For those of you who hear about your friend's HIIT session and think to yourself, “hmmm vomit” or “okay psychopath, you do you!” maybe I can gently take the edge off your very justifiable distaste for what seems like an absolutely horrible way to start your morning. I know you imagine yourself putting your body into all kinds of pain, stopping for a second—just enough to glimpse relief—and then throwing yourself back into the torturous milieu of your trainer's cruel dictatorship. 

But maybe a bit of context, an understanding of the method to the madness, might get you to change your perspective and actually give it a try before you imagine yourself out of it. A little bit of “why” goes a long way when it comes to the style of training you choose to engage in. HIIT training is built upon very clear scientific principles that work to get you into shape rapidly, while also targeting specific areas of functionality within your physiology very effectively. It is arguably one of the most effective ways to evolve your body quickly while activating adaptive qualities that cause ongoing and increased resilience. In fact, HIIT training might actually be the game changer you need to reach your fitness goals. 

So let's look at five game-changing benefits of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) that will hopefully also reframe the way you perceive your friend and your trainer.

HIIT Breaks Plateaus and Prevents Stagnancy

The reason HIIT is so effective at breaking plateaus in your fitness journey is due to the dynamic nature of the training. The brief intervals of active recovery, contrasted by high-impact exercises, force your body to constantly adapt. The unpredictability of the training structure (enhanced by changing your routine) means you are always evolving physiologically as long as you show up.

HIIT Offers More Bang for Your Buck

For those of us with busy lives (literally everyone in modern society), what could be better than working out less and getting more gains? For example, a study showed that HIIT increased human growth hormone (HGH, responsible for muscle growth, bone density, and exercise capacity) by 2000% compared to heavy resistance training, which increased HGH by 200%-700%.

HIIT is Easily Adaptable to Your Fitness Level

HIIT can be adapted to any fitness level and scaled as you progress. As long as you push your body to adapt, you will progress. You might start with longer recovery times between work periods and then slowly increase the intensity of your work periods while reducing the recovery time.

HIIT Increases Your Metabolic Rate During and After Training

Studies have demonstrated that HIIT increases your metabolic rate more than jogging or weight training. This increased metabolic rate continues for hours after your session. HIIT has also been shown to shift your body into fat-burning mode rather than carb-burning mode, meaning you continue to burn fat throughout your day. That short, sharp session keeps working for you even after you finish.

HIIT Improves Overall Health with Efficiency

HIIT has been shown to target multiple aspects of overall physical health, including increased oxygen consumption, reduced heart rate, and lower blood pressure in a shorter period than traditional endurance training. It is also more effective in improving insulin resistance and increasing aerobic and anaerobic function. These benefits come from shorter training sessions done fewer times a week compared to traditional training.

To summarise, you get to work out less and achieve better results, especially if you supplement your HIIT training with recovery and other training styles. Who wouldn’t want that? Plus, you are adapting your body for resilience and increased performance, much of which occurs after your actual session. Maybe your trainer is giving you a bit of tough love because they want to help you, and maybe that friend of yours is actually onto something.

Why not check it out for your self at our HIIT classes in Brisbane or do it from home with our online studio HIIT classes!

To find out more about HIIT training, check out What to Expect in a HIIT Class and What is HIIT Training?