Beginners Guide To HIIT: How To Choose The Best Moves For Your HIIT Workout

If you want to burn calories and fat, you may benefit from a HIIT routine. HIIT, or high intensity interval training, is one of the most popular form of exercise in the fitness world right now, and it appears that it is a more effective way to burn calories than simply cardio.

However if you want to build your own HIIT routine it is important to understand the concept behind HIIT, as well as how it can benefit you personally. This is the first step to creating your HIIT routine.

The Concept Of HIIT

So what is HIIT? HIIT is a cardio training style where you will work out intensely for a short period of time before taking a break. One of the most popular methods is repeating a series of exercises for 30 seconds before taking a quick break to breathe and let your body recover. Another popular method is doing a few different exercises for a minute before taking a short break, but this is very intense!

The breaks allow you to put a high level of energy into the quick 30 second work outs, which could be why this is a more effective fat burner than normal cardio. If you want to try a HIIT routine it is important to remember that you must put all of your energy into the brief workouts, as this will raise your heart rate and burn calories.

The Length Of A HIIT Workout

Most people plan HIIT workouts that are 15 minutes or 30 minutes long. This is because it is an intense form of working out, so exercising for too long may leave you feeling weak and drained. It is also more effective to work out for a shorter period of time as you will put more energy into your workout.

If you only want to work out one area, such as your arms, a 15 minute HIIT routine can be created to target that one area. If you want a full body workout it is best to work out for 30 minutes so that you can dedicate time to each part of your body.

HIIT Intervals

Intervals are an essential part of your HIIT routine. A 1996 study by scientist Izumi Tabata found that one of the most effective options is a 20 minute on, 10 minute off routine, as this boosted conditioning in professional athletes.^[1]

However if you are doing more intense moves you will need more frequent breaks. A shorter option is six 30 second workouts followed by a 4 minute rest period.^[2] These breaks are essentials as they raise your heart rate, blood and muscle lactate.

Choosing Moves That Work For You

There are a variety of different moves that you can choose to use. These moves will work out different parts of your body, and it is best to combine a range of lower body, upper body, core and cardio moves so that you are following a complete HIIT workout.

Here are some exercises that you could include in your work out.

Upper Body Exercises

The Up And Down Plank

This is a great variation on the classic plank that uses your body weight to help build muscle. It can be difficult holding this move for a long time, but you should aim to hold the position for at least 30 seconds. If you are struggling to hold the position keep your knees on the ground.

Find out how to do an up and down plank here.

The Push up

The push up is a classic work out move that is a great way to burn fat as you build muscle.

Find out how to do a push up here.

Core Exercise

The Bicycle Crunch

A bicycle crunch is a modified crunch that strengthens your obliques and abs.

Find out how to do a bicycle crunch here.

Lower Body Exercise

Jump Squats

Jump squats are very difficult to do, but they are a great way to burn fat and build muscle. Aim for 30 seconds of jump squats!

Find out how to do a jump squat here.

Total Body Exercises

Burpees

A burpee is a plyometric move that will raise your heart rate to burn calories. The exercise has three parts to it; you lower your hands to the ground, you jump your legs back into a plank, you do a push up and then you go back to standing position.

Find out how to do a burpee here.