What is HIIT?

High intensity interval training is a very popular form of exercise seen in large fitness centres to small boutique studios but why is it so popular?

The premise of high intensity interval training is to bring the heart rate up to a level between 84% to 91% or so of your heart rate max for a period of time then allow it to come back down to a recovery pace of about 71% to 83% of your heart rate max and repeat.

Getting to these higher levels of intensity forces more oxygen to be used by the body as fuel and burns calories to do so. After exercise it takes time for the oxygen levels to return to normal, a process called EPOC (excess exercise oxygen consumption) and as a result the body burns more calories 24 to 48 hours after the workout is complete.

In this video I talk a little more about this concept and why HIIT training is beneficial for you.