15 min HIIT workouts.

Would you recommend theses as good enough exercise for a busy lifestyle?
Anyone had good results with theses workouts?
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Replies

  • PokernuttAR
    PokernuttAR Posts: 74 Member
    What's your goal?
  • aine1993mckay
    aine1993mckay Posts: 17 Member
    Just to tone up, I'm a nurse and work long hours to the gym isn't ideal for me.
  • aine1993mckay
    aine1993mckay Posts: 17 Member
    Oh right okay thanks
  • k3ls4ur
    k3ls4ur Posts: 4 Member
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?
  • Rammer123
    Rammer123 Posts: 679 Member
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    edited August 2017
    Just to tone up, I'm a nurse and work long hours to the gym isn't ideal for me.

    So the issue you've got here is that tone up doesn't really mean much.

    If you're wanting to lose weight then a 15 minute session can have an effect, but I wouldn't spend that time doing HIIT. You'll get more calorie expenditure just by doing steady state aerobic range activity for the period.

    If you're wanting to improve your muscle definition then that'll take time and a range of different activities, but essentially some form of resistance training is part of it. That needn't involve going into the gym, bodyweight activities are perfectly reasonable and easy to facilitate.

    Essentially there is some evidence that HIIT can make marginal improvements to fat loss, but the proportions are negligible and they've been vastly overplayed by the marketing machine that is the fitness industry. As discipline the advantages aren't that great.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?

    Why would you suggest that it's best bang for your buck?

  • Rammer123
    Rammer123 Posts: 679 Member
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?

    Why would you suggest that it's best bang for your buck?

    Because with interval training you get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?

    Why would you suggest that it's best bang for your buck?

    Because with interval training you get more work done in a shorter amount of time.

    Care to amplify that?

    I'd generally disagree, but I'd rather understand the basis for your assertion.
  • Rammer123
    Rammer123 Posts: 679 Member
    edited August 2017
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?

    Why would you suggest that it's best bang for your buck?

    Because with interval training you get more work done in a shorter amount of time.

    Care to amplify that?

    I'd generally disagree, but I'd rather understand the basis for your assertion.

    Shorter rest periods and longer work periods.

    ETA:

    3 rounds:
    Squat jumps
    Pushups
    Sit-ups
    Lunges
    Burpees

    50 seconds on, 10 seconds between exercises- 1 min between rounds.
  • aine1993mckay
    aine1993mckay Posts: 17 Member
    Just to tone up, I'm a nurse and work long hours to the gym isn't ideal for me.

    So the issue you've got here is that tone up doesn't really mean much.

    I've only got into my fitness, I've lost 26lbs over the last 11 weeks through focusing on my diet first, I try and do the HIIT workouts everyday mixing kettle bells exercise in with that. 'Tone up' as in not too muscular just 'tight' if that's even a appropriate word !!
    Just any suggestions? I don't really have that much spare time , but I do want to get fit and healthy.
  • Rammer123
    Rammer123 Posts: 679 Member
    Azdak wrote: »
    Just to tone up, I'm a nurse and work long hours to the gym isn't ideal for me.

    So the issue you've got here is that tone up doesn't really mean much.

    If you're wanting to lose weight then a 15 minute session can have an effect, but I wouldn't spend that time doing HIIT. If you're wanting to improve your muscle definition then that'll take time and a range of different activities, but essentially some form of resistance training is part of it. That needn't involve going into the gym, bodyweight activities are perfectly reasonable and easy to facilitate.

    Essentially there is some evidence that HIIT can make marginal improvements to fat loss, but the proportions are negligible and they've been vastly overplayed by the marketing machine that is the fitness industry. As discipline the advantages aren't that great.

    Not to mention the fact that, if you want ANY of the benefits promised in a 15 min HIIT workout, you need to pretty much waste yourself. Not the kind of thing someone who has just worked a long shift is going to look forward to. People see "15 min" and think oh that sounds easy.

    Then what would you recommend to someone who has 15 minutes to workout? I am not saying a 15 min of interval training is ideal, but what would be better to do in 15 mintues?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?

    Why would you suggest that it's best bang for your buck?

    Because with interval training you get more work done in a shorter amount of time.

    Care to amplify that?

    I'd generally disagree, but I'd rather understand the basis for your assertion.

    Shorter rest periods and longer work periods.

