HIIT & Steady state, should I do both?

nyla2120
nyla2120 Posts: 370 Member
edited February 5 in Fitness and Exercise
I know HIIT isn't necessary or should be performed every day since it helps to burn calories for several hours after. I do it 3-4 times a week. But, should I be doing steady state on the days that I don't do HIIT? Or will that be counter productive?

Replies

  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    depends if your training for something or just doing it to burn calories.. steady state cardio might be beneficial if your looking to run a marathon or something.. HIIT is good for quick performance type activities.. Either way your burning calories, of course depending with HIIT and your heart rate you could burn quicker doing that then steady state.
  • projectbam
    projectbam Posts: 55
    Do the type of cardio that you have a personal preference for. Whichever one fires you up the most because you’ll most likely work harder at it. HIIT is quicker, proves to be more effective for fat loss, creates metabolic changes, and helps with muscle retention but not everybody can do HIIT. LISS is safer, but takes twice as long to accomplish similar things and it still has its place for fat loss in moderate amounts, from a pure calorie burning standpoint (meaning only to burn calories & not make changes to your metabolism).

    I prefer to get my cardio done and out of the way as soon as possible and i'm fit and able to do HIIT without any issues .. plus i guess you can change it up (hit different exercises in the same session for short bursts) to make it more interesting and less of a chore :))
  • mheebner
    mheebner Posts: 285 Member
    Regarding the 'afterburn effect of HIIT check out this thread for some interesting reading :

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1106134-the-final-nail-in-the-hiit-epoc-coffin?hl=HIIT+epoc#posts-17087597
  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
    I also prefer HIIT, but it doesn't really help me if I am training for an event that will require endurance. I only do steady cardio if I have a Tough Mudder or some other kind of running event that I am training for.
  • nyla2120
    nyla2120 Posts: 370 Member
    I'm not training for anything. I want to burn fat in the most effective way.
  • nyla2120
    nyla2120 Posts: 370 Member
    Regarding the 'afterburn effect of HIIT check out this thread for some interesting reading :

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1106134-the-final-nail-in-the-hiit-epoc-coffin?hl=HIIT+epoc#posts-17087597

    Great link thank you! I think I'm just going to do both, I work out 6 days a week. So I'll do 3 HIIT sessions & 3 steady state. Get the best of both worlds I guess lol!
  • mheebner
    mheebner Posts: 285 Member
    That's my approach. Some days a long steady state cardio session is just what I need, and some days a 30 min HIIT session works for me perfectly. Honestly I feel great after doing either.
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