What defines HIIT or how do I know I'm in that HR zone?

KF2018

Hi Everyone

So two things :-)

For the past year I've relied on my Fitbit Charge HR to tell me what my HR is when working out but I think its on the brink as I've noticed when working out especially in what I call a HIIT class and I'm gasping for oxygen, my HR will be like in the 80-90's which is way lower than my normal HR of 160-175bpm when I've been doing the same class for the past few weeks. Its like my HR goes up faster than what the Fitbit can handle although this has never happened before.

Secondly, what defines HIIT? I'm thinking of ditching the Fitbit and just going off how I feel as although I love my fitbit it's another thing for me to obsess over (steps, exercise calories, resting heart rate, workout heart rate) but how will I know I'm right in that zone when working out without my Fitbit? I always thought if I feel like I'm working hard then that should be enough and I really do feel like I work hard.

tinkerbellang83

Perhaps you're overthinking it a bit, what are you hoping to achieve from your HIIT class?

HIIT just means you're giving 100% effort over short burst of time with a quick recovery period.

As long as you're pushing yourself with as much effort that you can give you're doing what you need to do, the idea that there only one "Fat Burning Zone" is a little misleading if that's the zone you're referring to.