Need to undo spring break, but crunched on time? Why HIIT workouts work.
Now that UVA’s rendition of MTV’s Spring Break has come to a close, it’s time to undo all the evils we’ve done to our bodies over the last week. But after an extended period of R&R (Raging and Relaxation), an hour long cardio sesh is probably the last thing on your desired to do list. But have no fear, now may be the right time for you to turn to HIIT – high-intensity interval training. HIIT is exactly what it sounds like, any workout with intense bursts of activity alternated with periods of lower intensity or even rest. Don’t be intimidated, read on for five reasons why HIIT should be a part of your workout routine.
- Get an effective workout in no time
HIIT workouts are perfect for college life because in only 15 minutes they achieve better results than running around in endless circles on the track at the AFC for an hour. According to a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting last year, 2 weeks of high-intensity intervals was shown to improve aerobic capacity as much as 6 to 8 weeks of endurance training. So swap out 15 minutes of facebook stalking for an effective workout and you’ll be fit in no time.
2. Burn more fat
Two fun facts about HIIT: it burns more calories than steady pace training and also continues to burn calories even after your workout is complete. Interval training kicks your repair cycle in gear, allowing your body to burn fat for up to 24 hours.
3. You can do it anywhere
There is no magic formula for an HIIT workout and you do not need fancy machines to do it. Just mix and match short intervals of high intensity sprints with low intensity recovery. Even something just as simple as 15 minutes of running as fast as you can for 1 minute and then walking for 2 minutes has been shown to be an effective fat blasting routine. Not so into running? Interval training can also be adapted to the elliptical, biking or even pylometrics in your living room.
4. Increase your metabolism
We’ve all tried weird gimmicks and natural solutions to speed up our metabolisms. But HIIT actually works to achieve this too by stimulating the production of human growth hormone. Yes you’re thinking of the right hormone, the one that makes you buff and the one that stops you from aging. Lucky for us, HGH also increases the caloric burn and helps to keep it going even after you head back home the gym, shower and hit the library.
5. Overall results
If I do short 15 minute workouts, will my endurance tank? The answer surprisingly is no. In 2006, a study from researchers in Canada found that after 8 weeks of HIIT workouts, their subjects could cycle at a steady pace for twice as long as when they started.
Still not convinced? After all those hours slaving over a treadmill watching the time slowly tick down to zero, I don’t blame you. But even if you don’t buy it, swap in a short HIIT workout instead of skipping it when you’re crunched for time. In the great words of our beloved TJ, “A strong body makes the mind strong.”