HIIT workouts are exactly as they sound: they’re a hit. They work. They’re designed to burn fat. The acronym actually stands for
High Intensity Interval Training,
and again, you get exactly what you see here: intense workouts. The work depends all on your maximum effort, and if you can give 100% effort for 15-20 minutes 3-5 times per week, then you will be well on your way to a fitter, leaner, STRONG FIGURE!
High intensity works for several reasons. People who train with intense intervals burn more fat while preserving lean muscle mass, improve cardiovascular/heart health, and increase their metabolism. The best part of interval training (as if the health benefits aren’t enough) is that HIIT can be done almost anywhere at any time. Many times you won’t need equipment and most workouts take under 20 minutes to complete.
I’ve created the HIIT workouts–also called “Strong Figure Conditioning Workouts” so that they incorporate all that I’ve learned from personal experience with various programs over the years. Many of the workouts found under the HIIT category are modeled after typical CrossFit style workouts, some are inspired by various bodybuilding and strength athletes, and some are borrowed and improved upon from professional athletes’ plans. My HIIT/SFC workouts are designed to shake things up in your regular routine, give you a plan to follow if you don’t have one, and work your total body to help you get that shredded figure you’ve been working or looking for.
What you can expect to find with the HIIT workouts are that some exercises are for “time,” others are for “reps” and some are just ideas to get you motivated for the day. Each HIIT workout is developed to target strength, speed, and endurance. You can follow daily, pick your favorites and do three per week–whatever fits your schedule and your needs.
Common Questions and Answers
- “Can I get fit from doing just HIIT workouts or do I have to do other workouts as well?” You can definitely lose weight by following just the HIIT workouts. Make sure you take 1-2 days off per week and follow a healthy diet too.
- “If I workout four times per week, does it matter which four HIIT workouts I choose?” No, each HIIT workout is designed to target both strength and cardio endurance.
- “Will I get ripped muscles from doing HIIT workouts?” You won’t get “jacked” but you will get leaner. You won’t be lifting a lot of real heavy weight so if you want a more body-building style physique, pick three HIIT workouts per week to complement a good lifting plan. The intense intervals from the HIIT workouts will help burn extra fat in those hard-to-tone places.
- “Do I need any certain equipment to complete the HIIT workouts?” For some of the HIIT workouts, yes, and others, no. The HIIT workouts are designed for everyone–gym goers, stay-at-home exercisers, and some can be completed with nothing more than your own body weight. Find the ones that work best for your lifestyle.
- “If I wanted to do more than just HIIT each day, what else would work best paired with these exercises?” Yoga and holding stretches for 45 minutes a couple times per week will do wonders for the body. As we get older, flexibility becomes an important issue that we shouldn’t neglect. Also, I’m a huge fan of heavy lifting–guy or girl. If you want more than the occasional HIIT workout, visit my STRENGTH TRAINING page to get lifting ideas or CONTACT ME to get personalized training plans.