The New HIIT Workout Trend

Going to the gym is one of my least favorite activities. I pride myself on coming up with really creative excuses for not working out. But one excuse that I've never been able to get away with is, "I don't have time". With the influx of new workout programs, at home equipment, and exercise apps there is no excuse for not finding 15-20 minutes to increase your heart rate.

Also called minimalist exercises or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), these short (some as short as 4 minutes) workouts are part of a trend for all-intensity programs. A 2006 study done in Canada found that shorter, harder workouts produce the same health benefits as 90-120 minutes bike rides at a slower pace. Combining these findings with other studies, the American College of Sports Medicine recently developed a total body workout that requires just 7 minutes to complete.

The workout may be too intense for some people and are not the best for everyone, especially those who are interested in losing weight since these workouts burn off stored glucose or carbohydrates instead of fat. But the short workouts do improve classic health markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.^{Image Credit: Fitness Magazine}

Other benefits of HIIT include an increase in your aerobic capacity (your body's ability to utilize oxygen), improved lactate threshold (the ability for your muscles to cope with lactic acid buildup), and improved insulin sensitivity, which can help you become more efficient at storing glucose in the muscles, rather than storing it as fat. It's easy to start and you can do the workout almost anywhere since you don't need to use equipment.

Not all doctors are convinced that this type of workout is best, but most see the benefits if applied correctly. According to Mark Blegen, head of the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, the workout is limited so it should be incorporated into a weekly routine of more traditional, longer cardio workout plans.

Here are some resources for finding a good HIIT routine for you!

8 Ways To Get A Better Body In 30 Minutes Or Less

10 Minute Workout: Short, Intense Workout To Get Fit

5 Fast At-Home Workouts

High Intensity Interval Training

**Great resource to get started - High Intensity Interval Training: How to get great results in less time with a HIIT workout

Have you or would you try a HIIT workout? What results did you see?