Myths about HIIT Workout
MYTH #1: EVERYONE CAN DO A HIIT WORKOUT
Just like you would not run a marathon – or even a half marathon – without training, you also shouldn’t probably go all out on a HIIT workout overnight because beginning with HIIT may increase the chance for injury and muscle soreness. It’s better to start with low-intensity aerobic exercise and work your way up to regular exercise then HIIT workout.
MYTH #2: HIIT IS THE ONLY WORKOUT YOU’LL NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STAY FIT
It’s no secret that a well-designed strength training program can significantly increase strength, power, athletic performance and physical appearance in both men and women. But, what many people don’t realize is the importance of muscle in the fat loss process. Put simply, muscle is metabolically active tissue, as it is the physical place in your body where fat is burned (i.e. used as energy). So, the more lean muscle tissue you have, the more calories/fat you’ll burn throughout the day, even while you sleep ─ because more muscle tissue requires more energy. This is why strength training and maintaining muscle with proper training and eating strategies is absolutely critical for fat loss. The winning workout plan combines interval training with a comprehensive strength training plan.
MYTH #3: MORE HIIT IS ALWAYS BETTER
Like the name suggests, high-intensity interval training is intense and pushes your body hard, so it’s important to allow for plenty of recovery time between workouts. You don’t want to do too much throughout the week. Using high-intensity interval training three times per week will give you the best results while limiting the risk of injury
MYTH #4: HIIT IS BETTER THAN STEADY STATE CARDIO
With the popularity of high-intensity interval training, the standard 30-minutes of steady state aerobic training has seemed to fall out of favor. Steady state cardio is often demonized for interfering with and even killing muscle gains from strength training. Light to moderate aerobic exercise is a great method to use on recovery days ─ between the more intense anaerobic (conditioning) interval training days.
- information used for educating the public about the impacts of switching to a vegetarian diet : adapted from http://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/1010147-5-common-myths-highintensity-interval-training-hiit/#slide=7