Working out does not have to take an hour to receive awesome results. The secret is High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts. HIIT workouts follow specific ratios, balancing work time and rest time, for fat burning and muscle growth!
What’s the routine? If you’ve only got time to exercise three days per week, there are HIIT workouts that encompass both halves of your body in a single workout. They’re called total body HIITs! These are anywhere from 20-40 minutes. Targeted body part HIITs, like a glute HIIT, are often shorter than total body HIITs. On the days when you’re feeling a little less intense, search for low impact or no jumping HIIT workouts. The key is to rest at least one day in between these exercises. You should not do more than three HIIT workouts per week.
Weights and resistance bands are your friend! I use two five-pound dumbbells and a resistance band. If you have these, feel free to incorporate them into your HIIT workouts. Many Youtube HIIT videos have optional weight and band modifications. Equipment is optional, but it increases the speed and impact of results.
My three favorite youtubers that do HIIT workouts are Madfit, Pamela Reif, and Chloe Ting. Their workouts are short and sweet. If you love to dance as exercise, Madfit does dance HIIT workouts using trending Tik Tok songs. She also has my favorite low impact HIIT workouts! Ultimately, she’s the best for beginners because she demonstrates and talks through each exercise during rest time.
Pamela Reif’s workouts are worth every drop of sweat! On her Youtube channel, which has almost five million subscribers, she categorizes workouts by intensity level. Pamela also does dance workouts. They are labeled by moods, which is pretty creative. For example, she has a “happy” dance workout, a “sexy” dance workout, and an “oldies” dance workout.
Chloe Ting’s workouts are all HIIT based; they are the most intense of the three Youtubers I’ve listed. She also has free programs that you can do, if you’re looking for targeted results. The programs are available through the link in her Instagram bio. She has challenges that range from two to eight weeks. All of the workouts that are needed for her programs are uploaded on Youtube as well. I’ve completed the Two Week Shred Challenge and the Flat Tummy Challenge (with no diet), and my results were amazing! I lost weight in the right places and my body became more toned. The programs are perfect if you have a monthly goal to meet, a birthday coming up, or an event to prepare for.
Working out is what you make it, so make it be fun! HIIT workouts save time, yet they still give you the results you’re looking for. Make your schedule, drink your water, and move your body! Exercise is important for the body and the brain. Sweat it out, girl!