WHAT IS HIIT (HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING)?
High-intensity interval training, or HIIT, alternates periods of hard exercise with periods of easier activity or rest.
WHAT IT MEANS
HIIT sessions vary in the length and difficulty of their work and recovery periods. Hard effort is relative to the person; HIIT does not always mean an all-out sprint.
A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE
A cycling session may alternate hard pedaling with easier pedaling between efforts.
IMPORTANT LIMITS
HIIT can improve fitness, but it is not required for fat loss or good health. The workload should fit the person’s current ability and recovery needs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is every circuit workout HIIT?
No. A circuit describes how exercises are arranged; whether it is HIIT depends on effort and recovery.
RELATED READING
Talk Test · Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
SOURCES
ACSM, High-Intensity Interval Training: For Fitness, for Health or Both?