Are you still undecided as to what workout will be good for you? Well, here's the answer: high intensity.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has become popular over the last few years for a number of reasons. First taught to athletes, HIIT is a very quick exercise that pushes your body to the highest possible limit.
How does HIIT work? A typical HIIT usually lasts for around 20 minutes (while some exercises can already help you burn more than a hundred calories for as short as 4 minutes. It's divided between a period of high-intensity training and a short rest, usually only 10 seconds. When you are set to perform the exercise, you are strongly advised to give it everything you've got-that is, push yourself to your optimum.
Many people like HIIT since it's relatively short and something that is very easy to squeeze in to their daily schedule. Second, it's a very efficient exercise. You get the same benefits as running on a treadmill for an hour, for example. Many experts also claim that with HIIT, your metabolism works on overdrive that you continue to burn a lot even if you're resting. This is why HIIT is often performed alternately: you work out today, you don't the next day, so on and so forth.
A new study also reveals that HIIT is ideal for those who are suffering from a chronic disease such as pulmonary disease, diabetes, and even cardiovascular disease. Most often, these people hardly engage in moderate to high-intensity exercises fearing they will only place themselves in harm's way.
Researchers from University of British Columbia led by exercise physiology specialist Jonathan Little revealed that those with chronic disease but are engaged in HIIT are more likely to exercise consistently as they found the routine to be fun. Moreover, it's a flexible exercise. As long the same principle is applied, any type of exercise can be transformed into a HIIT. For instance, a person may sprint for 20 seconds then walk leisurely for 10 seconds.