Critique of HIIT

The Black Oil

Piece here from the Irish Times from late December (originally from the New York Times). I'm not a gym user, so can't comment on its popularity in that domain. I used to do one sometimes off of Youtube, but that was pre-Covid. The article starts off with some positives linked to HIIT, though also that it shouldn't be done in isolation or overused and a criticism of the term itself. I can imagine if you're only starting our exercising or fitness it may seem like you've to give it socks each time.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/fitness/what-does-interval-training-do-to-our-hearts-minds-life-spans-and-waistlines-1.4725911

shotgunmcos

Basically when you run you burn kcals. When you stop, you stop burning kcals pretty soon afterwards. Even with intervals, it's mostly aerobic and burning glycogen.

HIIT you burn glycogen like lighterfuel. However, your body continues to burn kcals for hours after HIIT. HIIT taxes the body much more, facilitating more growth hormone to eat kcals too. HIIT , depending what you do, will move the body other ways and blast your core.

Rather simplistic but different beasts. Short intervals of 60s are often mistaken as HIIT. It's not. Even at 60s you will be largely aerobic. HIIT is more like tabata intervals. 4min of 20 sec on, 10 sec off. "On" is everything you got, max effort.

Here's a good explanation

https://youtu.be/EOlgg1Ud-UM