Three Benefits of High Intensity Interval Training

If you are looking for a new workout regime, or are just looking for some new challenges, high intensity interval training (HIIT) might be for you. It's an interval style training featuring quick, intense bursts, followed by short recovery periods. You give it your all during the short bursts, take a quick rest, and then repeat the cycle. Don't be fooled by the short nature of the intervals, if you do it right, these short bursts will leave you sucking wind. This training technique that has caught a lot of attention in recent years, and for good reason. Here are three great benefits of HIIT workouts.

More efficient

First and foremost, high intensity interval training is much more efficient than a typical workout routine. This holds especially true for people who have limited time to workout. 20-30 minutes is a sufficient amount of time for a HIIT workout. Even though you may not be spending as much time in the gym, the intense bursts will make up for it compared to steady state workout, such as a long run.

Better cardiovascular fitness

Subjecting yourself to high intensity interval training works wonders for your metabolism because your body burns calories during the workout and for hours afterwards. This leads to more fat loss if you are trying to lose weight or if you are justing toning up. Additionally, high intensity interval training is great for your cardiovascular health as you are cycling between your peak heart rate and then back down to a normal heart rate. Over time, your cardio system will become much more efficient at lowering your heart rate immediately following an intense burst. You'll start to notice yourself being in better shape to handle the HIIT workouts, and your cardio will be in better shape too. This leads to improving your endurance as an athlete. If you are training for a marathon, mixing in HIIT workouts with your regular training will help you build your endurance faster.

It grows with you

This is often overlooked, but high intensity interval training grows with you. Most other workout regimens cause the participant to plateau once they've reached a certain level. This is seen by people who train the same way over and over again - their bodies have adapted to that level of workout, and it isn't challenging enough for them to see great improvements. This is not the case with HIIT, as it grows with you. You're all in for the intense bursts. 100%. Maximum effort. As your endurance and athletic abilities increase, what once was 100% for you may now be only 70%. As you improve, so does your peak. This means that you'll break through plateaus and get in better shape fast, and improve faster, compared to standard workouts.

HIIT offers many advantages compared with normal workout regimens. They are very time efficient, greatly improve your cardiovascular health, and allow you to achieve new levels of fitness due to its inherent nature of growing with you. Now that you know a little more about the benefits of high intensity interval training, it's time to get out and the start bursting!

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Pool HIIT Workout

Winter might be coming but indoor pools are great Way to get a high-intensity workout without all of the impact. The best part is, you don't have to be someone who knows how to swim all of the strokes proficiently (you do need to be able to swim enough so that you aren't creating a dangerous situation for yourself in the water) in order to workout in the pool. There are plenty of moves like high knees, butt kicks, squats, lunges and so much more that you can do to get a great workout in the pool especially in shallow water. And if you're in an area where it's still warm, then a pool or even the ocean (on a flat surface barring any marine life) will work just perfectly.

Water workouts are great for those that don't want a high impact workout. That being said, you can still get a high intensity, heart pumping workout in the pool. The benefit is that you have the resistance of the water surrounding your entire body adding in an additional element of intensity. Just like any other pool workout, the key is to make sure you're moving and moving hard in order to get your heart rate up. In the end it's a fantastic way to mix up workouts, cross train and keep things interesting.

What You Need: For this work out there is no equipment required. However, if you feel uncomfortable or don't know how to swim, a life vest or flotation device is always recommended. Floatation devices like kickboards, noodles and small inner tubes can be used to hold onto with hands or support the body.

You'll need a towel to dry off with, swim cap if you don't want to get your hair wet and proper swim wear. Also have a bottle of water on hand to quench your thirst.

Additional items like goggles and swim masks are optional based on your swim preferences.

The Workout: Jump in (please don't jump in the shallow water!) and get acclimated the temperature for a few minutes if needed.

Warm Up - Water walk - 1 minute, Water jog - 2 minutes

*15 - 30 seconds of rest in between movements depending on your recovery time. If the length of time is too much for any of the movements, do the best you can do for as long as you see fit.

HIIT - This high intensity interval workout means that you should be working as hard as you can during each movement in order to get your heart rate up.

Circuit 1
High Knees - 1 Minute
Butt Kicks - 1 Minute
Tuck Jumps - 1 Minute
Jumping Jacks - 1 Minute
Water Walk - 1 minute (break time - grab water if you need it)
*Repeat circuit 2 times.

Circuit 2
Side Shuffle Right - 30 Seconds
Side Shuffle Left - 30 Seconds
Tread Water Legs Only - 1 Minute (if you don't know how to tread water, substitute squat jumps instead)
Chest Flys - 1 Minute (arms under water - perform the chest fly exercise using just the resistance of the water)
Water Walk - 1 minute (break time - grab water if you need it)
*Repeat circuit 2 times.

Circuit 3
Squats (as quick as you can) - 1 Minute
Water Run - 1 Minute
Water Walking Lunges - 1 Minute
Water High Knee Skip - 1 Minute
Water Walk - 1 Minute (break time - grab water if you need it)
*Repeat circuit 2 times.

Warm Down - Water jog - 2 minutes, Water walk - 2 to 5 minutes depending on how long it takes to bring your heart rate down.

Please make sure to consult a physician before beginning any new physical fitness program.

Margot Rutigliano is a freelance writer as well as the owner of Vita Vie Retreat. She has been a fitness trainer, wellness coach and healthy living adviser since 1999. Vita Vie Retreat is a fitness vacation offering healthy lifestyle transformation programs for men and women of all ages and fitness levels. For more information or to contact Ms. Rutigliano, please visit http://www.bvretreat.com.

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