(Say That 3 Times Fast!)
From Buffedd.com It’s a love-hate relationship, working out. And if you’re like most people, spending hours on end at the gym for just a few perceived benefit will suck big time. Hence the increasing popularity of high intensity training (HIIT) amongst fitness gurus. But what IS the best HIIT workout? Go big or go home right? The answer, unsurprisingly, depends on whether your goal is fat loss, muscle gain, increased athletic performance or simply full body transformation. The HIIT program you pick should ensure you reach your goal faster (though not easier) and with more visible results. It’s simply following a “smarter” cardio workout routine. In this article, I’ll be showing you a complete HIIT program for each goal type, and towards the end, you’ll learn how you should be eating to complement your training. Because the two usually go hand in hand. High Intensity Interval Training BasicsFirst get the definition right. Any good high intensity workout is designed to get your heart rate as close to it’s max (90 – 95%), as fast as possible. You then take a break for a bit and do it all over again. So it’s high intensity, rest (for what seems like the blink of an eye) and more training. Try using a heart rate monitor to keep things in check so you don’t over exert yourself. Work:rest ratio varies, so you can either make the high intensity and resting period equal in a 1:1 ratio (e.g 20 sec intense workout, 20 secs rest). Or make them unequal, e.g 3:1 ratio (30 sec workout, 10 secs rest). To see results, you’ll need to increase the number of reps per rounds as weeks go by. Alright now that you know this, you’ll get why I recommend cardio for HIIT instead of just weights and squats. Hence your focus should be on cardio like sprinting (notice how sprinters, like Usain Bolt, tend to be well defined) or liberally using the cardio machine. Of course you can throw in a few squats here and there (cause leg day), but the idea is to treat HIIT like it’s definition – intense cardio. Here are some great HIIT cardio workouts you can do:
Warm UpsIt’s really easy to get a sprain or pull a muscle if you jump right into cardio. So do your due diligence first. A five minute pre-workout stretch should keep those muscles from doing zombie impressions the next day. Do a full body scan for tight muscles during your warm up, then attack said tight muscles. You can throw your heel on a bench and reach forward towards your toes to stretch your hamstrings before a particularly tough lower body HIIT. For an upper body stretch, you can attach a resistance band to a chin-up bar and pull. 20 reps each should suffice. For a full body stretch, try side to side trunk twists. Hopefully you get the gist by now. Stretches or stitches. 8 Week HIIT Program For Fat LossSadly there are no overnight remedies for fat or weight Loss. But a high intensity interval training can get you there fast (https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/123/) because it helps you burn more fat even when in a resting metabolic rate. At least way faster than other steady state exercises like jogging will. This program will be divided into three stages, in increasing level of skill; amateur, intermediate and guru. Note that you’ll mostly use full body training workout exclusively during HIIT for fat loss. Stage 1: Amateur (first two weeks)
Stage 2: Intermediate (week 2 – 5)
Stage 3: Guru (5-8 weeks)
HIIT For Muscle GainTo gain muscle, your training will need to alternate, daily, between lower and upper body workouts.
