Every time I walk into a gym, I’m always shocked to see just how crowded the treadmills and ellipticals are.
You know exactly what I’m talking about: the people who spend hours of their day running!
Okay, I’m not entirely shocked…for years, many health experts have been telling us the wrong information about working out as it relates to weight loss.
That’s a common misconception my patients fall prey to all the time.
So listen up if you’re looking to go down a jeans size and slim that waistline…but you can’t stand the idea of doing 2 hours of cardio a day…
Because I’ve got GREAT news for you:
Long bouts of cardio is a waste of your time.
So if you’re wondering why you’re not losing weight–even after an hour on the treadmill a couple times a week…it has nothing to do with your genetics.
And you can take a big sigh of relief, because adding an extra hour on that treadmill will NOT get you better results.
Instead, let me introduce you to HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). It’s a fat-blasting method of cardio that turns your body into fat-burning machine.
What is HIIT?
Just as the name implies, HIIT involves short bursts of intense workouts–like sprints or weight training for thirty minutes.
They key here is you’re doing 30 seconds of intense workouts (like sprints–my FAVORITE workout while I’m traveling), and 30 seconds of rest, for example…rather than 30 minutes of steady jogging.
And guess what? Extra fat HATES this!
That’s good news for you, because after you’re done with your HIIT workouts…your body continues to burn fat.
Now that’s bang for your buck, baby!
But that’s not all…
Did You Know HIIT Has Anti-Aging Benefits, Too?
There was a study recently published in the Cell Metabolism journal.
Here’s what happened. They took 72 sedentary adults. Each participant was given a 12-week workout routine: 1) HIIT cycling, 2) strength training, or 3) a combination.
At the end of the 12 weeks, the researchers biopsied tissue samples and analyzed cells from before and after the experiment.
Turns out, the group with the HIIT cycling routine reversed many age-related differences.
The group who did the HIIT got the biggest benefit at the cellular level. They had a 49%-69% boost in mitochondrial capacity–the ability to produce energy.
Which means, they had that youthful energy from their 30s!
Plus, the group of older adults (ages 65-80) had cells that LOOKED much younger under a microscope. It’s like they turned back time with this simple exercise routine!
Different Types of HIIT
I used running as an example earlier, but HIIT applies to ALL kinds of cardio.
As long as you’re varying your levels of intensity in intervals, you can use HIIT with:
- Biking
- Hiking
- Sprinting
- Weight training
- Air squats
- Burpees
- Jumping lunges
- High knees
- Stepping Machines
…and so much more! You can get creative, as long as what you’re doing is intense and makes you sweat.
The Best Part About HIIT: You only need 10 minutes
Instead of going for a morning run for 1-2 hours, all you need is 10 minutes a day to reap some amazing results on your waistline.
I typically recommend 2-3 times a week.
Whenever I’m traveling, I make it a point to get my HIIT workout in–whether it’s sprints on the beach or squats in my hotel room.
Keep thinking and living BOLD!
P.S. I can’t say enough about the amazing benefits of HIIT workouts and I love the Xiser for HIIT workouts. Xiser is a compact, portable stepping machine and the only stepper geared toward high intensity training. Learn more about this fat-burning, HIIT machine.