Long gone are the days of using the excuse of not having enough time to workout. A perfected training technique that shortens time spent at the gym has swept the nation. In the fitness world, HIIT is helping more people burn more fat with less time spent in the gym. But what is HIIT and why does it work?

HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of going through the motions and dragging out a two-hour workout session, HIIT is a training technique in which you exert 100 percent through quick, intense bursts of exercise, followed by short recovery periods.

HIIT began as a cardio regime where you would workout as hard as you could during one exercise, rest briefly, then switch to the next and repeat. Now, HIIT can be used with weights to maximize results.

Why does it work?

This type of training will get your heart rate up and keep it up with the short bursts of intense exercise. This enables your body to burn more fat in less time. Also, HIIT workouts are possible at home, in a hotel room, at the gym, park and even the workplace if your business has a private space for it.

With HIIT, it’s all about the short resting periods. You don’t want to rest too long and allow your heart rate to drop, but you don’t want go non-stop and put yourself at risk of injury. A short 60-second rest in between exercises is a great way to start out if you have never done HIIT workouts before. Then, once you get used to the regime, make it a challenge to complete each workout quicker than the last. With the goal being to keep the heart rate up and quickly go through the exercises. A normal HIIT workout session should not exceed 30 minutes. When using weights do not use the heaviest weights you can lift. With the intense bursts, you will also be doing more reps and sets than a normal workout. By using lighter weights, so you won’t burn out in the first half of the workout. In conclusion, be safe when switching your workout regime to HIIT. Though it seems like a lot, it honestly is the best of both worlds. You get the best possible workout and burn the most fat in the least amount of time.