What Exactly is High Intensity Training?
High intensity training aka HIT is about doing a very high level of exercise with good form for a shortened amount of time. The exercise will normally be brief and quite intense. The theory of high intensity training is by bringing your body to almost failure you are going to increase your muscular strength and size. I am a big fan of high intensity training because rather than do a set of weights every two to three minutes you are doing an intense move whether cardio based or resistance based at an intense rate for a short amount of time. There is nothing like being winded and tired and having to do an explosive move at your maximum intensity. It turns your body into a calorie burning machine and causes your muscles to react, grow and adapt to the situation.
High intensity training can also be applied to weight lifting. For example, many of us after doing our last repetition of a bench press normally will give up and stop. But by holding the weight in a static straight arm position you are taking your muscle fatigue to another level. Then to take it one step further you then do a negative repetition by slowly lowering the weight to your chest which will bring your muscles to complete failure. In high intensity training its all about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone because this is where the magic happens.
Does High Intensity Training Really Work?
High Intensity Training
Absolutely! One of the biggest problems with people exercising today is they do the same thing over and over again and eventually hit a muscle plateau. This is the point that your body will no longer respond to your exercise and you won’t gain anymore results. When you do something like high intensity training you are shocking your body in a way it is not used to. You are taking failure to a whole different level. This will cause results. However, on the flip side high intensity training is something that shouldn’t be done on a daily basis because you risk overtraining your muscles. If you have the proper form and switch up your muscle groups on a daily basis you could stick with multiple days in a week of high intensity training. But doing a high intense leg workout day after day could result in injury.
High Intensity Training Workouts – Another Benefit!
A benefit of high intensity training workouts is the ability to do an intense shorter workout and get the same results as doing a workout that can take much longer. Many gyms these days have the machines that are in place for high intensity training or circuit training. You can go from one weight machine to the next usually all in line with each other and do one set to almost failure on each machine with minimal break. This will elevate your heart rate and cause your body to push yourself out of its comfort zone. You will find that you won’t be able to do nearly as many repetitions because you are winded from the high intensity training and pushing yourself to muscle fatigue. But this is good because this will cause results. The best part about high intensity training is you can be done with your workout in 20 minutes or less! Like I said earlier its quick, intense but brief.
No Excuses Now With High Intensity Training!
In this day of age we are all busy. Both parents working full time these days is the norm and many of our jobs require very long hours. Well with high intensity training workouts there really is no excuse that you don’t have time. You can simply throw on a pair of running sneakers and go around your block and do some intense sprints followed by very short rest and reap the results. For me I have a library of at home workout programs and some of them are very intense and only 20 minutes long. One I clearly dread is called Fast and Furious from Insanity. Its only about 15 minutes a day but by the time you are done you are soaked in sweat and ready to fall on the floor. That’s my level of high intensity training! Everyone has 15 minutes. Its about living a happier and healthier life. You only get one body. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
Where Can I Take High Intensity Training?
There are all sorts of places to find high intensity training routines. Like I said earlier most gyms now have weight machines set up so you can simply follow the line of the machines and complete one circuit without taking a break. For me personally I used to go to the gym but now I am at home fitness guru and love all the high intensity programs like Insanity, Turbofire etc. There is even one called 10 Minute Trainer! Who doesn’t have 10 minutes?? So whether you want to go for a run outside and do some sprints, go to your local gym or do some at home fitness programs consider trying high intensity training. It will avoid a muscle plateau and increase your results plus you while have fun doing it at the same time. Variety is the spice to fitness and high intensity training gives you just that!! Feel free to make me your free Fitness and Nutrition Coach. I would love to help you live a healthier and fulfilling life!!
Your Coach,
DAVE
