If you workout harder, not longer, you can achieve better results. Welcome to HIIT, high intensity inerval training, it brings extreme results.

Nothing says new start better than the start of a new year. With the beginning of 2014 why not refresh yourself and pick up the intensity in your workouts.

2013 saw its fair share of fitness trends. Zumba and CrossFit were high on the list and studies have proven that intensity driven workouts have greater benefits. So this year it’s time to pick up the pace and include those sweat friendly mascaras in your gym bag.

Exercise intensity reflects how hard your heart is working and how hard the exercise feels to you. Within the world of fitness high intensity workouts have replaced long gym sessions, giving you the same calorie loss in less than half the time.

Who doesn’t love the sound of that? A workout on busy days that lets you get your daily burn in whilst still having time to finish the million other things that need to be done, that’s HIIT.

Within the world of fitness high intensity workouts have replaced long gym sessions, giving you the same calorie loss in less than half the time.

The catch is keeping your heart pumping and your body moving. The results include a quick fix to the time old excuse “I just don’t have enough time”.

One of these legendary workouts is HIIT – High Intensity Interval Training

HIIT isn’t for the faint hearted. All about hitting it hard and fast, HIIT claims to be as effective as an hour long work out in as little as 7 minutes.  Completing  12 exercises at 80 percent capacity, Chris Jordan and Brett Klikka, (creators of the 7 minute workout), claim that their workout is similar to completing an hour long jog.

Why does HIIT work?
These stats are hard to believe. So here’s a little explanation on why it works.

When working out you might realize you enter a ‘zone’. Be it on the treadmill or completing a set of squats, there may be a time when your body adjusts itself to the speed and exertion your exercising at and tries its best to store energy (calories).

This is great if you’re running marathons, but not for fat loss. By swapping exercises regularly (or in intervals) your body doesn’t get a chance to adjust, tricking it into burning more calories.

By swapping exercises regularly (or in intervals) your body doesn’t get a chance to adjust, tricking it into burning more calories.

This is a quick and effective way to keep fit and healthy, although because of the high intensity you’d be working at trainers and athletes suggest precaution when beginning HIIT workouts.

High intensity interval training is designed to push you to your limits, but science proves that the results are worth it.

Five Reasons HIIT is a Hit:

1. Efficient – this training seamlessly fits into a busy schedule
2. More Fat Burn – HIIT training loses more fat in less time
3. No Equipment Needed – High knees and quick feet work just as well as kettlebells and weights in this case.
4. Can be done ANYWHERE – Because there is no necessary equipment, HIIT can be done anywhere, anytime, using anything.
5. Challenging – The intensity needed during this workout will challenge the fittest of us.

Dominique Tait

CONTRIBUTOR