High Intensity Interval Training: HIIT or miss?

HIIT is a form of high intensity interval training in which you alternate short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods. This training technique is an effective form of cardiovascular exercise and has been quickly gaining in popularity around the globe.

According to Muscle and Fitness, the goal during your high intensity interval is to have your heart pumping at 85 percent of its maximum rate (that means staying in the Yellow Zone for you MEP-heads out there). One of the strengths of HIIT training lies in its keen ability to effectively burn fat quickly. HIIT is able to burn more calories in a shorter amount of time than traditional aerobic training methods.

Let's look at a few of the benefits before you HIIT the gym and try it out:

1. HIIT is able to increase your overall metabolism.

Combining high intensity and interval training speeds up your metabolic rate which translates which translates into a metabolism boost for up to 48 hours after you complete your HIIT routine. This means you will still be burning fat after you leave the gym!

2. HIIT interval training is meant to be quick and dirty.

Sure you're going to sweat a ton and feel the burn when you're through, but a facet of HIIT that many enjoy is that the typically don't take very long. Most of these interval training sessions are right around 30 minutes long--and be honest, you know you can spare 30 minutes to get your heart pumping and fat burning in.

3. HIIT is good for your heart.

That life-giving muscle in your chest deserves a workout as much as your glutes, delts and quads. Over time, HIIT sessions are able to increase the flexibility and elasticity of arteries and veins, better than continuous aerobic exercise is able to.

Keep in mind that just like all new workout routines, it is best to consult with your doctor before making a major shift in your exercise regimen. Also, know that you don't necessarily need to go to a HIIT specific gym to get the most out of this training style. HIIT describes any type of workout that alternates between intense, all-out bursts of activity and short, fixed periods of less-intense exercise or total rest. You can utilize HIIT at the gym on your own, or you can ask your trainer to incorporate some HIIT intervals into your current workout plan (if they believe it is a good option for you at this point in your fitness journey, they will most likely be happy to do so). To get the most out of HIIT, you must be willing to expend one hundred percent effort to get the maximum results.

We believe HIIT is a great training method, and when you pair it with the heart rate tracking accuracy of your MZ-3, your fitness goals will be met in no time!

We think HIIT is a hit! How about you? Share your HIIT success stories with us using #EffortRewarded