Staying Healthy and Active: 8 Benefits of HIIT Workouts

HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING, OR HIIT, workouts are on the rise. They are tailored programs depending on the needs and desired outcomes of the individual, but are all essentially timed combinations of aerobic and strength training exercises with higher bouts of energy and recovery periods.

These types of workouts are so popular due to their ability to be easily modified to the individual's varying fitness level. They have been proven to provide similar effects as long endurance-type workouts, but in a shorter duration of time. While this might seem odd, HIIT workouts actually burn more calories than endurance workouts both during and after the workout.

According to Dr. Mercola, exercising can extend the quality of your life while also improving its quantity. HIIT workouts boost human growth hormone production, which is essential for peak health, strength and longevity. According to the article “How Exercise Can Help You Live Longer”, it is ideal for individuals to adopt a well-rounded fitness program that involves a variety of types of physical activity. These include: HIIT workouts, strength training, stretching, core exercises, and continual standing as opposed to sitting.

Advantages of HIIT Workouts

1. Be more efficient:
HIIT workouts are efficient because individuals are able to burn more energy in a shorter amount of time compared to more traditional endurance training.

2. Take up the challenge:
HIIT workouts aren’t easy, in fact they are quite challenging. But they vary so much that an individual can complete a different type of HIIT workout every day!

3. Increase your metabolism:
These types of interval workouts activate human growth hormones, which ultimately increase metabolism rate.

4. Do it anywhere:
HIIT workouts have little to no constraints!

5. Improve heart health:
Interval workouts increase your heart rate and improve endurance. In addition to improving heart health, HIIT workouts have heaps of other health benefits. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), they also:
 · Improve blood pressure
 · Improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness
 · Improve insulin sensitivity
 · Burn abdominal fat while maintaining muscle mass
 · Improve cholesterol profiles

6. Burn that fat:
With more calories burned in 24 hours compared to traditional workouts, individuals will burn more fat.

7. Lose some weight:
HIIT workouts don’t burn muscle, but they do burn fat.

8. Don’t pay a penny on equipment:
There are several types of HIIT routines that don’t require any equipment at all. Say goodbye to that pricey gym membership!

If you would like to learn more about HIIT workouts or check out some timed programs we’ve created for our readers, you can check out the infographic below.
Have you ever tried a HIIT workout program or integrated these types of exercises into your current workout routine?