Total-body workouts built around high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—which includes both resistance and cardio—are highly effective for building muscle, burning fat, and improving your cardiovascular endurance. That’s not “bro science,” either—it’s backed up by extensive physiological research. So why don’t people do it more? Short answer: It’s really demanding.
In a HIIT workout, you’ll perform all-out, exhausting physical effort for a short time, followed by a short, sometimes active, recovery. If you’re new to HIIT, your routine should involve working out hard for 60 seconds, and then breaks for 1-2 minutes, depending on the exercise involved. As you get accustomed to HIIT, you can lower the work-to-rest ratio from 3:1 to 2:1 and eventually even 1:1. During the high-intensity interval, your goal should be to get your heart pumping at 85 percent of its maximum rate. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being completely out of breath, your breathing should be at 8-9.
So yeah: It’s tough. But there are plenty of benefits of HIIT, including increased metabolic rate, optimal muscle building and muscle retention, fat loss, and increased calorie burn during and after the workout. But there’s a lot more to HIIT that can benefit you as a physique-minded athlete. Scroll through the list to get the details on this essential workout method.
Increased Efficiency
HIIT gives you the same physiological results as long-duration cardio in a fraction of the time. That’s because HIIT taxes both aerobic and anaerobic fitness, while traditional steady-state cardio only addresses aerobic. Aerobic fitness increases your need for oxygen and anaerobic training builds muscle; thus, HIIT workouts will increase your endurance and make you stronger at the same time.
Studies indicate that as little as 27 minutes of HIIT three times per week produces the same anaerobic and aerobic improvement as 60 minutes of steady state cardio five times per week, so you can have more time for everything else in your life.
Higher Calorie Burn, More Fat Loss
Burning fat requires oxygen, and the more oxygen that gets inside your body, the more fat your body can burn. A high-intensity workout increases your body’s need for oxygen during the effort and creates an oxygen shortage, causing your body to demand more oxygen during recovery. This “afterburn” effect is referred to as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and is why intense exercise will help burn more fat and calories than regular aerobic and steady-state workouts.
In other words, one of the awesome effects of all that hard work from HIIT is that it will kick your body’s repair cycle into hyperdrive, meaning you will actually continue to burn fat for 24-48 hours after interval training, not just during your workout.
Lose Fat, Not Muscle
High-intensity interval training gives a natural boost to human growth hormone (HGH) production, which is essential for optimal health, strength, and vigor, and has been shown to significantly improve insulin sensitivity, boost fat loss and increase muscle growth. Studies have shown that in the 24 hours after a HIIT workout, the body produces 450 percent more HGH, encouraging your body to build and preserve lean muscle mass while still ridding the body of excess fat.
Boost Metabolism
Igniting EPOC (a.k.a. “afterburn”) translates into a metabolic boost for up to 48 hours after a completed HIIT routine. Since HIIT helps build muscle mass, and muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells, HIIT further contributes to increasing your metabolism. In addition, some research suggests that anaerobic exercise increases resting energy consumption.
Scientifically speaking, anaerobic exercise increases your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the rate of energy expenditure by your body at rest and is measured in kJ (energy) per hour (time) per kg of body mass (muscle). Anytime you have the opportunity to increase your metabolism, do it! It not only aids in weight loss, but it keeps your body healthy on the inside as well.
Improve Stamina
Most people aren’t used to pushing their bodies into the anaerobic zone (that lovely place where you can’t breathe and you feel like your heart is trying to jump out of your chest), but working this hard is good for your heart. In a 2006 study, researchers found that after eight weeks of doing HIIT workouts, subjects could bicycle twice as long as they could before the study while maintaining the same pace. HIIT taxes both your aerobic metabolic system and your anaerobic processes, which is what you need for optimal cardiovascular benefit.
Traditional strength training and cardio exercises work primarily the aerobic process, which is why you may not see the results you desire even when you’re spending an hour on the treadmill several times a week. Interestingly enough, when it comes to high intensity exercises, less really is more. You can get all the benefits you need in just a 20-minute session, start to finish.
Versatility
Running, biking, jumping rope and rowing all work great for HIIT, but you don’t need any equipment to get it done. High knees, fast feet, or anything plyometric like jumping lunges work just as well to get your heart rate up fast. In fact, sometimes equipment can make HIIT less effective because you want the focus to be on pushing your heart to its max, not just any one muscle group.
Breaking Mental Barriers
Pushing your body and your brain beyond your comfort zone will develop mental resiliency and allow you to increasingly challenge yourself both during workouts and in your everyday life. Persevering through tough, high-intensity workouts will give you the confidence to tackle other challenges that come your way mentally and physically. You’ll hear your inner voice shout, “I can do this!” And your inner voice will be correct.