    ETA:

    3 rounds:
    Squat jumps
    Pushups
    Sit-ups
    Lunges
    Burpees

    50 seconds on, 10 seconds between exercises- 1 min between rounds.

    That's only circuit training.

  • Rammer123
    Rammer123 Posts: 679 Member
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?

    Why would you suggest that it's best bang for your buck?

    Because with interval training you get more work done in a shorter amount of time.

    Care to amplify that?

    I'd generally disagree, but I'd rather understand the basis for your assertion.

    Shorter rest periods and longer work periods.

    ETA:

    3 rounds:
    Squat jumps
    Pushups
    Sit-ups
    Lunges
    Burpees

    50 seconds on, 10 seconds between exercises- 1 min between rounds.

    That's only circuit training.

    Okay, do them individually
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    edited August 2017
    k3ls4ur wrote: »
    Following this thread... if HIIT workouts aren't worth it, but I don't have a local gym and I'm short on time, what kind of workout would be ideal to burn fat and gain a little muscle? Mostly just to tone my body...

    If you're really crunched on time and you can only really work out for a couple minutes at a time, HIIT or any type of interval training is going to be the best bang for your buck.

    Oh really?

    Yes, what would be your recommendation?

    Why would you suggest that it's best bang for your buck?

    Because with interval training you get more work done in a shorter amount of time.

    Care to amplify that?

    I'd generally disagree, but I'd rather understand the basis for your assertion.

    Shorter rest periods and longer work periods.

    ETA:

    3 rounds:
    Squat jumps
    Pushups
    Sit-ups
    Lunges
    Burpees

    50 seconds on, 10 seconds between exercises- 1 min between rounds.

    That's only circuit training.

    3 rounds:
    Squat jumps
    Pushups
    Sit-ups
    Lunges
    Burpees

    I follow a program like this and love it - it's great cardio for increased fitness. I don't see why you'd call it circuit training rather than HIIT though - does it depend on the intensity? I do tabata style (20 secs on, 10 sec rest x 8 rounds) cause the intensity is high and it's all I can cope with. I do it in conjunction with strength training as well though to actually build muscle, ie tone.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I've only got into my fitness, I've lost 26lbs over the last 11 weeks through focusing on my diet first, I try and do the HIIT workouts everyday mixing kettle bells exercise in with that. 'Tone up' as in not too muscular just 'tight' if that's even a appropriate word !!
    Just any suggestions? I don't really have that much spare time , but I do want to get fit and healthy.

    That's a good rate of loss, well done.

    I appreciate the challenge about time, and working long hours.

    For me, what's helped has been giving myself some fitness objectives. Largely around long distance endurance running and cycling. That's taken time to develop the capacity for, and I'm not suggesting it's practical in your circumstances.

    In many way's it's about identifying the time windows that you can train for, and in some ways 15 minutes really isn't going to give you much benefit, so the value of those sessions will diminish very quickly. If you can identify windows of 30-45 minutes you'll start to find the sweet spot where you can get a decent training effect, in a manageable way.

    Again as an example, I got back to my hotel from work this evening about 45 minutes before the fitness centre closed. That was enough to fit in a mile of swimming.

    You need to find a balance of resistance training and cardiovascular work, to balance your retention of lean mass, and improving your stamina. With that in mind, if you can find 30-45 minutes then you can alternate something like running with kettlebells or bodyweight resistance training and get some reasonable results fairly quickly.



  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    kimothy38 wrote: »
    does it depend on the intensity?

    Essentially, yes. The term has been hijacked in the fitness industry to sell circuit training in shiny new packaging.

    True HIIT, work intervals around 98% of max heart rate, have significant benefits for maximal performance. It's the kind of thing that cyclists or runners will do about 3-6 weeks out from a focus event to maximise their performance, and it's a very transient benefit.

    For me, a HIIT session would involve say a 15 minute warm up at a fairly relaxed pace, followed by say eight 20 second sprints with maybe 60 seconds of relaxed pace rest periods, followed by another 15 minute cool down. The amount of effort in the work intervals means the long warm up and cool down are essential to avoid injury.

    Circuit training is certainly beneficial, although I'd question the value of only doing it for 15 minutes. I'd generally expect that range of exercises to be sustainable for about 45 minutes. That's the kind of thing that firms like BritMilFit and ParaFit do quite a lot of in local park and the like.

