What is HIIT and How To Get Into It

If you’re into gym culture, chances are you’ve heard of HIIT at least once. Everyone everywhere seems to be talking about it and we at April Laugh decided to give you all the information you need and get you into the action.

HIIT means High-Intensity Interval Training. It’s a workout routine based primarily on aerobic exercises that can be done anywhere and anytime. It’s not focused on equipment or location but the intensity of the exercise. The name gives it away, it must be high intensity and you should be ready to go harder.

Who can do HIIT?

HIIT is great for people who are busy and it has been proven to burn calories and increase your aerobic capacity without lengthy workout sessions.

You can ask a personal trainer or your gym instructor to create a routine for you. Once you’re ready to push your limits, HIIT is a great choice for you.

Benefits of HIIT

You burn calories quickly. HIIT lets you burn the same number of calories but spend less time exercising.
HIIT has a great aftereffect on your metabolism. Your metabolic rate stays high after a session of HIIT helping you burn calories after exercising.
HIIT can help you burn fat. A commitment to HIIT will produce great results for weight loss.
In some people, HIIT can make you gain muscle mass. The standard for muscle gain is weight training but HIIT has proven to support a small amount of muscle growth.
HIIT can help reduce your blood pressure and heart rate. This is great for those who have health issues.

How To Get Started

There is a wide range of high-intensity activities to choose from, there’s running, biking, jumping rope, etc. and you can experiment with different durations and exercises to create a routine that works for you.

Here are some tips for creating your routine.

If you have any joint pain, it’s best to begin with a low-impact exercise like cycling or swimming.
Take long enough rest periods but not too long. A sufficient break is equal to or slightly longer than the work periods.
Keep your work periods under 30 seconds. Anything more than that is unsustainable.
Begin with a few cycles per week. It’s a demanding routine and you don’t want to burn out.

In conclusion, HIIT is an efficient workout program and will help you burn calories amongst other benefits. So, if you are lacking enough time but still want to get a workout in, consider HIIT.