Best HIIT Cardio MachinesFunny enough, the best HIIT workouts like sprinting, do not need machines. Just good old mother nature, or a track field. Most gyms, however, come equipped with various HIIT cardio machines like;
How You Should Eat To See HIIT ResultsHIIT Fat Loss Diet Just because you’re trying to loose body fat doesn’t mean you get to skip meals. What do you think fuels your exercise? Since the recommended daily calorie intake is 2000 (for women) and 2500 (for men), you should cut down 500 calories from your daily intake if you want to see some results. Note that cutting down more than 500 calories while performing HIIT can harm you. That said, your meals should contain at least
Muscle Gain Diet For HIIT Starve your body of enough food, and it will just convert your hard earned muscles into energy. You’d probably get jitters if you don’t eat well anyhow, so you’ll probably put anything you come accross into your mouth. Right now you should try to remember how to eat properly. You’ll need at least 500 calories more than your normal calorie intake, comprising of
Maintenance Diet Your normal diet. Stick with the 2000 daily calories (35% protein, 40% carbs and 25% fats). Develop a habit of eating whole foods. What to Reasonably Expect From HIITHIIT is a proven faster, though not easier, way of achieving your goals. So be prepared to have visions of your lungs and heart giving out. This is only common when you’re just starting out. As you follow through with your program, especially with anaerobic and aerobic HIIT, your body should gradually develop some resistance to death visions (fatigue). Athletes aren’t superhuman after all, they’re just people with more body building secrets than the average population. While I can’t promise with certainty that you’ll have achieved your fitness goal after completing an eight week high intensity interval training program, you can be sure that if you follow through with your plan religiously, you will notice some changes in your physique. Final ThoughtsGetting the answer to “what is the best HIIT workout?” begins with you asking yourself, “what do I want my body to look like?” Because workout routines are a dime a dozen. Ever heard of people complaining about becoming muscular when they just wanted to loose weight? Not following instructions can do that. To loose some body fat, try sprinting with short rests in between. Building muscles requires lower and upper body workouts with full body workouts sparsely thrown in. Lastly, gaining endurance and maintaining your muscle with HIIT requires mixing up full body weights with HIIT workouts every other day. If there’s a lesson to learn in HIIT it’s this; someone got tired of doing the same old standard workouts with little results and followed their instincts. AuthorMy name is Matt Anderson. I’ve been doing professional bodybuilding since I was 16.
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With the large variety of workout equipment on the market, it’s easy to become overwhelmed about what to purchase. Some equipment, such as shake weights, are fads that quickly fade from the public view. Other tools, though they fade in and out of popularity, stand the test of time in terms of effectiveness. I have investigated the trendiest workout equipment of 2018 to find four pieces that deserve their recent popularity. These pieces of equipment are actually effective at improving your strength and endurance while also improving joint and stabilizer health. Here are the top fitness tools of 2018 I recommend investing in: KettlebellsKettlebells have become a fitness buzzword over the last five years, and are growing in popularity every year – for good reason. Kettlebells are incredibly versatile and portable. They can be taken anywhere for a workout and easily tucked away when not in use. Kettlebells are inexpensive for the large number of benefits they provide (compare to a treadmill or barbell, which are much more expensive). Kettlebells enhance cardiovascular endurance while building lean muscle mass – giving you cardio and strength training in one tool. A kettlebell is bottom-weighted, which means performing traditional exercises is harder and engages your core and stabilizer muscles. As a result, kettlebell training can be a great tool to mitigate injury. For example, kettlebells develop core strength, which in turn contributes to spinal stability, a stronger back, and stronger stabilizer muscles and joints. If you live a busy life and are short on time to work out, kettlebells are perfect for short duration, high-intensity interval training workouts that give you a lot of bang for your buck. Kettlebells can also be incorporated into a normal fitness regimen to benefits outlined in the previous paragraph. Kettlebells build lean muscle and contribute to fat loss through a longer post-exercise caloric burn period than regular cardiovascular exercise. We recommend purchasing a kettlebell from a kettlebell-specific retailer instead of from a store or general retailer, as the quality will be higher. Look for a kettlebell that is one solid