Many of us know we should exercise more, but busy schedules and costly gym equipment often make it hard to start a workout routine.
Fortunately, there’s a solution that maximizes the little time you have without requiring expensive gear: high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
In this article, we’ll explore this revolutionary aerobic technique, and its benefits, and provide a full-body HIIT workout you can complete in just 15 minutes without any equipment.
How Does HIIT Work?
HIIT is a special aerobic training technique. It involves short bursts of intense cardio exercise, followed by brief recovery periods lasting about 30 – 60 seconds. These recovery periods could be stretching, light jogging, walking, or rest.
This form of exercise triggers specific responses within the body which improves weight loss, makes muscle growth faster, and is great for your cardiovascular health.
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What Are the Advantages of HIIT?
HIIT helps you burn more calories. HIIT exercises help with weight loss by increasing your metabolism and helping you burn more calories. This exercise activates responses within the body called Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC).
An EPOC state increases your basal metabolic rate for 24-48 hours after exercising. This causes your body to burn a higher amount of calories than normal and lose weight even when you’re not actively working out.
- Convenient workout technique. A HIIT session typically lasts about 10 to 30 minutes. This makes it a great option for people with limited time to exercise. HIIT exercises can also be performed nearly anywhere with no equipment, making it convenient and cost-friendly too.
- Improves endurance. HIIT has stronger effects on your cardiovascular health and breathing than normal aerobic exercise. Over time this improves the ability of your body to pump blood and use oxygen, increasing your stamina in the long run.
- Increases strength. HIIT is also an effective way to build muscle while losing weight. HIIT stimulates more muscle growth than other forms of aerobic exercise because of its intensity and short rest periods. You can combine HIIT with resistance training to maximize your gains.
- Great for your cardiovascular health. HIIT increases your heart rate more than other forms of aerobic exercise. This builds up your heart muscles and its ability to pump blood. It can also reduce your risk of heart attacks, hypertension, strokes, and other forms of cardiovascular disease.
- HIIT improves your blood sugar. HIIT makes your body more sensitive to insulin and helps your muscles absorb glucose for energy. This is great for controlling blood sugar, reducing blood spikes after meals, and reducing the severity of diabetes.
- It’s great for your mental health. Regular exercise relieves stress and improves mood. It improves self-esteem, sleep, memory, and cognition. HIIT also reduces negative emotions and decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Increases bone density. Regular exercise also improves bone density and reduces how quickly we lose bone mass as we get older. This can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures as you grow older.
Is HIIT Safe For Everyone?
Generally, HIIT is safe for everyone. However, older individuals, those with joint, muscle, or bone problems, or people with chronic diseases should consult with their healthcare provider before performing HIIT.
Twelve Top Calorie Consuming HIIT Exercises
Here are some effective HIIT exercises you should add to your routine.
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1. Lunge With Kick (L & R) – 30 secs each side
- Start on a fitness mat and step forward into a deep lunge, ensuring your knee doesn’t extend past your toes.
- Push off with your front foot, bringing the leg forward into a kick as you return to standing.
- Repeat this exercise for thirty seconds on each side.
- Use ankle weights to add some intensity to this lower-body exercise.
2. Jumping Jacks – 30 secs
- Stand with your feet close together and hands by your sides.
- Jump while spreading your legs slightly more than shoulder-width apart and raising your arms above your head.
- Jump again to return to the starting position.
- Repeat this exercise for thirty seconds.
You can try out this exercise with light dumbbells or ankle weights.
3. Squat To Jump Squat – 2 sets, 30 secs
- Start in a standing position and lower yourself into a squat.
- Hold this position for a moment then jump as high as you can and land in a standing position.
- Repeat this exercise for two sets of thirty seconds each.
4. Burpees – 2 sets, 30 secs
- Start in a standing position.
- Drop into a squat, then kick your feet back into a high plank.
- Perform a push-up, return to the squat, and jump up to a standing position.
- Repeat this exercise for two sets of thirty seconds each.
- A weighted vest is a great way to take your burpees to the next level.
5. Plank – 3 sets, 30 secs
- Lie face down similar to a push-up position, supporting your body onto your toes and forearms, keeping a straight line from head to heels.
