What is HIIT Cardio?

Your average low impact, low intensity cardio session is probably a great way to maintain your overall health and fitness. But if you are looking to increase your fitness, strength and lose weight , then low intensity cardio work-outs are not going to cut it. You need to increase your intensity. And one of the best ways to do this is what is known as high intensity interval training, i.e. HIIT.

High Intensity Interval Training basically means doing shorter workouts at higher intensity. So instead of a 30 minute walk, you would do a two minute sprint all-out, followed by a 1 minute rest period (walking). Do this five times and you have a total work-out of 15 minutes.

High Intensity intervals are highly adaptable and can be applied to all types of of exercise, so if you aren't in shape enough (or your knees aren't!) to handle sprints, then you can try adding some HIIT to cycling (either Lifecycle or your real bike), the Stairmaster or circuit training.

Take a look at this circuit training approach using Kettlel Bells for an idea of how endlessly creative HIIT work-outs can be.

High Intensity Interval Training makes for an efficient fat-burning weapon, while also increasing your overall fitness, strength and cardiovascular health. A couple of HIIT sessions each week and you'll start to see bodyfat reductions pretty quickly because your body will be more efficient at burning fat while you work-out. Even better though is the fact that you will keep burning fat hours after your work-out is over.