piece of cast-iron instead of two pieces that are connected. Any seams created from the casting should be filed down to prevent irritation of the skin. Steel MaceThe steel mace is another piece of equipment that has resurfaced as an incredibly versatile and effective piece of workout equipment. Shifting your grip along the handle of the mace changes the level of difficulty of any given exercise, which means you can keep making progress with a mace of the same weight even as you get stronger. The benefits of a mace are similar to those of a kettlebell, as you can complete dynamic movements with the mace that simultaneously build strength and cardiovascular endurance. Like kettlebells, steel maces are great for HIIT workouts and building lean muscle mass while also burning fat. The mace builds great core strength and rotational power. Steel maces offer unique benefits in the way of shoulder strength. The shoulder joint, as a ball in socket joint, has the ability to rotate 360 degrees. While this allows the shoulder to do a lot for the body, it also means the shoulder is susceptible to injury. To mitigate injury, it’s vital to build good shoulder stability and strength throughout the entire range of motion. The rotational movements the steel mace is designed for improve flexibility and strengthen the connective tissues around the shoulder, thus aiding in injury prevention. Resistance BandA resistance band may not seem like the most exciting piece of workout equipment, but the huge amount of versatility and benefits provided by the band prove otherwise. Almost any movement that traditionally uses a weighted implement can be replicated with a resistance band, with less risk and just as much benefit. Resistance bands force the body to maintain stability throughout the entire course of a movement. Resistance band workouts don’t take up much space or require additional equipment, and can easily be scaled to any fitness level. Simply using a thicker band increases resistance and creates a more challenging workout. Resistance bands are low impact, which makes this method of training easier on the joints than weight training. Like kettlebells, resistance bands aid in the development of core and stabilizer muscles that mitigate injury risk and can be used for both upper and lower body workouts. Steel RopeThe speed rope is one of the best workout accessories to add to your at home fitness equipment. The speed rope is thinner and more aerodynamic than a traditional jump rope, making it preferable for high-speed work and more advanced movements such as double unders. As far as cardio equipment goes, a speed rope is inexpensive especially compared to typical machines like treadmills, recumbent bikes, ellipticals, etc. The speed rope improves cardiovascular endurance as well as any machine, and can be used for a multitude of different movements (crisscross, alternating foot hops, etc). Although speed ropes are most commonly seen used by mixed martial arts fighters and boxers, they are a great tool for anyone to add variety and fun to their traditional workout. The increased agility, timing, and coordination that com from using the speed rope will improve all other aspects of your workout regimen. There’s no telling what innovations in fitness equipment will produce in 2019, but these are our top picks of 2018. Every piece I’ve recommended provides a total body workout and tons of benefits, including minimizing the risk of injury. There is enough variety within the equipment I covered to keep your workouts fun and engaging while achieving results like building muscle tone and increasing strength. I hope you’ll consider adding the one or more of these tools to your home gym. Author - Amanda PerkinsAmanda works with Kettlebell Kings as a senior writer. She has been put onto this earth to inspire people and achieve their health and fitness goals with enthusiasm. Her niches are health, fitness, and kettlebell workout. Read more about Amanda's writings at https://www.kettlebellkings.com/blog/. Whether you’re a gym owner who wants to prolong the service life of his equipment or a fitness enthusiast with a couple of training machines at home, you will find these tips helpful. Fitness equipment can be costly so maintenance is key. Keeping your machines in excellent condition ensures you can enjoy them for longer without having to pay extra money for repairs every few months. Here is what you should keep in mind when it comes to maintaining your fitness equipment in top shape. 