  • MelodiousMermaid
    MelodiousMermaid Posts: 380 Member
    I've done some Tabata style HIIT. I found that my ability to tolerate exercise increased a fair bit along with my general mobility, and I've also lost weight, but I've also added other exercises since the first week or two finished and I changed my diet drastically from the get-go. I also started from super-obese and just about no strength/mobility, so between all of these things, I'm not sure if I would be a good comparison. I know of others who do the HIIT-15 and it seems to have done quite well for them. None of them are "buff," per se, but they are strong, healthy people who can get through everything their day throws at them (all are at least somewhat active, not at-desk jobs for the majority of the time). Many of the people I work out with are warming up and walking before the workout, and there's always a cooldown/stretch at the end.

    I think I'd recommend a variety of workouts to anyone looking to get healthy.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    HIIT done properly is a great use of fifteen minutes and burns more calories for the same amount of time than steady state cardio - because you are doing steady state cardio the whole time, with higher intensity ADDED TO IT, so by definition it burns more.

    The thing is, for it to be any use it has to actually be high intensity. Tabata, which is a extreme form of HIIT, should make you want to cry in only four minutes. Twenty seconds as hard as possible, ten seconds normal speed, repeat for four minutes, with two minutes of warm up and cool down. But it doesn't mean anything unless you are actually working to maximum capacity during the 20 seconds. Very few exercises qualify. There is a YouTube video of "tabata" twerking - it is not possible to get your heart rate into the right zone by twerking for twenty seconds, sorry. I used to do jumping abdominal twists as tabata, and then as I got more fit, this exercise was no longer intense enough to work as tabata for me. Something like stationary cycling is better (this is what was originally used in the development of tabata) because you can up the intensity as you become used to it.

    The main problem with HIIT is that you will become more fit, and it's tempting to relax your efforts and continue to do the exercises at a speed which used to be much harder for you. You have to constantly push yourself to the max.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Also, don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. If you have fifteen minutes, do fifteen minutes, and don't let others tell you it's not enough.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    HIIT isn't a high calorie burner - the rest/recovery periods bring the average right down.
    Steady state as fast as you can go for the whole duration would be a far higher total burn.
    But that's a pretty sad exercise goal and not one of the stated goals of the OP.

    15 minutes of anything is better than nothing but it's not long enough duration to achieve the results you are looking for OP.

    My suggestion:
    Jump on an indoor rower, row flat out for 10 minutes, 5 minutes of core work and press ups would give you a quick full body workout but don't expect miracles!
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    HIIT isn't a high calorie burner - the rest/recovery periods bring the average right down.
    Steady state as fast as you can go for the whole duration would be a far higher total burn.
    But that's a pretty sad exercise goal and not one of the stated goals of the OP.

    15 minutes of anything is better than nothing but it's not long enough duration to achieve the results you are looking for OP.

    My suggestion:
    Jump on an indoor rower, row flat out for 10 minutes, 5 minutes of core work and press ups would give you a quick full body workout but don't expect miracles!

    Why would the recovery periods bring the average down when the recovery periods are exactly the same as normal steady state cardio?
  • BishopWankapin
    BishopWankapin Posts: 276 Member
    The best way to burn fat is with diet. For general strength and fitness on a time crunch, I'd do 15-20 minutes of something like this: https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/ 3 times a week to cover strength, and for cardiovascular Do something like this from Layne Norton a couple of times a week (in between your strength days): http://vitals.lifehacker.com/heres-the-most-effective-cardio-workout-you-can-do-in-1-1697917072
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    HIIT isn't a high calorie burner - the rest/recovery periods bring the average right down.
    Steady state as fast as you can go for the whole duration would be a far higher total burn.
    But that's a pretty sad exercise goal and not one of the stated goals of the OP.

    15 minutes of anything is better than nothing but it's not long enough duration to achieve the results you are looking for OP.

    My suggestion:
    Jump on an indoor rower, row flat out for 10 minutes, 5 minutes of core work and press ups would give you a quick full body workout but don't expect miracles!

    Why would the recovery periods bring the average down when the recovery periods are exactly the same as normal steady state cardio?

    Steady state doesn't mean low intensity - it means steady effort. That can be low, medium or high.

    Think of a cycling time trial or a middle distance running race - you don't see people sprinting and cruising do you?
    The winner is the person who puts down the most power and that's as fast as you can go for the entire duration with a balls out sprint right at the end.