5 Reasons to try HIIT

THE HIIT LIST: FIVE REASONS TO UP THE INTENSITY

By Finlay Macdonald for Fit Planet 

It’s been called the closest thing to an exercise pill. And while it might take a bit more effort, there is now no doubt at all that high-intensity interval training is just what the doctor ordered.

Anyone who follows the latest in fitness news knows that HIIT is a hit. A big hit. But high-intensity interval training is much more than a fad – it is a scientifically backed way to build cardiovascular fitness, and research is revealing plenty more health benefits it can bestow. Here are five of the top researched reasons to put HIIT on your own workout list:

• HIIT improves lean body mass and maximal oxygen consumption, while drastically cutting the risk of heart disease. Learn more about how HIIT helps the fit get fitter.
• HIIT is extremely effective at cutting stubborn and unhealthy tummy fat. Learn more about how HIIT does wonders for your waistline.
• In both young (18 to 30) and older (65 to 80) exercisers, a major study showed HIIT had by far the greatest activation of muscle and fat-burning capacity, when compared with other types of exercise. Learn more about how HIIT burns fat.
• HIIT has been shown to be much better than other workouts for producing excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), meaning your body continues to use oxygen and burn fat long after you’ve stopped exercising. Learn more about HIIT and the afterburn effect.
• HIIT has been shown to be more enjoyable – in one study 92 percent of participants favored a HIIT workout over traditional moderate continuous exercise. Learn more about how HIIT makes you happy.

This piece originally appeared on lesmills.com.

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