1. Place and Store Your Equipment in the Right PlaceThe location you choose for your fitness equipment is very important. Whether you’re using the machine on a daily basis or you want to store it away for a few months, pay attention to a few factors in the environment you choose for it. It’s not ideal to keep your machines in a conservatory, shed or garage since LCD displays can gradually become slow to respond. This issue appears when the temperature is cold, which makes the liquid crystal slow to react. Sudden temperature changes are also detrimental to your fitness equipment since they can cause condensation which affects both the metal frame and the electronics in the machine. Environments that are prone to high moisture levels should also be avoided for keeping or storing fitness machines in. Humidity will slowly but surely affect the circuit paths and give you minor intermittent issues or even bigger failures such as a failed circuit board. Direct, powerful sunlight can also damage certain parts of your machine over time. Sunshine can cause the membrane keypads to peel off while the buttons can become unresponsive. Any plastic parts and buttons may start fading, affecting the overall look and performance of the equipment. 2. Use Adequate and Clean Gym Gear Your gym clothes not only protect you during your work out, they also protect the machines. You should have a dedicated pair of shoes that you only use for working out indoors. For example, by using adequate shoes when running on your treadmill you can help prolong the machine’s service life and keep the equipment free from dust, mud, pebbles and other debris that could get stuck in the sole of the shoes while you’re walking or running outside. You should also use clothes and accessories (such as gloves and headbands) that were designed for training, as these trap sweat and moisture and don’t let it interfere with the machines. If you’re struggling with getting your shoes and clothes cleaned on a weekly basis, try a dry cleaning service that picks up and delivers the clothes to your door step whenever it’s convenient for you. 3. Keep the Machines Clean at all TimesEven if you’re not using your equipment for a couple of weeks or a few months, it doesn’t mean you should stop cleaning it or looking after it. Equipment can be damaged by dust, moisture, condensation, cold or hot temperatures and much more. Making sure the machines are clean at all times will keep them in better shape for longer and will help you save money on costly repairs. Make it a habit to wipe down the equipment after each training session. This might seem like an extra tedious step, but don’t skip it. Wipe down any pads, benches, seats and cardio consoles you’ve touched or used. If you have your own equipment, it’s simple to clean it with a dry rag or with moist, disinfectant towels that are more convenient and easy to use. If you own a gym, encourage all the members to use paper towels for cleaning the equipment as soon as they’re done using it. Not only will they help keep the machines in excellent shape, they will also prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. 4. Oil Your Machines at Least Once a MonthNot all equipment pieces need to be oiled but resistance machines require this special treatment in order to function properly and perform well. Their moving parts should be lubricated with an appropriate fitness equipment product once a month. In order to lubricate resistance equipment, you simply use a clean rag and silicone spray. Apply the product to the weight tracks and also into the bearings. Check these can move freely to ensure proper silicone application. Treadmills and the vast majority of cardiovascular fitness equipment are self-lubricating. For these, you will have to take a look at the oil reservoirs to ensure they have plenty of oil. If you need to fill the reservoir, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 5. Read the Owner’s Manual and Check the Equipment OftenEven if you’re a seasoned gym owner or a fitness aficionado, never skip this step. Read the owner’s manual, especially the maintenance recommendations and procedures. These will offer plenty of tips on how to keep your fitness equipment in excellent working order. You will also be able to find the manual online if you’ve misplaced your hard copy. Take the manufacturer’s recommendations into consideration when performing your routine check-ups. You should implement a preventative maintenance routine to check the equipment for wear. Keep an eye out for cracks, tears or fraying, especially for cables. It’s also essential you make sure dumbbells and barbells are in perfect working order and that the weights are securely attached. Damaged parts or potentially hazardous issues should be addressed on the spot. This will help minimize damage to the entire fitness unit and will also keep the users safe. Author - John StuartJohn Stuart works on behalf of love2laundry.com in outreach and content creation. He creates engaging content that help businesses connect with their audience and stand out from the crowd. I (Erika) have an addiction. I buy workout music constantly. If you pull up the genre in my iTunes, I have 8 DAYS of workout music. It occupies 9.52 GB of storage and 47% of my total music library. I don't even want to know how that translates into $$. Growing up I loved Weird Al (still do). I listened to his music so much that the original versions of songs he parodies sound odd to me. The same holds true for Aerobic Music - Someone please stage an intervention! I started, like most instructors, with my coveted mix tapes. Then upgraded to CD's like a big girl. Now I'm fully