- Hold this position, engaging your core, glutes, and shoulders.
- Repeat this exercise for three sets of thirty seconds each.
- Try performing this exercise with medicine balls or sliders.
6. Side Squat Walk – 2 sets, 30 secs
- Lower yourself into a squat position.
- Step to the side with one foot, then bring the other foot over while staying low.
- Repeat this side-to-side motion for two sets of thirty seconds each.
- Try this exercise with a resistance band to exercise your outer and inner thighs.
7. Plank Jump – 3 sets, 30 secs
- Start in a plank position
- Jump both feet forward towards your hands, landing in a squat.
- Jump back to the plank position.
- Repeat this exercise for three sets of thirty seconds each.
8. Squat Hold – 30 secs
- Lower into a squat position, keep your thighs parallel to the ground, and hold this position briefly.
- Ensure knees stay behind toes and chest up.
- Hold this position for thirty seconds.
9. Plank Kick To Crunch – 30 secs
- Start in a plank position and engage your abs.
- Bring one knee towards your chest, crunching your abs.
- As you return to plank kick out your leg and raise it as high as you can off the ground.
- Perform this exercise for thirty seconds alternating between both legs.
The plank kick-to-crunch will also go great with resistance band or ankle weights.
10. Jackknife – 3 sets, 30 secs
- Lie on your back with arms extended overhead and legs straight.
- Lift your legs and upper body to meet in the middle, almost touching your toes.
- Lower back down to the starting position.
- Perform this exercise for three sets of thirty seconds each.
11. Twisting Mountain Climber – 3 sets, 30 secs
- Begin in a high plank position.
- Bring one knee forward towards the opposite elbow.
- Return to the starting position and perform this with the opposite knee and elbow.
- Repeat this exercise for three sets of thirty seconds each.
You’ll need comfortable, breathable, and elastic gym pants for this exercise.
12. Up Down Plank – 30 secs
- Start in a low plank position on your forearms.
- Push up onto one hand, then the other, into a high plank.
- Reverse the motion to return to the low plank.
- Repeat this exercise for thirty seconds.
For more visuals check out this video by Pamela Reif.
Frequently Asked Questions on HIIT
- How intense should HIIT be?
This differs for everyone. A great rule of thumb is to aim for around 80-90% of your maximum heart rate during the high-intensity intervals, and around 40-50% during the low-intensity recovery periods. You can monitor your heart rate with a smartwatch, chest straps, smart ring, or simply by counting your pulse.
- I have weak knees, is it okay for me to do HIIT?
Yes, but you may have to make some changes to your routine to prevent making your knee condition worse. Try low-intensity exercises, perform your routine sitting down, and avoid high-impact activities like jumping or running. Remember to consult your healthcare provider to ensure HIIT is safe for you.
- Do I need to warm up or cool down when doing HIIT?
Yes, warming up and cooling down when doing HIIT increases performance, reduces your risk of injury, and hastens recovery. Great warm-up techniques include light cardio or dynamic stretching. You can cool down after the workout with static stretching, foam rollers, or a massage.
- Can HIIT help boost my metabolism?
Yes, HIIT exercises increase your metabolism by activating responses within the body that trigger a state called Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC). This increases your basal metabolic rate for 24-48 hours after exercising and is why HIIT is great for weight loss. Performing regular HIIT also increases your muscle mass, increasing your overall metabolism.
- What are the risks of excessive HIIT?
When done correctly HIIT is safe for almost everyone. However, excessive HIIT can lead to overtraining, injury, burnout, and even muscle loss. Combine HIIT with other forms of exercise like resistance training and ensure you get enough rest between each session.
Start Your Journey to Physical Fitness
Ready to transform your fitness routine in just 15 minutes?
HIIT makes it possible to fit effective workouts into even the busiest schedules. It boosts your metabolism and burns calories while improving your cardiovascular health and overall well-being. So, lace up your sneakers, find some space, and get ready to power through a quick yet powerful workout.
Embrace the benefits of HIIT and start seeing results today!
You are welcome to pin and share this handy workout note to your Pinterest board for future workouts.