It’s not a coincidence that elite athletes across all disciplines perform high intensity interval training, or HIIT, to improve performance and keep their bodies in peak physical condition.

But you don’t have to be an elite athlete to extract the amazing, fat torching benefits that HIIT brings to the table!

But what exactly is HIIT?

High-intensity interval training by definition is a form of interval training where a cardiovascular exercise is performed alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods, until too exhausted to continue.

Examples of common HIIT exercises are battle ropes, kettlebells, ball slams, burpees, sled push, rogue bike or even running!

Basically you’ll perform a :20-:30 second interval at maximum intensity, followed by a recovery period equal to or greater than the working period.

Examples:

1. Burpees:30 seconds max effort followed by a rest period of :60 seconds. Repeat x 4

2. Battle Ropes:20 seconds max effort, :20 seconds rest. Repeat x 5

HIIT provides massive upside and those who do it can expect significant results in a relatively short period of time…

HIIT has changed my life in such a way that I actually pay my team at Nutrition Solutions to do HIIT on the clock at work, just because I know the profound positive benefits it will bring them!

Today I wanted to share with you 6 Reasons You Should be Doing HIIT!

1. It’s Offers Maximum Efficiency As Far As Getting More Done in Less Time.

Which as the busy people we are is a very attractive benefit! HIIT burns more calories during and after a workout than steady state aerobic (cardio) training. The explosive bursts of increased intensity simply amplify caloric expenditure; thus more total calories are burned in shorter periods of time.

Performing 10-12 min of true HIIT, meaning work intervals where you’re giving a maximum effort , has the potential of burning significantly more calories than 40 minutes of steady state cardio.

2. Burns Fat More Effectively Than Any Other Form of Exercise.

The impact HIIT has on your metabolism allows you to burn fat for up to 24 hours after the workout, not just while training!!

3. Improves Aesthetics & Body Symmetry.

By performing intense functional movements you improve on body composition by melting fat away but also target muscles that traditional weight training may not hit. This results in an increase in lean muscle tissue, improved symmetry and an overall healthier, more aesthetic physique…

4. You’ll Never Get Bored!

All too often people complain of hitting plateaus, losing motivation or getting bored of their workouts – Which of course is going to happen if you do the same thing all the time! HIIT is fun, challenging and never monotonous! Often times motivation fades in the gym due to a lack of variety within our workouts.

5. Improves Mental Toughness & Discipline.

HIIT forces you to push yourself well beyond your comfort zone. It’s hard, which the more hard things we do, the easier life becomes! By incorporating HIIT into your fitness, you’ll not just level up your fitness, but you’ll gain the confidence you never knew you needed that can be applied to your other goals in life.

6. You’ll Feel Amazing Immediately After!

Intense exercise will trigger the release of mood enhancing endorphins in the brain that will improve focus, mental acuity, alertness and an overall put you in a more positive state of mind!