I'm a tad bit hazy on the whole HIIT workout. I am intrigued in trying it, so could anyone give me an example of what this would be like on a treadmill, since thats the only cardio equipment I own? Or provide me with an ideal HIIT workout routine like minutes and such. Much thanks in advance.:tucool:

I'm a tad bit hazy on the whole HIIT workout. I am intrigued in trying it, so could anyone give me an example of what this would be like on a treadmill, since thats the only cardio equipment I own? Or provide me with an ideal HIIT workout routine like minutes and such. Much thanks in advance.:tucool:

There are many variations. The common theme is that you go quite hard - as hard as you can or something close to it - for some interval, and then you go much less hard for another interval.

Many people here use a 30 second hard / 30 second moderate alternation. I tend to use a minute hard / three minutes very easy alternation.

Physiologically, these various schedules don't really have much different effect, it's a question of which one can you stand to do for as long as you need to.

If you go for an absolutely brutal schedule like Tabata (30 seconds all out / 10 seconds moderate) you might be able to do five or six cycles, but then you are probably wasted. As it turns out, that is enough to improve your VO2max and Lactate Threshold - two of the big determinants of cardiovascular fitness.

On the other hand, that workout is not popular, because it is so unpleasant to actually do properly. It's much easier to get the same sort of results in more like a half an hour of a schedule with more rest.

Note that if you are using HIIT for fat burning, the fat burning occurs after you are done.

If you are using LISS for fat burning, the only fat burning occurs when you are doing the exercise.