I am sure you have heard the term “HIIT” or “Tabata” lately. These workouts are designed around high intensity interval training. A “tabata” is technically, 20 seconds of hard work, followed by 10 seconds of “recovery” repeated 8 times.
Before you begin a high intensity routine, lets discuss what this is all about.
Who: anyone who is already moderately active or someone who is very active and ready to shake things up and get some results, quickly.
What: If you are on a Spinning bike, 2 tabata intervals per class is plenty! If you can do more than that, your intensity can be increased. If you are in a bootcamp or working out on your own, remember, this is HIGH intensity, so it should not be maintained for long periods of time.
Why: You can get a full body workout in in less than 30 minutes, saving you precious time. Due to the high intensity, your body will continue to burn MORE calories all day long than a lower intensity workout day.
When: No more than 3 times per week with appropriate rest in between.
If you fit these criteria, you may be ready for a HIIT workout!