How to Build the Perfect HIIT Workout for Fast Weight Loss

You must have heard the word HIIT enough times in your quest for fitness. HIIT is an acronym for High-Intensity Interval Training. It is an effective way to lose weight or keep fit in a technique that alternates between intense training periods and active recovery by resting.

About HIIT

HIIT is excellent for physical and mental health, with myriad benefits that are fully backed by science. HIIT preserves your muscle mass when you lose weight, improves your metabolism, cardio fitness, and much more. However, HIIT is not for anyone, and you should keep away if you are struggling with muscle or joint pain, have heart issues, or are a beginner in exercise.

If you have no health issues or injuries, and you are already into exercising, give it a go! Before embarking on a HIIT regime, ensure you research extensively on the matter. For example, you should know that HIIT should be twice or thrice a week, and never consecutively to avoid burnout, injury, or overtraining.

Short and Effective

We all lead busy lifestyles that barely leave us with enough time to work out. HIIT is perfect for people with busy schedules. The beauty of HIIT is that you can squeeze it into your lunch break. From warm-up to cooling, half an hour is enough.

You can use the treadmill for several intervals; add some squats and side lunges after running for some time on the treadmill or rowing machine. You can find workout videos online from certified personal trainers, which will get you sweating in no time.

Types of HIIT Workouts

You can try these types of workout

• Tabata: It involves a four-minute workout consisting of 8 rounds of 20 seconds each at maximum intensity and 10 seconds of rest.
• EMOM: Do a set number of reps as fast as you can every minute on the minute and rest the remaining seconds of the minute.
• AMRAP: perform as many reps as you can in a set amount of time
• Circuit Training: Do several exercise series back to back, with a rest period of 30 to 60 seconds in between the sets.
• Create a series: Pick a work, rest period such as 20 seconds on, 20 seconds off, or 30 seconds on and 10 seconds off.

HIIT it Anywhere, Any time

If you are worried about not having a gym subscription, it does not matter. You can fashion your workouts and invest in workout equipment such as resistance bands and dumbbells to assist you in strength-building exercises.

Ensure you have enough space by clearing all the furniture, grab a towel and a yoga mat, and get busy! Working from home can surprisingly give you a better result than any gym as you can HIIT it any time. If you work long hours and barely get time to go to the gym except for an odd day here and there, you can do HIIT exercises in the office during your breaks.

Conclusion

We all need to exercise for a healthier body and a clearer mind. HIIT is an excellent way to get fitter faster. Do not attempt HIIT if you are a first-timer in exercising. To avoid injuries, ensure you have at least some level of fitness before you try HIIT.

[avatar user=”PaulWallace” /]About Paul Wallace Personal trainer of 15 plus years and creator of FT-Fit one of Glasgow’s largest fitness classes