HIIT: Hitting the workout nail on the head

If you always look forward to your workout, amazing. But some of us aren’t always excited to lace up our sneakers. And, in fact, some of us even dread it pretty much every time.

For those who want to get the most bang for their buck when they do force themselves to get in a workout, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts can be a gamechanger. A HIIT workout is quick and super effective so you’re not spending an hour at the gym just staring at the various machines. During a HIIT workout, you’ll alternate between short bursts of maximum exertion and even shorter rests.

Why HIIT is such a smash hit.

This probably isn’t the first time you’re hearing about HIIT workouts. People have been pretty hyped on this type of exercise, and not just because it gets you done with your workout ASAP. Here are a few of the benefits:

It can be equipment-free. You don’t need heavy weights to crush a workout and torch calories. HIIT workouts can use your body weight to help you slay your fitness goals. And you can do them pretty much anywhere.

It kicks your metabolism into high gear. The high intensity pushes your body, so it ramps up its recovery efforts. Your metabolism can speed up for as long as 48 hours after your workout.

It protects against muscle loss. If you’re using HIIT to lose weight, we’ve got good news. The weight loss caused by this type of exercise comes from your fat stores, not your hard-earned muscles.

A sample HIIT workout.

Want to check it out for yourself? There are about a thousand HIIT workouts online, or you can take this one for a spin to see if high-intensity interval training is for you.

Do each of these exercises for 45 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds before moving onto the next exercise. Loop the whole thing three times for a full 20-ish-minute workout:

Squats
Tricep Dips
Lunges
Pushups
Jumping Jacks
Crunches

See, it’s simple! Try HIIT and you might just find you love the way it makes you feel (or all that time you save at the gym).