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Why HIIT is the Most Efficient Workout
Posted on April 2, 2013 by GSP RUSHFIT
Today we break down the concept of HIIT so you can understand the basic concepts behind it and the science that shows why it’s the first choice of functional fitness and serious physical performers looking to build strength and cut weight.
WHAT
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a training style based on short bursts of high intensity (elevated heart rate) activity interspersed with slower recovery phases. It increases stamina and strength and offers more functional benefits than steady state cardio or heavy weight lifting.
HIIT works off two basic principles in fitness:
PRINCIPLE OF OVERLOAD
The basic concept states that in order for a muscle or body to grow stronger you must force it to perform against a higher workload than it is used to.
Increased resistance (heavier weight) leads to more strength. Increased time (longer) leads to more endurance. If you’re used to 15 lb weights for your workouts and aren’t seeing the results you want yet, bump up to 20 lbs. If you’re comfortable at your own rate and the workouts feel easy, pickup your pace and see if you can match GSP rep-for-rep in the workouts. You don’t need to work until you collapse but you do need to be above your comfort zone.
PRINCIPLE OF ADAPTATION
This principle requires that as a body is continually stressed against a workload it will adjust to it. If the principle of overload requires extra weight, the adaptation to it is the muscle growth that forms strength. As you run longer distances the adaptation (increased stamina) in your body creates the endurance affect.
In the case of GSP RUSHFIT, soreness is another great way to understand adaptation. When you first started the program,you were undoubtedly very sore the days after each workout for the first couple of weeks (overload). As your body became used to the exercises, the soreness diminished a little each time until some of them became easier and your strength and endurance increased. That’s adaptation in action.
If you are not getting the results you want from HIIT, it means you are either not overloading your system (or not overloading it enough) to create any adaptation.
HOW
HIIT can be adjusted for the purposes of individual sports or current level of conditioning. GSP RUSHFIT uses 5 X 5 minute rounds specific to MMA championship fights. Distance runners and cyclists may use hills and sprints for gains on running flat distances. Other sports have different requirements and as such the ability to shorten/lengthen intervals, recovery phases, and adjust intensity within them gives great flexibility to make HIIT relevant to any activity.
TOP 5 BENEFITS OF HIIT OVER CARDIO
1) INCREASED AFTERBURN
Muscle growth and repair is required to achieve adaptation, a process that happens in the 24-48 hours after your workout. This boosts your metabolism on those days and your basal metabolic rate (BMR) in the long run. How much so? One study found that production of HGH (human growth hormone) is 450% higher in the 24 hours after a workout. So when you’re feeling sore, smile and know your body is burning calories in the process.
2) QUICKER TRAINING SESSIONS
If your goal is to burn 500 calories in a workout and you had the choice to do it in 1 hour or in 45 minutes, which do you think would be harder and produce greater results? This one is self explanatory. If you’re a busy person with a job or school and a personal life to juggle, this could save you a lot of time over the course of a week.
3) FAST RESULTS
The return on results seen from HIIT surprise some people. One study found that cyclists could cycle TWICE AS FAR at the same pace after 8 weeks of HIIT than before it. WOW. They doubled their endurance in 8 Weeks. If HIIT can produce drastic results for muscular endurance in that short amount of time just imagine what it does for fat burn during the same time.
4) BURN FAT BUILD MUSCLE
The combination of bursts with sustained activity in between elevate the best effects of cardio without sacrificing muscle. The combination of weights and HIIT guarantee you maintain your muscle gains and burn most of your calories from fat stores. It’s the best of both worlds.
5) AVOID OVERTRAINING
Repetitive use injuries and overtraining are common for people on short timelines and those with big goals that require many hours of effort. For example, if you’re training for a 6 mile run you can run 6 miles every practice session and try to push yourself to get better every time. Or you can use HIIT for half your training sessions and run 4 miles of sprint intervals to create a measurable overload effect with less wear and tear on your joints. After a few of those 4 mile interval sessions, a straight forward 6 will feel easy. This doesn’t seem like a big deal in one example, but when you multiply the effect over 8 weeks it really adds up.
High Intensity Interval Training is quite simple but not easy. Like any program you must stick with it and most importantly KNOW what you’re doing for safe training and maximum results. That’s where we come in with GSP RUSHFIT, a classic HIIT program with an MMA training style focus that you can follow along. It doesn’t take a lot of time but it does require a lot of effort. The guaranteed results in strength, stamina, and fat loss are worth it. That’s where you come in. Tap into your inner strength and take advantage of HIIT. Sweaty when you are…
-Team RUSHFIT