decked out with my own DJ software with the ability to manipulate the BPMs of any song and arrange them in whichever order I choose. (Cuz we all know there is always that ONE song, smack dab in the middle of a premade mix, that SUCKS and ruins the CHI of the whole workout.) My Aerobic CD Library is ready to go at a moment's notice to make the next prize winning workout mix. (Turns out, there's actually no prize for this) I'd like to take this moment to publicly state too that I was so ahead of my time on this. There are now Tempo Apps that can manipulate your music for you, but before that, there was Erika playing around with her MixMeister software till the wee hours of the morning. Now, everyone has the ability to purchase music a la carte with sites such as Clickmix, U-Mixit, and my personal favorite, YES! Fitness Music's MYMIX. And while all three of these sites allow you arrange the songs and BPMs as you'd like to make your own continuous mix, I still download them as separate songs and play around with my DJ software, as well as chop them up for my Tabata app, Seconds Pro Interval Timer. Despite 8 days worth of tunes from which to choose, I have "go to" songs that I totally overuse, but WHO CARES? They're awesome. Now I know that there are Music apps, Music streaming services, different genre preferences, etc., so this is a very subjective and personal topic that can be debated endlessly. And you may sample these songs and think, Erika, your musical tastes suck! But I say you can't help tapping your toes to the 12 happy tunes listed below, and if you are a runner, I challenge you to download these songs and see if your pace doesn't improve! Why 12 you ask and not 20 or 10? With YES! Fitness Music, you can purchase 12 songs for $15, so my brain works in 12 song chunks. Also, with each song lasting approx 5 minutes, you have an even 1 hour of running and workout music: And Remember, your can slow these down or speed them up depending on your pace and preference. 12. Cruel to be Kind - It's More of the embellished filler that psychs you up for the lyrics to start. This Song is also on one of my favorite CD's as well by Power Music, One Hit Wonders. I just did a search though, and it's not for sale at the moment. 11. Killing Me Softly - Interspersed with Rap parts, it keeps you moving from start to finish. ~Yes!FitnessMusic 10. Let it Go Vs Let Her Go - Anyone with little children is probably swearing at me right now to even bring "Let it Go" up - we were having so much fun up to this point. But trust me, this mashup is great. One Drawback with the Mash-ups, they can get busy if you are an instructor trying to cue over them. ~From YES! Fitness Music 9. Unchained Melody A.R Speedo Mix - This song starts like the love ballad original, then throws the driving drum beat behind it like a tons of bricks. Your energy level instantly goes to 11~From Yes! Fitness Music 8. Judgement Day - Featured in Jay Blahnik's Calorie Killer Workout (Only Available on VHS) and from MusicFlex (No longer a company), not so helpful, but still an awesome song. 7. Sweet Dreams - It's so Angry! Don't mess with anyone in my Kickboxing class when this is playing! ~Power Music, but only available from iTunes. Part of the Intense! Album Series, it's on the first one. 6. Jump vs California Gurls - Yes!Fitness Music. What's with the Mashups? Were they a thing before Glee? Anywho, this song is a perfect blend. 5. Rock Nation - A BK Howe Song that is featured in Athletic Step by Cathe Friedrich. It is so robust, that even Cathe comments what a great song it is in the workout. Full Disclosure, this version is slightly different than featured in Cathe. I can't find that one. Little TidBit: Anyone looking for songs featured in Cathe Videos, a good portion of them are at ClickMix rebranded under NU NRG as the artist. Not sure what's going on there, but oh well. 4. It's Raining Men - Need I elaborate?!? Only Downfall is to keep it a 32 Count song, it eliminates "Soaking" wet, so you get tripped up singing along. Also Available on the Awesome 80s Album. 3. All I Have to do is Dream (Dance Mix) - I love the original song. And when I saw it online, I thought, "Awww, that would be a nice song to have." Then I heard it and all bets were off. ~Yes! Fitness Music 1. - Get Into Magic - I am not sure this song is available for download anywhere any longer, but another BK Howe creation, this song is featured in two Cathe Friedrich Workouts, (Butt & Guts, and Low Impact Circuit) and it was love from the first note. An instrumental song, I have no idea what is so awesome about it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Whenever it comes on in class, I yell, "This is my favorite aerobic song of all time!" And everyone rolls their eyes like, "We Know Erika, you tell us that every time"
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About The AuthorsErikaA 25 Year Veteran of the Group Fitness Industry, Erika currently teaches Kickboxing, Step, and H.I.I.T. classes at Guilford Parks & Rec. LisaAn Avid Runner, Lisa began her running career about 10 Years Ago. |