Success doing HIIT WORKOUTS?
Untilproud11
Posts: 297 Member
Just wanted to know if HIIT workouts are recommended for weight loss
I enjoy doing them just wanna make sure im doing the right thing
I enjoy doing them just wanna make sure im doing the right thing
1
Replies
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absolutely if doing the right type and intensity4
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Calorie deficit is recommended for weight loss... Doing exercise is great for health and fitness, and doing something you enjoy is the best idea!5
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HIIT is an advanced training technique and probably won't help much with weight loss, largely because it's very difficult to maintain for more than a few minutes and usually requires a lot of recovery time, which can lead to less movement through the rest of your day and, ironically, fewer calories burned. Remember that there are a lot more hours in the day than just your workout - and unfortunately, the "afterburn" effect is greatly exaggerated. Many workouts marketed as HIIT are more accurately described as circuit-training (ETA: or interval training, or calisthenics, or mixed cardio, etc), and are great exercise but generally won't burn as many calories as a moderate intensity, steady-state cardio workout like jogging, elliptical, or biking. I think a good rule of thumb is that if a workout lasts more than 10 minutes and involves more than one exercise, it's probably not HIIT. If you enjoy what you're doing, though, stick with it! You're much better off with a workout you like than one you look for excuses to avoid. All that said, all the workouts in the world won't help you lose weight unless you also keep an eye on your diet. Good luck!
ETA: Also, if your workout actually is HIIT and you enjoy it, you're a tougher person than me! The one time I tried it I barfed. >.<7 -
MegaMooseEsq wrote: »HIIT is an advanced training technique and probably won't help much with weight loss, largely because it's very difficult to maintain for more than a few minutes and usually requires a lot of recovery time, which can lead to less movement through the rest of your day and, ironically, fewer calories burned. Remember that there are a lot more hours in the day than just your workout - and unfortunately, the "afterburn" effect is greatly exaggerated. Many workouts marketed as HIIT are more accurately described as circuit-training, and are great exercise but generally won't burn as many calories as a moderate intensity, steady-state cardio workout like jogging, elliptical, or biking. I think a good rule of thumb is that if a workout lasts more than 10 minutes and involves more than one exercise, it's probably not HIIT. If you enjoy what you're doing, though, stick with it! You're much better off with a workout you like than one you look for excuses to avoid. All that said, all the workouts in the world won't help you lose weight unless you also keep an eye on your diet. Good luck!
All of this! ^^
There is no weight loss advantage to HIIT and as livinglean mentioned above, weight/ fat loss is primarily about diet.1 -
Just wanted to know if HIIT workouts are recommended for weight loss
I enjoy doing them just wanna make sure im doing the right thing
Circuit training is a decent approach to getting cardiovascular and some strength benefits in an accessible format.
Weight loss is about what your calorie intake looks like compared to your calorie expenditure. You don't need to train to lose weight, but it does have other benefits.
Fwiw I agree with Megamoose description of the approach, hence describing most of the classes marketed as HIIT as being circuits.3 -
I only burn about 45 cals doing a 4 min tabata HIIT routine on my C2 rower and can't do anything else for at least 15 mins after.
Even if I did it twice in an hr, which I would NEVER do, I'd only burn about 90 cals.
So, it's worthless for weight loss but is supposedly good for aerobic and anaerobic conditioning.
On the other hand, I can easily burn 550 cals in 49-50 mins of rowing on my Concept2 rowing which is the most efficient method of burning cals and also getting a full body workout that I know of.1 -
HIIT (real HIIT, not any old interval training being misleadingly marketed as HIIT) would be a dreadful choice for someone either new or unconditioned to exercise or looking for large calorie burns.
It's short duration (if it isn't then it's not HIIT) and has a high level of fatigue.4 -
What do you guys think would be suitable for my situation?
I workout at home, no equipment whatsoever1 -
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First of all, if you think this person is new why are you trying to confuse her. The reality is the majority of major gyms, fitness programs, and trainers use HIIT to describe circuit training or interval training which is likely what they were referring to. The thing about weight loss is that nutrition controls how much weight you lose for the most part, but exercise can help with body composition and keep you healthy (e.g., maintaining muscle). With that in mind HIIT (circuit training) is sometimes harder for people new to exercise because it takes some time to plan the workout and perhaps a timer etc. But I wouldn't say it's more difficult than strength training and you can definitely find some great circuits on Pinterest or by following others in Instagram.
I like circuit training because I find it to be more fun than steady state cardio, I can mix in cardio and strangth exercises, and I can burn more calories in half an hour than I would in an hour of steady state. Plus, I'm more likely to do it. Also, for me it's a powerful stress reliever, I feel super accomplished when I'm done, and I can constantly change it up which keeps it interesting for me. The best kind of exercise is the one you're going to do.9 -
And they're wrong in using HIIT to describe their programs, because 99% of it isn't HIIT. It would be more confusing to the OP to let her go on believing their deceptive marketing and thinking that such exercise programs are really HIIT when they're nothing of the sort.kshearer13 wrote: »First of all, if you think this person is new why are you trying to confuse her. The reality is the majority of major gyms, fitness programs, and trainers use HIIT to describe circuit training or interval training which is likely what they were referring to....
HIIT is harder for people new to exercise because they haven't developed the work capacity to handle such intense workouts. Their muscles, connective tissue and cardiovascular system aren't prepared to immediately jump into such an intense regimen (and make no mistake, HIIT is very intense if it's actual HIIT). It's a great way for a beginner to develop some very severe DOMS and elevate their chances of connective tissue injuries, though, if one wants to consider that a 'benefit'.kshearer13 wrote: »...With that in mind HIIT (circuit training) is sometimes harder for people new to exercise because it takes some time to plan the workout and perhaps a timer etc...
If you think that, you've never actually done HIIT training. HIIT is far more difficult and intense than most people's strength training routines. It imposes a huge demand upon both your muscles and your central nervous system. Basically, if you're not gasping for breath, totally exhausted and near puking by the end of the workout, what you just did isn't HIIT. It may be circuit training or interval training, but it's not HIIT.kshearer13 wrote: »But I wouldn't say it's more difficult than strength training and you can definitely find some great circuits on Pinterest or by following others in Instagram...
That's awesome. You've found a routine that is enjoyable and sustainable for you and you're correct that the best exercise is the one you'll do. But circuit training is not HIIT.kshearer13 wrote: »I like circuit training because I find it to be more fun than steady state cardio, I can mix in cardio and strangth exercises, and I can burn more calories in half an hour than I would in an hour of steady state. Plus, I'm more likely to do it. Also, for me it's a powerful stress reliever, I feel super accomplished when I'm done, and I can constantly change it up which keeps it interesting for me. The best kind of exercise is the one you're going to do.
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What do you guys think would be suitable for my situation?
I workout at home, no equipment whatsoever
I answered this question on your other thread. In short, if you enjoy the HIIT videos, there is nothing wrong with continuing to do those. If you want to switch to a body weight strength routine, there are some free ones under the sticky entitled Which Strength Program Should I Use?
Here is another program by Nia Shanks
http://www.niashanks.com/the-beautiful-badass-bodyweight-guide2/
It's not free, but it's good.1
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