HIIT or Tabata timer apps? Any recommendations?

GrannyCrayCray

Trying to do circuit training at home and on breaks at work. I'm not coordinated enough to effectively exercise & use the timer on my phone at the same time Have also tried to watch the clock on the wall, but end up with a stiff neck. Just thought I would ask for suggestions here on MFP before I got lost in the Sea of Apps searching on my own. Thanks in advance

tulips_and_tea

I downloaded (and use all the time) the "Tabata Pro" app. It works great! You can adjust any and all of the intervals and it makes sounds and talks to you so that you don't have to even look at the timer if you don't want to. Best of all, it doesn't stop or pause if you get a phone call or text while using it. I HATE being interrupted during a workout!

FrustratedYoYoer

I've got tabata pro

robertw486

Thanks for both the question by @labyars , and the answers from @BZAH10 and the follow up from @FrustratedYoYoer

I've been wanting to do a search on this and find a better timer method myself. I've been doing some Tabata type HIIT on the elliptical and other stuff, and the timing methods so far have sucked! The elliptical has a time display in seconds, but it takes 6 seconds to pause when you stop. In theory, the math is simple when only doing 20 second intervals and a 10 second rest right? WRONG! When doing intervals at that high of an intensity, that simple math is another distraction when you are breathing heavy and your heart rate is up.

This will give me something I can use on the bike and with running sprints as well.

AmandaDanceMore

A friend of mine who is a personal trainer uses the "Seconds" app for her clients. It has a variety of timers on it and is simple to use. I use it at home for myself....I've even used it as an aid to leg up my horse!

hill8570

Seems like you folks are over thinking this. Ramp up from your rest pace to your sprint pace, glance at your watch or the clock on the machine, go at that pace for 20 seconds, then recover until you're ready for another sprint. The 20/10 only makes sense for the sort of animals who Dr. Tabata used in his original studies - most people need a lot more than 10 seconds to recover for another all out sprint. I generally do more like a 20/60 (or more like a 20/90 on the last couple of intervals).

robertw486

Well I've done true Tabata protocol on my elliptical, and I don't consider myself any type of elite athlete or animal in any sense. And when you are outputting energy at 170% of VO2max, watching various data sources can be a pain in the butt. In the case of my machine the power measure, heart rate, and time output displays aren't all that close together either, so it creates more scanning back and forth to watch.

As output intensity increases, keeping track of things gets harder. I actually wish I had a HR method with a warning sound so I could ignore that and just focus on the power measure goal.