makes the most sense for your weight and fitness goals, and you’ll get there in no time at all!
