The indisputable benefits of high intensity interval training (HIIT)

Please check also:

FITNESS/PHYSICAL EXERCISE: THE MOST EFFECTIVE WORKOUT EVER

A definition far interval training

Interval training involves performing short bouts of cardio activities of medium to high intensity seperated by short periods(intervals) of active recovery of dinstictly lower intensity e.g. sprinting for 20", jogging for 60"and this succession repeated for a number of times.

We call it HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING or HIIT when the more intense part is executed at an intensity of not less than 85% of MHR(maximum heart rate).

This means that in HIIT the intense part is executed above the anaerobic threshold.

Interval training could be beneficial for everybody-including novices or obese people-since it can be tailored to suit their particular needs.

Critical parameters that could be adjusted to suit individual needs:

-duration of exercise bursts

-duration of active recovery intervals

-level of intensity for both phases

-total duration of the HIIT workout

Warning: HIIT is only for already fit people. This is really tough stuff!

The indisputable benefits of HIIT

1.HIIT is time sparing and thus suitable for people with hectic lives.

2. HIIT is will not send you to grave from excessive boredom.Long,low intensity cardio will!

3. HIIT has been proven to raise the levels of the particularly beneficial human growth hormones.

4.HIIT will respect and spare your muscles.The way it is executed will keep the levels of catabolic cortisol under control.

5. HIIT will considerably increase your aerobic capacity with no particular stress to your heart.

6. Elevated heart rates will lead to burning of many calories during the workout.

7. The nice thing with HIIT is that you will burn many calories even at the rest periods because the heart rate remains quite elevated.And this happens while you rest and prepare for the next exercise burst!

The oxygenation of your muscles will eliminate lactic acid and you will soon be ready to train anaerobically again. HIIT will permit you to train anaerobically for considerably more time than conventional cardio.

8. The even nicer thing is that HIIT will temporarily raise your metabolism( long term EPOC) and you will burn more calories while you are resting.

Read about this afterburn phenomenon in my article:

"Metabolism:increse it the natural way"

You will find my beloved HIIT program if you follow the link in the beginning of this article.

Chris Strogilis